UFC 293 Sydney main card betting tips & fight predictions

The main card for UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney features a line-up of heavy hitters. Aussie cult hero Tai Tuivasa will throw fists with hulking Russian Alexander Volkov, Justin Tafa will be out for an early finish over Austen Lane, and Tyson Pedro squares off against Anton Turkalj in another likely slugfest. Read on for our full tips and analysis.

Israel Adesanya v Sean Strickland

Israel Adesanya vs Sean Strickland

Can Sean Strickland put his money where his mouth is and knock Israel Adesanya off his middleweight throne? See our UFC 293 main event betting preview here.

Tai Tuivasa v Alexander Volkov

Tai Tuivasa vs Alexander Volkov

Despite enjoying moments of success, Tai Tuivasa (15-5-0) ultimately had no answers for the elite striking of French heavyweight Ciryl Gane when the pair met in Paris in September 2022. The Aussie was stopped in the third round by a barrage of accurate kicks and punches.

The 30-year-old’s next outing ended even more abruptly when he was stopped in the opening minute by Sergei Pavlovich. The losses occurred after Tuivasa had built a tidy five-fight win streak. This is, therefore, a must-win contest for Tuivasa if he hopes to remain a fixture in the 265-pound division.

Alexander Volkov (36-10-0) will enjoy a huge five-inch reach advantage over his opponent in Sydney and is at short-priced odds with online bookmakers to emerge victorious. The towering Russian is coming off successive first-round KO wins over Alexander Romanov and Jairzinho Rozenstruik and has the tools to trouble Tuivasa.

The shorter Australian will need to slide effectively into close striking range but will be vulnerable to jabs and kicks on the way in, which will create openings for Volkov to exploit if he is quick enough. The 34-year-old also appears to have a cardio advantage and will be favoured in the latter rounds.

Manel Kape v Felipe dos Santos

Manel Kape vs Felipe dos Santos

Manel Kape (18-6-0) has found his feet at UFC level in his last three fights after initially struggling to make the grade. The Angolan fighter dropped his first two UFC appearances via decision but has bounced back with three straight wins, including two via first-round stoppage.

Kape was initially booked to face the impressive Kai Kara-France for this bout, but a late injury forced a replacement. The No.10-ranked flyweight will enjoy a sizeable experience advantage over his new opponent and is expected to prevail.

Felipe dos Santos (7-0-0) steps up on short notice in what is a huge opportunity to shine. The undefeated Brazilian has been thrust onto the UFC main card after previously fighting in small regional MMA promotions.

His form is hard to assess, and he may be overawed by the bright lights, but dos Santos looks to combine a solid standup game with high-level BJJ grappling. At just 22 years of age, a competitive showing in Sydney should set him up for further opportunities to impress UFC matchmakers.

Justin Tafa v Austen Lane

Justin Tafa vs Austen Lane

Justin Tafa (6-3-0) will run it back in this matchup after an accidental eye-poke ended their encounter in June 2023 as a no-contest. Prior to that, the New Zealander had scored two early KO wins and appeared hungry for more.

Tafa’s effectiveness wanes after the opening round, and he will be hunting an early stoppage in Sydney to keep his momentum rolling. He hits hard and will only need two or three clean shots to wrap up this contest before his bulk becomes a liability and he runs out of steam.

Austen Lane (12-3-0) is a much lighter-framed heavyweight than Tafa and would be wise to avoid the inevitable opening onslaught and look to grind down the larger man opposite. The American athlete made his UFC debut in the ill-fated bout against Tafa after scoring an impressive KO finish on Dana White’s Contender Series to earn his contract.

Lane enjoys a significant height and reach advantage and will attempt to land jabs from the outside while remaining active and avoiding the heavy inside shots that are bound to come his way. Still, that will be easier said than done.

Tyson Pedro v Anton Turkalj

Tyson Pedro vs Anton Turkalj

After recording successive losses in 2018, Tyson Pedro (9-4-0) took two years away from MMA to work on some deficiencies. He returned in 2022 and posted a pair of first-round stoppage wins over Isaac Villanueva and Harry Hunsucker.

Pedro dropped his most recent contest when he went the distance with Modestas Bukauskas, and he will be searching for an early blitz to reignite his winning run. Like many heavy-set fighters, the Australian can tire if early standup success eludes him.

Anton Turkalj (8-2-0) entered Dana White’s Contender Series with a perfect 7-0 record and impressed the UFC boss with a gritty decision win over Acacio dos Santos to earn a contract. The Swede has since dropped a pair of fights, the first via round-one submission and the second via unanimous decision.

Turkalj’s early career is littered with KO finishes, suggesting the newcomer knows his way around an octagon. This appears to be a stiff test, but having acquired a little more familiarity with the big stage, the 27-year-old might be ready to show his true colours.

More sports betting tips