With the UFC 290 betting odds of -2500, Bo Nickal is the biggest favorite in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The 4-0 sensation was originally meant to fight Tresean Gore in the UFC 290 main card opener, but “Me. Vicious” had to withdraw due to an injury. Val Woodburn (7-0) stepped in to save the day and he’ll now face Nickal’s opponent on July 8.
Bo Nickal’s odds suggest he’s going to steamroll his opponent on Saturday. But before you put a lot of money on the wrestling maestro – you’d need to risk $2,500 for a chance to win $100 – there are a few things you should know. Keep reading our Nickal vs. Woodburn prediction to learn why it might be smarter to bet on a surprise happening.
Before Betting on Nickal vs. Woodburn
Bo Nickal is one of the best wrestlers on the planet, who dominated this sport in America during his college days. He switched to mixed martial arts in 2021, when he fought (and won) two amateur bouts. Nickal turned pro a year later, winning by KO on his debut at Jorge Masvidal’s iKon Fighting Championship 3.
Then, he got a chance to take part in Dana White’s Contender Series. He took his chance and won both of his DWCS fights, each time by submission. Those two performances earned him the UFC contract, and he made his promotional debut last March when he beat Jamie Pickett by submission.
Nickal’s story sounds great, but there are a few facts showing that the hype surrounding him might not be 100% justified. For example, beating Pickett isn’t much of an achievement as this guy’s been a sort of a tomato can with a 2-5 record in the UFC.
You also should know that Nickal has only been hit once in the UFC/DWCS. Picket landed the strike in question, but then got taken down. His other two opponents didn’t even get a chance to do as much. But this is because he hasn’t fought a good striker.
Well, even though we can’t call Woodburn an elite striker, the fact is that this guy has a knockout-to-win ratio of 71.42%. If Nickal fails to take the fight to the ground, who knows what might happen?
Nickal vs. Woodburn Offshore Odds & Pick
| Offshore Sportsbook | Bo Nickal | Val Woodburn |
|---|---|---|
| BetOnline | -2500 | +1200 |
| MyBookie | -2500 | +916 |
| BetUS | -2500 | +900 |
| SportsBetting.ag | -2500 | +1200 |
| XBet | -2500 | +916 |
We understand that Bo Nickal is likely to win in the UFC 290 main card opener, but we don’t understand why his odds are so extremely short. Sure, he’s an undefeated rising star who’s taking on a fighter who’s only fought in local promotions in his home state of Florida.
But Bo Nickal is no Jon Jones. Instead, he’s an established wrestler who just hasn’t fought many MMA fights, especially not against hard hitters such as Woodburn.
Betting $2,500 to win $100 would be insane. In fact, we believe that putting a small bet on Woodburn would be a much smarter solution. You can win $100 for less than a tenner if he ends up upsetting the odds.
Pick: Val Woodburn to win
