The UFC returns to Edmonton for the first time in five years for UFC Fight Night 246 at Rogers Place on Saturday night.
The main event features a battle of flyweight contenders in Brandon Moreno and Amir Albazi, who was forced to postpone the originally scheduled fight in Mexico City earlier this year due to neck surgery.
Moreno returns to the octagon for the first time since losing to Brandon Royval in February. After an eight-month break following a pair of split decision losses, the two-time former flyweight champion returns to face Albazi, who is coming off an even lengthier break.
Albazi last fought in June 2023, when he earned a split decision win over Kai Kara-France to improve his UFC record to 5-0. The neck injury proved a setback, but Albazi can reinsert himself among the top contenders in the weight class if he can get by Moreno.
Moreno opened as the -160 favorite at BetMGM, and those odds have strengthened further to -175 despite the total money wagered on the fight being split evenly. Albazi has drawn 65 percent of the total bets made.
The main card kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
OTHER MAIN CARD FIGHTS
Rose Namajunas vs. Erin Blanchfield
The co-main event is also a flyweight battle. Namajunas, a former two-time champion at strawweight, has already scored unanimous decision victories over Amanda Ribas and Tracy Cortez this year. Blanchfield is coming off a loss to Manon Fiorot in March, her first setback in seven UFC fights, but still poses a significant test for Namajunas.
Both fighters are trying to position themselves as the next contender behind Fiorot for a shot at title holder Valentina Shevchenko. Blanchfield, who is still only 25, is the -140 favorite and has been backed by 56 percent of the bets. However, the better-known Namajunas has been supported by 59 percent of the money.
Derrick Lewis vs. Jhonata Diniz
Diniz is a graduate of Dana White’s Contender Series, and can continue his rise up the rankings with a win over the veteran Lewis. Lewis ran his record of UFC knockouts to 15 with a third-round stoppage of Rodrigo Nascimento in May. However, he hasn’t won consecutive fights in three years, while Diniz has kicked off his promotion career with wins over Austen Lane and Karl Williams.
Lewis has been a popular underdog, drawing 69 percent of the bets and 78 percent of the money to upset Diniz (-165).
Caio Machado vs. Brendson Ribeiro
Both fighters were part of the DWCS last year, with Machado moving down to light heavyweight after dropping his first two UFC appearances at heavyweight. Ribeiro has likewise found the going rough early in his UFC career, losing to Zhang Mingling in his debut and most recently Magomed Gadzhiyasulov.
The public has been nearly split on which fighter will earn his first UFC victory on Saturday night. Ribeiro has garnered 53 percent of the total bets at +125, while Machado has been supported by 54 percent of the money as the -150 favorite.
Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
These middleweights are both looking to rebound from losses. Barriault was stopped by Joe Pyfer in September for his second consecutive defeat, while Stoltfus was dropped by Brunno Ferreira his last time out.
Barriault has seen lopsided action with 88 percent of the money backing him as the heavy -200 favorite. However, Stoltzfus has drawn 55 percent of the total bets at +165.
Mike Malott vs. Trevin Giles
The main card opens with a welterweight fight between Malott and Giles. Malott is coming off a third-round stoppage loss to Neil Magny in January, while Giles has lost his past two fights. He has lost three consecutive against DWCS alums, and gets a shot to break that streak Saturday night.
Malott opened as the -275 favorite, but those odds have shortened even further to -350 as he has been backed by 77 percent of the money to beat Giles, who has lengthened from +210 to +260.
–Field Level Media