UFC 223 Odds: Khabib Nurmagomedov Opens as Big Favorite Over Max Holloway

Bookies have been scrambling to finalize their odds for this weekend’s lightweight championship bout with the announcement that Max Holloway will step in for the injured Tony Ferguson at UFC 223 (now available on Amazon Prime).

Nick Kalikas, who is a mixed martial arts oddsmaker, has opened Nurmagomedov as a -505 favorite, while Holloway is the +365 underdog. Kalikas talked to MMA Junkie about the new odds:

“Holloway is a warrior for stepping up, and I will never count the guy out,” Kalikas stated. “That being said, Holloway’s finishing ability comes from wearing down his opponent, and to me, this is a stylistically bad matchup.

“Holloway has good takedown defense, but Nurmagomedov takes people down whether they have good takedown defense or not.

“I’m opening this price as steep as it is because of all the factors that are coming into play, including the fact that Nurmagomedov was already a -270 betting favorite against Tony Ferguson, who is bigger, stronger and a better wrestler than Holloway.

“With Holloway taking this on short notice, moving up a weight class and coming off an injury that forced him out of a UFC 222 headlining bout, I’m opening Nurmagomedov as a -505 favorite with the comeback on Holloway at +365.”

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