The 212th installment of a Fight Night event is coming up on the UFC fight schedule this weekend. Two top flyweight contenders, Askar Askarov (14-1-1) and Brandon Royval (14-6) will be clashing in the octagon, most likely for a chance to fight for the title next year.
The Askarov vs. Royval betting analysis and prediction is something that comes from breaking down fighting styles and how they match up with each other, along with the most valuable plays you can make when looking at statistics and what we see during the fight.
Fighters’ Last Fight Record
Askar Askarov is coming off his first career loss against recent title challenger Kai Kara-France earlier this year.
Brandon Royval has back-to-back wins against Rogerio Bontorin and Matt Schnell, both coming in the first half of 2022.
Fight Information
- October 15, 2022
- 7 PM ET main card start time
- UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Watch on ESPN+
Askarov vs. Royval Betting Analysis
Askar Askarov
Askarov is coming off a very close decision loss over Kara-France, something that he truly never thought would happen.
No matter what they say, a fighter with as much confidence as Askarov will have trouble getting over a loss like that.
One of the main questions coming into this bout on Saturday is how he will come back from the loss against a very dangerous Brandon Royval.
With a draw against Brandon Moreno and dominant wins over guys like Tim Elliott and Joe Benavidez, Askarov looked like he was set to earn his rematch against Moreno after a win against Kara-France.
The dominant Dagestan-style grappling rooted in Combat Sambo is a style of fighting that seems to be taking over MMA. Khabib and his team paved the way for fighters to bring that wrestling to MMA and dominate here.
Askarov will always be bringing pressure on his opponent and look to take the fight to the ground to either finish or clean sweep the judges’ scorecards after 15 minutes.
Brandon Royval
At this point, Brandon Royval is must-see television when he is fighting on a Saturday night. With 12 of his 14 wins coming via submission or KO, his fights are always exciting, and he will always search for a finish.
This style of Askarov that Royval is going against is a tough matchup for anybody in the UFC. Royval has the athletic advantage in this matchup and has just enough unorthodox grappling scrambles and submissions that he could cause some serious problems for the otherwise dominant Dagestani.
When making an Askarov vs. Royval betting pick, you can’t let the oddsmakers convince you that Royval is that big of an underdog. He is one of the most exciting and dangerous finishers in the UFC right now.
Askarov vs. Royval Odds Breakdown
According to UFC odds, Askarov is the betting favorite at -245 going into this weekend. Brandon Royval is the underdog, with odds at +205.
These odds surprise me because of how dynamic and dangerous Royval is, but it just shows you how much confidence oddsmakers have in the style of fighting that Askarov brings.
Total
The over/under is set at 2.5 rounds, with the over at -138 and under at +108. With the finishing ability of Royval and the skill level of Askarov, it seems like the under is just there to be taken.
That is something to look for when you are looking at the number of finishes someone like Royval has.
Askarov doesn’t have a finish in the UFC yet, so that is a big question mark on if he can finish a fight against the top fighters in the world. Royval will be looking to put him away as quickly as he can.
Askarov vs. Royval Betting Predictions
Askarov vs. Royval betting predictions are tough to make because of how elite these two men are, and the sport of MMA is so unpredictable.
Most UFC picks are never a “sure thing,” especially when it’s two world-class martial artist meeting in the octagon.
Most Probable Fighter to Win
Brandon Royval is going to shock the world with a win over Askarov this weekend. His wrestling scrambles and submission threats will be just enough to keep Askarov at bay on the ground.
In the second or third round, Royval is going to clip him with a counter punch or a kick to the side of the head and finish the fight on the ground.
His crazy style is going to be very tough for Askarov to deal with and he will grow frustrated because he won’t be able to play his game against Royval.
With frustration involved, Askarov vs. Royval betting picks are a lot easier to make when Royval is one of the best in the world at capitalizing on his opportunities to finish a fight.
UFC Pick: Royval (+205)
If you love sports and want more sports betting information follow us as @InsidersBetDig on Twitter and sign up to our mailing list for free betting picks.