Two title fights will anchor the UFC 268 card Saturday in New York City, with welterweight champion Kamaru Usman taking on top-ranked contender Colby Covington in the main event. Their championship rematch closes the curtain on the pay-per-view portion of the UFC 268 fight card, scheduled for a 10 p.m. ET start. The combatants stood toe-to-toe nearly two years ago and Usman made his first successful title defense with a fifth-round stoppage. He has since defended the title three more times, while Covington’s lone appearance in the interim was a dominant win over fading former champion Tyron Woodley, who has since left the promotion.
Usman is a -290 favorite (risk $290 to win $100), while Covington is a +245 underdog in the latest UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 odds from Caesars Sportsbook. In the co-main event, women’s strawweight champ Rose Namajunas (-115) faces Zhang Weili (-105) in another title rematch. Before making any UFC 268 picks for Usman vs. Covington 2 or any other fights on the card, make sure you check out the MMA picks and predictions from SportsLine combat analyst Kyle Marley.
Marley won the first-ever “ToutMaster” UFC betting contest sponsored by MMAOddsBreaker and appears regularly on multiple MMA betting and daily Fantasy shows. He watches every single fight for every professional MMA card and does extensive research before each event.
Over the past 33 months, $100 bettors who have followed Marley’s picks are up more than $14,000. The accomplished MMA analyst has now connected on 39 of his last UFC 66 main-event selections, a stretch that includes a streak of five straight underdogs.
Last week at UFC Fight Night, Marley’s winners included telling SportsLine members to back Amanda Ribas (-160) against Virna Jandiroba (+140) in a matchup of women’s strawweight contenders. Ribas notched a unanimous decision to give Marley’s followers another winner. Anyone who has followed Marley is way up. You can only see Marley’s MMA picks at SportsLine.
UFC Fight Night: Usman vs. Covington 2 preview
Usman and Covington have little in common aside from their collegiate wrestling backgrounds and reluctant concession that the other is the toughest opponent they have faced in the UFC.
Usman (19-1) is 13-0 in the UFC since joining the promotion nearly six years ago, but many MMA observers have only become familiar with him since he captured the welterweight title. This is because he is low-key by nature and rarely engages in trash-talking with his opponents unless provoked.
Even so, the Nigerian fighter’s resume is fast closing in on one of the all-time best for welterweights. His improved striking was on display in a spectacular second-round knockout of fan favorite Jorge Masvidal in April.
Covington (16-2) has repeatedly claimed he was told by UFC brass a few years ago that he was in jeopardy of being cut because his wrestling-heavy style wasn’t fan-friendly and his personality didn’t help market fight cards.
The Sacramento-born fighter immediately made drastic changes, most notably embracing the role as the UFC’s darkest-hearted heel. He is now known for his relentless and ruthless insults toward other UFC fighters and an irreverent approach to dialogue on any number of topics.
The top-ranked challenger also made striking a prominent part of his game, and the first matchup with Usman caught many by surprise because neither world-class wrestler attempted a takedown. Instead, their nonstop brawl led to the rematch emerging as one of the most anticipated fights of 2021. You can only see who to back at SportsLine.
Top UFC 268 expert predictions
We’ll share one of Marley’s UFC 268 picks here: He is going with Ode Osbourne (-170) to get his hand raised against CJ Vergara (+150) in a battle of flyweight prospects. Both fighters are alums of the recruiting program “Dana White’s Contender Series” and can help their career trajectory with a win on the big stage.
Osbourne (9-4-1) is known for his action-packed fights, as all three of his UFC appearances have ended in the first round. Unfortunately, he has been on the wrong end twice and is hoping to bounce back from an August stoppage loss to fellow prospect Manel Kape.
Vergara (9-2-1) will make his official UFC debut on the strength of a five-fight win streak that includes a 41-second stoppage of Bruno Mesquita in September that secured his spot on the UFC roster.
“I think Osbourne is the better striker and could have a lot of success on the ground,” Marley told SportsLine.
How to make UFC 268 picks
Marley has strong picks for Usman vs. Covington 2 and every other bout on the UFC Fight Night card. He’s also backing a fighter who “is faster and the better striker” to emerge with a dominant victory. Those expert MMA picks are only available at SportsLine.
Who wins Usman vs. Covington 2? And how exactly does each fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks on every fight at UFC 268, all from the incomparable expert who’s up more than $14,000 on MMA in the past 33 months, and find out.
UFC 268 fight card, odds
Kamaru Usman (-290) vs. Colby Covington (+245)
Rose Namajunas (-115) vs. Zhang Weili (-105)
Justin Gaethje (-185) vs. Michael Chandler (+165)
Shane Burgos (-185) vs. Billy Quarantillo (+165)
Frankie Edgar (+145) vs. Marlon Vera (-165)
Alex Pereira (-250) vs. Andreas Michailidis (+210)
Al Iaquinta (+150) vs. Bobby Green (-170)
Phil Hawes (-300) vs. Chris Curtis (+250)
Edmen Shahbazyan (+105) vs. Nassourdine Imamov (-125)
Ian Garry (-340) vs. Jordan Williams (+280)
Gian Villante (-105) vs. Chris Barnett (-115)
CJ Vergara (+150) vs. Ode Osbourne (-170)
Dustin Jacoby (-330) vs. John Allan (+270)
