The UFC will host its last pay-per-view event of the year on Saturday as former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz looks to reclaim the title against Magomed Ankalaev at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas at UFC 282 (ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET, with prelims on ESPN2/ESPN+ at 8 p.m.).
Blachowicz, ranked No. 3 in ESPN's divisional rankings, beat Aleksandar Rakic via third-round knockout in his last fight. This will be his fourth appearance in a UFC title bout. Ankalaev, who is ranked just behind Blachowicz in the divisional rankings, beat Anthony Smith via second-round knockout in July.
Marc Raimondi spoke to former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira to get his perspective on the matchup in the UFC main event. ESPN's betting experts Ian Parker and Reed Kuhn add their insights and analysis for the main events of both fight cards and other intriguing bets for this weekend.
Editor's note: Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity.
UFC light heavyweight title: Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Saturday
Glover Teixeira, former UFC light heavyweight champion
How Blachowicz wins: He's just got to be patient. I think he should fight like he did against Dominick Reyes. Reyes was a southpaw, too, like Ankalaev. Blachowicz moves really well. The key with Ankalaev is he's a very good counter punch when he's coming in and he's long. If I was in Blachowicz's corner, I'd tell him to be patient, throw in a lot of combos and get in on Ankalaev at the right time.
How Ankalaev wins: Keep the pressure on, but stay at a long distance. Keep touching him. Ankalaev is good with kicks and he's a good counter striker. Being a southpaw can be helpful, it makes you have to prepare for him differently. It's a drill you have to do in training because most of the time we train for orthodox guys. It's definitely an adjustment. Blachowicz has fought southpaws before and did well against Reyes, so he's prepared well for these guys.
X-factor: Ankalaev might go for takedowns. He's the better wrestler. But Blachowicz also did well against Israel Adesanya with takedowns. If it turns into a wrestling match, it's going to be Ankalaev's fight to lose. I think he's the better wrestler, but you never know in a fight. Blachowicz has got some power, man. That's another thing. He throws good combos and you have to be careful against him.
Prediction: I see Ankalaev winning this match. He's faster on the feet and he's the better wrestler. I think that's going to be the key. He might even finish Blachowicz. I haven't been told anything officially yet by the UFC, but I'll be in Las Vegas to watch and I hope to fight the winner.
Betting analysis
Kuhn: Ankalaev to win (-300), fight does not go the distance (+100). Blachowicz has overperformed in recent years, despite aging. But he opened as a clear dog, and the market continues to agree that this will be an uphill battle.
Ankalaev has been cruising through the division as a dual-threat fighter. On the feet, he's the more accurate striker, and thanks to his kicks, he's also the more dangerous one on a per-strike-landed basis. Those kicks could be effective at keeping Blachowicz at range or eventually setting up takedowns.
On the ground, Ankalaev has even more advantages, including the ability to grind opponents. Granted, this will be a five-round affair, and Blachowicz is a little more seasoned as a headliner. But I support the changing of the guard here, and I think Ankalaev rolls. What's more uncertain would be who he faces next.
Bellator interim bantamweight title: Raufeon Stots vs. Danny Sabatello, Friday
Tyson Chartier, New England Cartel coach
How Stots wins: Keep the fight on the feet and put hands on him. Stots has to sprawl and brawl, kind of like what he did against Magomed Magomedov last year. He did a good job in that fight against a good wrestler and grappler. Stots got into scrambles and was never in trouble. He actually showed he was the superior wrestler as well in addition to his advantage on the feet. He has to have the same game plan here.
How Sabatello wins: He's got to force Stots to wear him like a blanket. Sabatello can't just stand and trade. He has to throw the overhand right to get in on Stots, and then try to take him down and wear him out. Sabatello has to outwrestle him and sap his energy as the fight goes on, which is key because it's a five-rounder. That's what Sabatello tries to do to everyone, so this isn't anything top secret.
