Fights are back on the UFC schedule this weekend after a rare week off. One of the most intriguing matchups on this Saturday’s card is this featherweight bout between Jonathan Pearce and David Onama, two talented fighters trying to break their way into the division’s best.
Pearce vs. Onama Picks
- Picks: Fight to go to Distance (+160) & Over 2.5 rounds (+110)
Read more for the official Pearce vs Onama betting picks and predictions before betting on UFC fights.
Pearce vs. Onama Information
Jonathan Pearce vs David Onama
Location of the game: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Date & Time: April 27, 2024. 7 PM ET Main card start
Where to Watch: ESPN+
Last Fight Record
Pearce is coming off a second-round submission loss to Joanderson Brito last November.
Onama is coming off a big second-round KO win over Gabriel Santos last June at UFC on ABC 5.
Pearce vs. Onama Betting Analysis
Jonathan Pearce
Pearce is an American mixed martial artist with a professional MMA record of 14-5, including 9 wins by TKO/KO and 2 submissions at 31 years old. He began his combat sports career at 12 years old with wrestling, going on to place second at the State Championships in his senior year of high school. Now in the UFC, Pearce has earned one post-fight Performance of the Night bonus.
Pearce, a 6’0″ switch stance fighter with a 71″ reach, displays above-average size for the featherweight division. In the octagon, Pearce averages 5.60 significant strikes landed per minute and only absorbs 3.35 on average. He also lands 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes in the cage.
David Onama
Onama is a Ugandan mixed martial artist with an 11-2 professional MMA record, including 7 TKO/KO wins and 4 submissions for a 100% finish rate in his victories. He started training back in 2013 after being a big fan of the sport for years; fighting has been his only job since. He won the FAC featherweight title before signing with the UFC, and he won an amateur title at KCFA before that.
Onama is a 5’11” orthodox striker with a 74” reach at the age of 29. The high-volume striker averages 5.38 significant strikes landed and 5.48 significant strikes absorbed per minute in the octagon. He will mix in some wrestling as well, averaging 0.87 takedowns per 15 minutes. He holds a mediocre 45% takedown defense, though, which will be tested this weekend.
Updates
The UFC and ESPN have received no injury reports.
Pearce vs. Onama Betting Preview
We can’t make the Pearce vs Onama betting picks and predictions until we preview the betting lines and study the film on both athletes. Film study is essential because you can determine how the styles of both fighters will most likely clash in the cage on Saturday night.
According to the UFC odds, Pearce is going into this weekend as the -180 betting favorite over Onama at +155. The u2.5 round total, favored at -140, reflects oddsmakers’ anticipation of the fight finishing within the first two rounds. The fight holds a -200 favoritism to conclude inside the distance.
According to Jonathan Pearce’s betting trends, the public is heavily on him this weekend–he opened at -150 and is now trending further and further from that even line.
Stylistically, Pearce is a very good wrestler who fights around that skill set. Every strike he throws is to set up a takedown and take the fight to the area he is most comfortable. He is coming off a loss as well, needing a big win to keep his journey going.
Onama is quite the opposite of a fighter; he struggles with wrestling and committing to takedown defense, but he has the better striking here. This is a fight that will be decided by whoever can keep the fight where they want it–on the ground or the feet.
The constant pressure of Pearce will give Onama a huge test on cardio and work ethic; which is something that has been in question about Onama in recent years. These are important factors to consider when making Jonathan Pearce vs. David Onama predictions.
Pearce vs. Onama Betting Picks and Prediction
After a close look at this matchup between two featherweights, the Pearce vs Onama betting picks and predictions for this weekend is very tough to decide.
If you don’t like going with the public, an underdog bet for Onama is a great pick. The best UFC bets are this fight to go the distance at +160 and the over 2.5 rounds at +110. Hurt on the feet, Pearce will engage in wrestling and scrambling as he tries to recover in this scrappy fight.
- Picks: Fight to go to Distance (+160) & Over 2.5 rounds (+110)
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.