UFC Returns to Louisville for ESPN 57 with Exciting Main Card Picks

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ICARO Media Group
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08/06/2024 21h27

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is making its long-awaited return to Louisville, Kentucky, for UFC on ESPN 57, set to take place at the KFC Yum! Center on Saturday. This event marks the first time since 2011 that the UFC has graced the home of the iconic Kentucky Derby, and fight fans are in for a treat with a main card stacked with former title challengers.

The main card features five thrilling matchups, and the UFC's top experts, including 11 editors, writers, radio hosts, and videographers, have provided their picks for these fights. Let's take a closer look at the matchups and the experts' predictions.

In the welterweight division, Miguel Baeza (10-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) will face off against Puna Soriano (9-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC). Baeza holds a record of 2-3 in his past five fights while Soriano stands at 1-4. The odds currently favor Baeza at -200, with Soriano sitting at +165. Despite the odds, the experts are leaning towards Soriano, with eight of them picking him to win compared to three for Baeza.

In another exciting middleweight clash, Julian Marquez (9-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC) will take on Zach Reese (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC). Marquez has a record of 2-3 in his last five fights, while Reese boasts an impressive 4-1 record. Marquez is the slight favorite at -140, with Reese at +120. The experts have overwhelmingly chosen Marquez, with nine of them predicting his victory compared to two for Reese.

Brunno Ferreira (11-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) and Dustin Stoltzfus (15-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC) will face off in a middleweight showdown. Ferreira holds a 4-1 record in his past five fights, while Stoltzfus stands at 2-3. Ferreira is the clear favorite with odds of -250, while Stoltzfus is the underdog at +205. The experts are unanimous in their prediction, with all eleven of them favoring Ferreira for the win.

The bantamweight battle between Raul Rosas Jr. (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) and Ricky Turcios (12-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) promises to be an exciting affair. Rosas Jr. has an impressive 4-1 record in his last five fights, while Turcios stands at 3-2. Rosas Jr. is favored to win with odds of -230, whereas Turcios sits at +190. The experts are confident in Rosas Jr.'s abilities, with nine of them picking him to emerge victoriously, while two are leaning towards Turcios.

A highly anticipated light heavyweight clash will see Dominick Reyes (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) square off against Dustin Jacoby (19-8-1 MMA, 7-5-1 UFC). Reyes has a record of 1-4 in his past five fights, while Jacoby stands at 2-3. Jacoby is the favorite with odds of -240, and Reyes is the underdog at +195. The experts show a strong preference for Jacoby, with nine of them choosing him to win, while two are backing Reyes.

The main card concludes with a middleweight showdown between Jared Cannonier (17-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) and Nassourdine Imavov (13-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC). Cannonier, ranked fifth in the division, boasts a record of 4-1 in his last five fights, while Imavov, ranked twelfth, stands at 4-1. Imavov is the favorite with odds of -130, while Cannonier is the underdog at +110. The experts overwhelmingly favor Cannonier, with ten of them predicting his victory, while only one is siding with Imavov.

With the main card loaded with tantalizing matchups and exciting predictions from the experts, UFC on ESPN 57 promises to be a night of thrilling action for fight fans in Louisville and around the world.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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