This Saturday on the 7th of May 2022, UFC PPV action returns with a bang with UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje. The Footprint Centre in Phoenix, Arizona US, plays host as the reigning, defending, undisputed UFC lightweight champion Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira takes on second-time title challenger Justin “The Highlight Reel” Gaethje in the main event. The co-main event also features a championship bout as two-time champion Rose “Thug” Namajunas takes on strawweight veteran Carla Esparza.
Before the co-main event, another potential fight of the night matchup between Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson is also featured on the card. With three massive fights boasting some of the biggest names in the UFC and twelve other high-level bouts arranged on the main and preliminary cards, UFC 274 is a PPV you don’t want to miss. Stay with us for the best bets, odds, tips,and predictions for the night.
UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje General Information:
- Date: Saturday, May 07, 2022
- TV-Time: ESPN+, 6:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Footprint Center
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Fights: 5 Fights on the Main Card and 10 fights on the Preliminary Card
- Main Event: Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje
Expert Pick #1 – Oliveira to win @-185
Undisputed UFC lightweight champion Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira faces another huge test and title defence when he takes on phenomenal volume striker Justin “The Highlight Reel” Gaethje this weekend. In what is Oliveira’s second title defence, this bout also represents a second shot at the 155lbs title for Gaethje, who lost on his first challenge to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Since losing to Khabib, Gaethje has fought only once in a grueling fight when he emerged victorious against fellow challenger Michael Chandler. Oliveira on the other hand, since beating Chandler to first clinch the title last year, has defended his belt with a RND submission of former interim champion Dustin Poitier.
For Charles Oliveira who had gone up against high volume strikers in each of his last two fights, Justin Gaethje represents perhaps the most dangerous striker in the division, and is a fighter to be wary of. Gaethje’s power, pressure, and recently exhibited high-IQ striking will present many problems for Oliveira. But that is not to say Oliveira will be completely outclassed in the striking department. The champion has shown multiple times, culminating in his TKO win over Michael Chandler, that he can engage on the feet as well to devastating effect. However, it is his grappling and BJJ skills that could prove to be decisive in this fight. In all clinch situations and scraps on the floor, Charles Oliveira can possibly end the fight with his deep arsenal of submissions – he is the fighter with the most submissions in UFC history after all. With his overall well-rounded game, our experts predict a second successful title defence for “Do Bronx” as he also extends his winning run to eleven straight.
Records: Charles Oliveira 32-8-0 | Justin Gaethje 23-3-0 Main Card – Lightweight (155lbs) – Approx. Start Time: 2:00 a.m. ET
Expert Pick #2 – Namajunas to win @–225
Women’s strawweight champion Rose “Thug” Namajunas will get a chance to exact revenge against Carla “The Cookie Monster” Esparza, who defeated her at TUF 2014 Grand Finale and inaugural UFC women’s strawweight title match. Since her loss at the Ultimate Fighter, Namajunas has gone on to become two-time champion, while Esparza after failing to defend her title, has clawed her way back into contention with a five-fight win streak.
Both fighters have improved so much since their first meeting eight years ago that it almost has no real bearing on the outcome of this one. Thug Rose has improved her striking and grappling significantly and Esparza has done the same with her striking. Namajunas has the height and reach advantage with which she can use to control the distance in this fight and she also has good enough wrestling to handle Esparza on the ground should the fight go there. The championship experience that Namajunas possesses also gives her much of an edge in dealing with the stage and pressure of a five-round fight. Our experts predict a win for Thug Rose Namajunas on the night as she defends her title for the second straight time.
Records: Rose Namajunas 11-4-0 | Carla Esparza 18-6-0 Main Card –(W) Strawweight (115lbs) – Approx. Start Time: 1:00 a.m. ET
Expert Pick #3 – Chandler to win @–400
Two fighters coming into this matchup on the back of losses to the main event headliners Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson will both be looking to return to winning ways when they square off this weekend. Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson suffered a third straight loss for the first time in his career while Chandler will be fighting to avert suffering the same for the second time in his career. This is a fight with huge significance for both fighters and a potential fight of the night contender.
Tony Ferguson has finally started to slow down and it has been evident in his last outings to the octagon. And although he will be facing a fellow seasoned veteran of the sport this weekend, the speed and power of Chandler could certainly prove too much to handle for the boogeyman. With his height and reach advantage and superior grappling skills, Tony could control this fight on the feet and the ground but it is difficult to see him doing that. With a similar style to Justin Gaethje, who absolutely demolished Ferguson in their interim title fight two years ago, Chandler is more likely to get into range with Ferguson and trade heavy shots. He also has solid takedown defence to deal with whatever Ferguson shoots at him in that aspect. Tony Ferguson is clearly approaching his twilight as a UFC fighter and our experts predict a convincing win for Michael Chandler as he returns to winning ways.
Records: Michael Chandler 22-7-0 |Tony Ferguson 25-6-0 Main Card – Lightweight (155lbs) – Approx. Start Time: 12:00 a.m. ET
Complete Card & Predictions for the Night
UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje presents a much anticipated fight card with two thrilling title fights as the main and co-main events. All fifteen bouts on the card for this PPV event are certainly going to be hotly contested. Here are the Predictions, Odds, Bets and Tips for this weekend:
Main Event
- Lightweight (155lbs): Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje – Oliveira via Submission
Main Card
- (W) Strawweight (115lbs): Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza – Namajunas via Decision
- Lightweight (155lbs): Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson — Chandler via KO/TKO
- Light Heavyweight (205lbs): Ovince St. Preux vs. Maurício Rua – St. Preux via Submission
- Lightweight (155lbs): Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon – Cerrone via Decision
Preliminary Card
- Welterweight (170lbs): Randy Brown vs. Khaos Williams – Williams via KO/TKO
- Welterweight (170lbs): Francisco Trinaldo vs. Danny Roberts – Roberts via Decision
- (W) Featherweight (145lbs): Macy Chiason vs. Norma Dumont – Dumont via Decision
- Flyweight (125lbs): Brandon Royval vs. Matt Schnell – Royval via Decision
- Heavyweight (265lbs): Blagoy Ivanov vs. Marcos Rogerio De Lima – Ivanov via KO/TKO
- Welterweight (170lbs): Andre Fialho vs. Cameron VanCamp – Fialho via KO/TKO
- (W) Strawweight (125lbs): Tracy Cortez vs. Melissa Gatto – Cortez via Decision
- Flyweight (125lbs): Kleydson Rodriguez vs. CJ Vergara – Rodriguez via Decision
- (W) Strawweight (115lbs): Lupita Godinez vs. Ariane Carnelossi – Godinez via Decision
- Flyweight (125lbs): Journey Newson vs. Fernie Garcia – Garcia via Decision
Get ready for #UFC274 by previewing every fight on this weekend's action packed card ⤵️:https://t.co/jzFJWNDuF2
— UFC News (@UFCNews) May 3, 2022
