- Islam Makhachev has opened as the betting favorite against both Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje.
- Makhachev is a heavy -415 favorite against Oliveira but is an even bigger favorite at -600 against Gaethje.
- Oliveira is a slight -155 betting favorite to beat Gaethje at UFC 274 on May 7th with the winner likely facing Makhachev next.
Islam Makhachev’s dominant win over Bobby Green at the main event of last weekend’s UFC Vegas 49 event certainly impressed the best UFC betting sites.
Following the win, the oddsmakers have opened the betting odds if Makhachev challenges for the UFC lightweight title in his next bout. Although last Saturday’s win did not guarantee him a title shot, Makhachev has likely earned a shot at the belt with 10 consecutive wins inside the UFC Octagon.
Islam Makhachev Favored Against Both Oliveira and Gaethje
Islam Makhachev (-600) is an even bigger favorite over Justin Gaethje (+450) ? https://t.co/Z4TVf2sKdq
— BetOnline.ag (@betonline_ag) February 27, 2022
According to online sportsbook BetOnline, Makhachev is the -415 betting favorite if he fights current lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, next for the belt. The Brazilian hit the betting boards at +345 odds against Makhachev. Oliveira has been betting underdog twice during his 10-fight winning streak, closing at +160 against Tony Ferguson and +120 against Dustin Poirier.
Meanwhile, Makhachev is an even bigger favorite if Gaethje defeats Oliveira at UFC 274 on May 7th. Do Bronx is currently the -155 favorite and Gaethje the +135 bottom dog but given the latter’s knockout power, there’s no way you can count Gaethje out. If the Highlight does beat Oliveira, he will be a +450 underdog against Makhachev’s -600. It’s the longest odds ever for Gaethje in the UFC.
Makhachev has never seen the plus money sign written next to his name while fighting under the UFC. Makhachev has been a favorite of at least -300 in each of his last seven bouts. The Dagestani fighter was a massive -900 betting favorite when he knocked out Bobby Green last weekend.
Makhachev vs RDA?
Islam Makhachev offers to step in against Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 272; RDA responds https://t.co/Y7jLWB6TXx
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) March 1, 2022
A day after the best UFC sportsbooks opened the odds for Makhachev’s potential title challenge, the Dagestani offered to fight former lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos in a 170-pound match after Dos Anjos lost his UFC 272 opponent Rafael Fiziev due to injury. RDA has verbally accepted Makhachev’s offer but right now, it remains to be seen if the UFC will book the fight.
Makhachev and Dos Anjos have unfinished business. The two were booked to fight each other at UFC 254 in October 2020 but Dos Anjos contracted COVID-19 causing the bout to be moved. It was rebooked for UFC Vegas 14 one month later but Makhachev withdrew from the bout due to undisclosed reasons. The UFC tried to book it a third time at UFC 267 but Dos Anjos got injured and the matchup was scrapped.
It’s not likely that the UFC will book the fight which is supposed to take place this Saturday. But even if it does happen, it won’t change Makhachev’s status at lightweight because the proposed fight is at 170-pounds. However, the UFC may be wary about Makhachev suffering an injury because if the rumors are correct, the UFC will close the year with a big event in Dubai and Makhachev’s title shot against either Oliveira or Gaethje could headline the event.
