Experts picks, best bets: Who should bettors back at UFC 317 and PFL?

Posted by ESPN staff | 5 hours ago | Sport | Views: 10


The UFC caps off its International Fight Week with UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night (10 ET on ESPN+ PPV; prelims at 8 ET on ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+; early prelims at 6:30 ET on ESPN+/Disney+).

The main event will feature former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria taking on former lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira for the 155-pound belt recently vacated by Islam Makhachev. Topuria is ESPN’s No. 2-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, while Oliveira is ESPN’s second-ranked lightweight.

In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja returns to the Octagon seeking his fourth consecutive men’s flyweight title defense against Kai Kara-France. Pantoja, ranked No. 7 in ESPN’s P4P rankings, has not lost since July 2020. Kara-France, No. 4 in ESPN’s flyweight rankings, earned a title shot following an impressive first-round knockout win over Steve Erceg at UFC 305 this past August.

On Friday, the PFL hosts the last event of its 2025 semifinals, featuring the middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.

Fabian Edwards will square off with Josh Silveira in the main event. Also on the main card, former Bellator bantamweight champions Sergio Pettis and Raufeon Stots go head to head.

A UFC Hall of Famer, MMA coach, ESPN MMA analysts and commentators give their UFC title fight predictions. ESPN betting expert Ian Parker adds insight and analysis on intriguing bets from both fight cards.


Lightweight championship



ESPN

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *