Top Betting Underdogs for UFC Abu Dhabi featuring Tony Ferguson

The UFC returns to Abu Dhabi this weekend with a bantamweight showdown that could determine the division’s next title challenger. Cory Sandhagen, a perennial top contender known for his dynamic striking and aggressive style, faces off against rising star Umar Nurmagomedov, who boasts an undefeated record and a grappling pedigree that is second to none.

Sandhagen, coming off a dominant TKO victory, will look to utilize his diverse striking arsenal to keep Nurmagomedov at bay. He’ll need to maintain distance, avoid takedowns, and capitalize on any openings that arise. Nurmagomedov, a master of pressure and control, will aim to close the distance, drag Sandhagen into deep waters, and impose his suffocating grappling game.

This clash of styles promises fireworks. Can Sandhagen’s striking prowess overcome Nurmagomedov’s grappling dominance? Will Nurmagomedov’s pressure prove too much for Sandhagen to handle? The answers to these questions will have significant implications for the bantamweight division’s landscape.

Beyond the main event, the card features a stacked lineup of exciting matchups. Keep an eye on the bantamweight bout between former title challenger Marlon “Chito” Vera and rising contender and former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, as well as the lightweight clash between Tony Ferguson and the returning Michael Chiesa.

With high stakes and intriguing storylines, UFC Abu Dhabi is shaping up to be a must-watch event for MMA fans around the world. With a great fight, card comes money to be made, we take a look at the top betting underdogs for this weekend’s stacked UFC Abu Dhabi fight night event.

Here are the UFC Odds, courtesy of BetOnline. 

UFC Abu Dhabi Top Betting Underdogs

Tony Ferguson: +460

Rolando Bedoya: +108

Elves Brener: +143

*Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Tony Ferguson (+460) vs. Michael Chiesa

While Tony Ferguson enters this bout on a seven-fight losing streak, he could pull off an upset against Michael Chiesa at UFC Abu Dhabi this weekend.

Ferguson’s unorthodox style and unpredictable movements have always made him a difficult puzzle to solve. Despite his recent struggles, “El Cucuy” remains a dangerous striker and submission threat, landing an impressive 4.94 significant strikes per minute with 45% accuracy. His ability to maintain a high output could overwhelm Chiesa, who absorbs 1.70 significant strikes per minute.

Ferguson’s takedown defense (67%) is also superior to Chiesa’s (60%), which could be crucial in keeping the fight standing where he has the advantage. Additionally, Ferguson’s experience in five-round fights and his legendary cardio could play a significant role if the bout goes into deep waters.

It’s worth noting that Ferguson showed signs of improvement in his last fight against Paddy Pimblett, demonstrating smarter tactics and avoiding a finish. This suggests he’s adapting his approach and learning from past defeats.

The pressure is off Ferguson as the underdog, which could allow him to fight more freely and showcase the creativity that made him a fan favorite. If he can tap into his vintage form, Ferguson has the tools to snap his losing streak and upset Chiesa.

Rolando Bedoya (+108) vs. Jai Herbert

Rolando Bedoya got thrown into the fire in his UFC debut and fought a good fight against Khaos Williams. Many believed he should have won that split decision but ultimately he was on the wrong end of the judge’s decision. He then just looked flat in his second fight in the Octagon where he was outstruck by Kenan Song in his next fight. Now, Bedoya has made the move to Chute Boxe Diego Lima to train alongside the former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira as well as Elves Brener who will be competing on the main card in this fight night. He hopes the move to Brazil will do him wonders when he takes on Jai Herbert this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

Bedoya will be making his way down to the lightweight division for the first time since 2017 in hopes of reviving his MMA career. It seemed like the fighters at 170 lbs were too big and a bit more powerful than Bedoya and this move to 155 lbs could be the perfect move for him. He is at his best when he is the aggressor and throwing in combinations, mixing his strikes up for the head to the body and to the legs. Bedoya does a great job at ending his combinations with calf kicks which will serve him well against Herbert who eats a ton of calf kicks. If Bedoya can mix his attacks and keep the pressure on Herbert he can break him down and finally get his first victory inside the Octagon.

Elves Brener (+143) vs. Joel Alvarez

Elves Brener has exceeded all expectations since stepping foot inside the Octagon where he narrowly defeated Zubaira Tukhugov in his UFC debut. From there he won two out of his next three fights with two brutal knockouts of Guram Kuteteladze and Kaynan Kruschewsky. However, his next fight against the surging prospect Myktybek Orolbai was deemed to be too much as the grappling prowess of Orolbai stifled the offense of Brener even though he did almost make a remarkable comeback in round three. Brener gets his chance to get back on track by taking on Spain’s Joel Alvarez this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

Brener is an absolute dog and that stems from his training over at Chute Boxe Diego Lima training exclusively with his longtime training partner and former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. He has the means to beat his opponents wherever the fight takes place and before he stepped foot inside the Octagon he was more of a submission artist but now he has grown to be a more complete fighter with two of his three wins coming by knockout during his time in the UFC. What sets Brener apart from the rest is his will to win and how his cardio is possibly his greatest attribute. With how Alvarez has only seen the judge’s scorecards once where he dropped a decision against Damir Ismagulov there is a chance that the longer this fight goes the more it favors Brener. As long as Brener can weather that early storm and not get caught in a submission in transition he can take over as the fight gets into the later rounds to get a late finish or the nod on the judge’s scorecards.