Best UFC 289 Odds: Nunes vs. Aldana, Main Card Betting Angles
The UFC is in Vancouver, Canada for the first time in nearly four years Saturday night, with a pay-per-view event from Rogers Arena. UFC 289 odds are headlined by a women’s bantamweight title fight between longtime champion Amanda Nunes and challenger Irene Aldana, pitting the most dominant fighter in the history of women’s MMA up against a rising contender who’s still something of an unknown to many fans.
In the co-main event, former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira tries to get back in the win column in his first fight since losing his title last year. He’s up against a fighter in Beneil Dariush who’s won eight straight fights, while trying to make his own case for a 155-pound title shot.
Before getting into a full analysis of the main card, here’s a look at the best UFC 289 odds and the best sportsbook promo codes being offered this weekend. Click on any of the links below to navigate to the sportsbook with the best sports betting odds. If you do not see odds, you may need to turn off your pop-up blocker.
UFC 289 ODDS FOR ENTIRE CARD
UFC 289 Main Card
Amanda Nunes () vs. Irene Aldana ()
Charles Oliveira () vs. Beneil Dariush ()
Mike Malott () vs. Adam Fugitt ()
Dan Ige () vs. Nate Landwehr ()
Marc-André Barriault () vs. Eryk Anders ()
UFC 289 Prelims
Nassourdine Imavov () vs. Chris Curtis ()
Miranda Maverick () vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius ()
Aiemann Zahabi () vs. Aori Qileng ()
Kyle Nelson () vs. Blake Bilder ()
UFC 289 Early Prelims
David Dvořák (-265) vs. Stephen Erceg (+225)
Diana Belbiţă (-120) vs. Maria Oliveira (+100)
HOW TO WATCH UFC 287
Early prelims on ESPN/ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET
Prelims on ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET
Main card on ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET
UFC 289 MAIN EVENT PREVIEW
While it might not seem like it at first, these odds are actually pretty close for an Amanda Nunes bout. In recent years the champ has opened as an 8-1 or 10-1 favorite in title defenses, and even closed as high as 12-1 for her first fight with Julianna Pena – also the last fight she lost.
The line for this fight with Irene Aldana has also come down considerably after opening at around -650. That might be because Aldana does have the ability to present some problems for the champ, but it’s also likely due to the sneaking suspicion that even Nunes has to get old and slow down at some point. She’s 35, with 27 pro fights, and she’s held at least one UFC title continuously since 2016. That’s incredible dominance, but it also can’t last forever.
Nunes is a well-rounded fighter, but her game is primarily built around punching power and sheer aggression. She puts opponents on the back foot, and punishes them when they try to go on the offensive. Aldana has flashed some finishing power of her own, and she has a decent submissions game, but she doesn’t do any one thing overwhelmingly well in a way that would seem like a problem for the best version of Nunes.
Conclusions
Aldana is a big fighter for the weight class, and a good all-around athlete who’s shown the ability to consistently improve from fight to fight. It’s not completely out of the question that she could pull off the upset – but really only if Nunes’ skills are starting to deteriorate. If this is still the same Nunes who’s brutalized the whole division these last 12 years, she wins this. But as she’s grown somewhat more conservative lately, the chances of a decision win rather than a stoppage inside the distance seem slightly better.
Main Event Round Betting
Main Event Method of Victory Odds
UFC 289 CO-MAIN EVENT PREVIEW
In his first fight since losing his lightweight title last fall, Charles Oliveira would really like to remind us that he’s still one of the best 155-pounders in the world and is therefore perhaps deserving of another crack at current champ Islam Makhachev. Standing in his way is Beniel Dariush, who hasn’t lost a fight since 2018 and has been telling anyone who’ll listen that he should be next in line for the title.
Dariush is a smart, experienced, technically sound fighter who doesn’t take needless risks. One of the tough things about fighting him is that there are no glaring weaknesses to exploit. Oliveira, on the other hand, is a much better grappler than he is a striker, but who will nonetheless stand there and trade with opponents even when it’s a bad idea. What’s even crazier is, his sheer brawl-ability sometimes creates just the openings he needs.
Conclusions
The way Oliveira fights, he could win or lose just about every bout. He takes chances and seems to save nothing for the swim back to shore, which is one of the things that makes him so fun. But against a smart fighter like Dariush, who sees this as the one fight standing between him and a title shot, it could also be trouble. If Dariush can stick to his plan and avoid dancing to Oliveira’s tune, he could very well pull this one out.
Co-Main Event Round Betting
Co-Main Event Method of Victory Odds
OTHER MAIN CARD BOUTS
Mike Malott () vs. Adam Fugitt ()
Malott is one of only two Canadians on this main card, and his spot here seems to be based at least in part on the desire to have at least a couple people representing the home flag on the pay-per-view portion. Fugitt is in his third UFC bout, having won one and lost the other. It’s hard to know yet what the ceiling is for either man, but it does have the makings of a fight that should finish inside the distance.
Dan Ige () vs. Nate Landwehr ()
Ige just snapped a three-fight losing streak with a bonus-worthy win in January, and now he’s getting a tough assignment in Landwehr, who fights like an absolute wildman. “Nate the Train” has won three straight, two of them via stoppage after the first round, and all of them memorable. Ige is a higher caliber opponent than what he’s been facing lately, but not unreasonably so. The one outcome that seems most likely with these two in the same cage is someone getting finished before the three rounds are up.
Marc-André Barriault () vs. Eryk Anders ()
Barriault has spent the last couple years in the UFC losing one and winning the next, and that’s after somehow starting his UFC tenure with three straight losses yet still sticking around. Anders is one of those fighters who came to the UFC as an undefeated prospect and then was quickly overmatched after two bouts in the Octagon, at which point he lost four of five in just over a year. This feels like something of a coin flip fight meant to determine who has more of a future here.
Best of luck wagering on UFC 289 odds.
RELATED ARTICLES
