UFC 264 has a solid Heavyweight matchup on the card between Tai Tuivasa and Greg Hardy. Each fighter hopes to climb the rankings, as a victory on Saturday night will do so. Tuivasa and Hardy both have the punching power to end this fight early. It's time to continue our UFC odds series with a Tai-Tuivasa-Greg Hardy prediction and pick.
Tuivasa is coming off a two-win fight streak and hopes to continue that by defeating Hardy on Saturday night. He has been near the top of the Heavyweight pecking order before, and a win at UFC 264 could put him back into the top 14 of the division.
The former NFL player turned UFC fighter has created a new career for himself in combat sports. He has literally fought his way through the rankings and now has a spot on the main card. He's coming off a loss after losing by KO/TKO in his last bout. A win on Saturday gets him back on track and potentially puts him within the top 14 Heavyweights in the world.
Here's how the sportsbooks have set the Tuivasa-Hardy Heavyweight fight.
UFC 264 odds: Tai Tuivasa-Greg Hardy odds
Tai Tuivasa (-130)
Greg Hardy (+110)
Over 1.5 rounds (-200)
Under 1.5 rounds (+160)
How Tai Tuivasa wins the fight
Tai Tuivasa is known as a knockout artist. Of his 12 career wins, 11 of them have come by knockout. He started his UFC career with a hot start before losing three straight fights in a row. It appears as though he has righted the ship though, as Bam Bam has looked sharp in his last two bouts. He has his hands full, though, but he'll have a game plan that could earn him a solid victory.
Hardy is larger than Tuivasa, so look for the Australian to get inside of Hardy's reach. His southpaw stance could give him an advantage, as it could throw Hardy off course. Tuivasa should consider starting the fight aggressively, hitting Hardy with a flurry of attacks. Overwhelming his opponent could prove to be the difference-maker.
How Greg Hardy wins the fight
With six knockout wins in his career, Hardy will aim to earn another one on Saturday night. He has done a great job of using his size and strength to his advantage, as not many have been able to slow him down. After suffering his first knockout loss in his last bout, Hardy aims to get back on track as he continues to climb the rankings.
He should be able to keep his distance and use his reach to his advantage. If Hardy fights patiently and using his jab, we could see him pick his opponent apart. Eventually, Tuivasa could open up, allowing Hardy to hit him with a power shot.
Tai Tuivasa-Greg Hardy prediction & pick
Both fighters are knockout artists, so it's hard to believe this one goes the distance. They each have a puncher's chance to win the bout, but Tuivasa is favored to win for a reason. Tuivasa has more experience in the Octagon, which gives him the advantage. This is possibly the biggest fight of Hardy's career, so he should be in full form. However, Tuivasa will prove to be too much to handle. At the end of the fight, we should be seeing Tuivasa's hand raised with a KO/TKO victory.
FINAL PICK: Tai Tuivasa wins by KO/TKO in the second round.
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