X-factor: The diversity of Stots' game compared to Sabatello's. They're both wrestlers by trade. But if it stays on the feet, I don't think anyone is questioning whether Stots will be more comfortable. Stots being the more well-rounded fighter very much works in his favor.
Prediction: Stots to win. It's sort of like the Magomedov fight. I think he's able to neutralize Sabatello's wrestling and create some good scrambles. He'll get taken down, absolutely. But I think Stots will be good enough to get back up. I don't see Sabatello being able to take him down and lay on him for three rounds out of five to grind out a decision.
Betting analysis
Parker: Stots to win (-150)This fight is going to come down to whether Stots can shut down Sabatello's wrestling. Against Sabatello, if you take away wrestling, he provides no threat in the striking game. Stots is a great wrestler in his own right, but if he can keep the fight standing, he should be able to get it done with his striking. As good as Sabatello's wrestling is, and his cardio is as impressive, I don't think that's going to be enough to dethrone Stots.
Best bets on the rest of the cards
Bellator women's flyweight title: Liz Carmouche vs. Juliana Velasquez, Friday
Parker: Velasquez to win (-175).. To win this fight, Carmouche has to take Velasquez down early and hold her there. However, I think Velasquez will learn from her mistakes in their first fight, and keep the fight standing where she will have the advantage. Sometimes it takes a loss to revamp the motivation and that could be the case for Velasquez.
Bellator bantamweight: Patchy Mix vs. Magomed Magomedov, Friday
Parker: Magomedov to win (-125). As impressive as his last fight against Kyoji Horiguchi was for Mix, unless he fights a perfect fight, this is a tough matchup for him. In addition to his wrestling advantage, Magomedov will also be the better striker of the two. As long as he can dictate the pace and avoid letting Mix take his back, I think Magomedov gets it done here.
UFC catchweight: Alex Morono vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio, Saturday
Parker: Ponzinibbio to win (-180). I still like Ponzinibbio to win here, even with the change of opponents. Don't get me wrong, Morono is a very good fighter with a well-rounded skillset. But taking this fight on a week's notice is a big ask, and I believe Ponzinibbio is the better striker. Unless Morono can take him down and hold him there, Ponznibbio should box his way to victory.
UFC middleweight: Darren Till vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Saturday
Parker: Du Plessis to win (-190). Although Till will be making his return to the Octagon after more than a year away, I don't see him winning this matchup. Du Plessis is powerful, aggressive, and more than capable of taking the fight to the ground if needed. Unless Till catches him with a counter, Du Plessis will be too much for him over the course of three rounds. Till has been plagued with injuries for quite some time, and, unless he can pull off the upset, this could be one of the last times we see Till fight.
UFC heavyweight: Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Chris Daukaus, Saturday
Kuhn: Daukaus to win (+145). Seems I like a lot of underdogs this week. While getting into a fisticuffs contest with Rozenstruik is not normally a good idea, on paper, Daukaus appears well-suited. Daukaus is the more accurate striker, and even has more power on a per-strike basis. Rozenstruik has the range and has been slightly more durable. But at clear plus money, I'll go with the sharper striker who is more likely to land first.
Parker: Rozenstruik to win (-170). Unfortunately, Daukaus has landed himself in another matchup where he will have to grapple. Rozenstruik is the better striker here and with his improved takedown defense, unless Daukaus catches him on the way in, Rozenstruik will keep the fight standing and get back in the win column.
UFC featherweight: Billy Quarantillo vs. Alexander Hernandez, Saturday
Kuhn: Hernandez to win (+140). Hernandez has been a hit-or-miss lightweight, but now drops down to featherweight to test the chin of Quarantillo, one of the worst defensive strikers in the UFC. Quarantillo has had his moments on offense, but he's also eaten the majority of punches that come his way. That's a bad matchup against Hernandez, who is good at winning by strikes.
Quarantillo has the more aggressive wrestling, but Hernandez is no stranger to the mat. He needs to keep the fight standing long enough to make Quarantillo pay for coming forward recklessly. Head strike defense is a big liability in general and it creates an opportunity for an upset here.