UFC 298 Predictions, Odds and Preview

We’ve identified the best UFC 298 predictions for Saturday’s MMA card. The event will be hosted at the Honda Center in Anaheim. This is the tenth time the UFC has hosted an event in Anaheim.

Everyone is hyped for the Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria main event for the featherweight title.

The main card is stacked and there are some excellent women’s fights on the prelims. Robert Whittaker, Paulo Costa, Merab Dvalishvili, Henry Cejudo and Roman Kopylov are all fighting on the main card.

We’ll quickly preview the event before jumping into my UFC 298 predictions.

UFC 298 Preview

When: Saturday, February 17th 2024

Where: Honda Center in Anaheim, California

Time: 8:00 PM ET (Prelims) / 10:00 PM ET (Main Card)

Watch: ESPN+ (Prelims) / PPV (Main Card)

There are twelve ranked fighters on the UFC 298 card. We haven’t had this much star power on a card in a long time. This will be a huge year for the UFC, as UFC 300 is also upcoming in April.

The UFC 298 weigh-ins are complete and everyone made weight. There will be eleven fights at UFC 298, with a five-fight main card. With regular weight misses in the UFC, it’s nice to see everyone made weight and therefore there are no fights being canceled because one fighter was unable to make weight.

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Expert UFC 298 Predictions

There are quite a few favorites priced above -200 on the card, but none bigger than Rinya Nakamura. He comes into his fight against Carlos Vera as a massive favorite (-1350). Vera is paying +800 to win. Should you bet big favorites on the moneyline? Find out the best ways to bet on a fight.

The scheduled fight between Marcos Rogerio de Lima and Justin Tafa has been canceled. Tafa suffered an injury after hitting the scales on Friday. It was the only heavyweight fight scheduled for UFC 298. In breaking news, Junior Tafa will replace his brother at UFC 298, so there’s still a heavyweight fight on the card.

Let’s jump into my expert UFC 298 predictions for Saturday:

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria Prediction

• Fight Odds: Volkanovski (-125) vs. Topuria (-105)

Volkanovski (26-3) is 13-2 in the UFC, with both losses against Islam Makhachev. He was knocked out by a head kick about four months ago and he’s 35 years old. Topuria (14-0) is 6-0 in the UFC.

Topuria has three KO wins in the UFC. He’s coming off a five-round decision win against Josh Emmett. He averages 4.44 SLpM, 3.05 SApM and 2.19 takedowns (TDs) per 15 minutes. Volkanovski averages 6.19 SLpM, 3.42 SApM and 1.84 TDs per 15 minutes. Topuria has 92% takedown defense.

Topuria could end this fight early, but Volkanovski is going to test him like no other opponent has. I have two UFC 298 predictions for this fight. Sign-up to Sports Hub to access both of my plays.

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Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa Prediction

• Fight Odds: Whittaker (-240) vs. Costa (+195)

Whittaker (24-7) fought once last year and lost to Dricus Du Plessis (TKO). Costa (14-2) hasn’t fought in the UFC since defeating Luke Rockhold (Decision) in August 2022. Costa had elbow surgery last year.

Whittaker averages 4.47 SLpM and 3.39 SApM, while Costa averages 6.50 SLpM and 6.38 SApM. This is likely going to be a striking battle, as neither fighter targets takedowns often. Costa has a lot of power (11 TKO/KO wins) and Whittaker has been knocked out three times. How will this fight end?

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Geoff Neal vs. Ian Garry Prediction

• Fight Odds: Neal (+195) vs. Garry (-245)

Neal (15-5) has nine TKO/KO wins, but he’s on a 2-3 run since 2020. Garry (13-0) is coming off a big win against Neil Magny (decision), but his competition has been relatively weak. This will be his biggest test.

Garry averages 6.67 SLpM and 3.58 SApM, while Neal averages 5.22 SLpM and 5.60 SApM. Neal needs to hurt Garry early to gain the upper hand in this fight. Garry has success when he isn’t pressured. What’ll happen if he’s pressured and hit hard early? I do think if this fight goes the distance, Garry has the edge.

I’m backing Garry by decision at plus money for my UFC 298 predictions.

Best Bet: Ian Garry to Win by Decision (+125)

Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo Prediction

• Fight Odds: Dvalishvili (-235) vs. Cejudo (+190)

Dvalishvili (16-4) is on a nine-fight winning streak. Cejudo (16-3) is coming off a loss against Aljamain Sterling (decision), but he had knocked out his three prior opponents (Dillashaw, Moraes and Cruz).

Cejudo averages 3.93 SLpM, 3.15 SApM and 2.07 TDs per 15 minutes, while Dvalishvili is averaging 4.46 SLpM, 2.41 SApM and 6.55 TDs per 15 minutes. Dvalishvili will attempt to keep Cejudo on the mat, but that won’t be easy. Who wins? Login to Sports Hub to access all of our expert UFC 298 predictions.

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Anthony Hernandez vs. Roman Kopylov Prediction

• Fight Odds: Hernandez (-245) vs. Kopylov (+195)

The main card kicks off with Hernandez (11-2-0-1) vs. Kopylov (12-2). After losing his first two UFC fights, Kopylov has knocked out four consecutive opponents. Hernandez is also on a four-fight win streak.

Kopylov has a lot of power (11 TKO/KO wins). Hernandez has seven submission wins. Kopylov lost his UFC debut by submission, but that’s the only time he has been tapped out. Kopylov averages 4.72 SLpM and 4.11 SApM, while Hernandez averages 4.33 SLpM, 3.36 SApM and 6.79 TDs per 15 minutes.

Can Hernandez keep Kopylov on the mat? Sign-up to Sports Hub for our UFC 298 predictions.

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Amanda Lemos vs. Mackenzie Dern Prediction

• Fight Odds: Lemos (-135) vs. Dern (+105)

Lemos (13-3-1) is coming off a five-round decision loss against Weili Zhang. Dern (13-4) is 2-3 in her last five fights and she’s coming off a loss against Jessica Andrade (TKO). Lemos has eight TKO/KO wins.

Dern has limited power, but she has seven submission wins. Lemos has been tapped out once. Lemos is averaging 3.54 SLpM and 4.66 SApM, while Dern averages 3.49 SLpM and 4.21 SApM. Neither fighter is averaging many takedowns. Lemos will have a 2” reach edge and is the better fighter.

Will age catch up to her? I’m not convinced and I’m surprised by these UFC 298 odds.

I’m backing Lemos to win for my UFC 298 predictions on Saturday.

Best Bet: Amanda Lemos ML (-135)

That wraps up my UFC 298 predictions. Become a Sports Hub member to access all of our expert UFC 298 predictions for Saturday. With no football, the UFC is the biggest event to bet on this weekend.

UFC 298 Odds

Here are the UFC 298 odds for all eleven fights:

• Alexander Volkanovski (-125) vs. Ilia Topuria (-105)
• Robert Whittaker (-240) vs. Paulo Costa (+195)
• Geoff Neal (+195) vs. Ian Garry (-245)
• Merab Dvalishvili (-235) vs. Henry Cejudo (+190)
• Anthony Hernandez (-245) vs. Roman Kopylov (+195)
• Amanda Lemos (-135) vs. Mackenzie Dern (+105)
• Rinya Nakamura (-1350) vs. Carlos Vera (+800)
• Zhang Mingyang (-125) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (-105)
• Josh Quinlan (+170) vs. Danny Barlow (-210)
• Oban Elliott (-310) vs. Val Woodburn (+240)
• Andrea Lee (+155) vs. Miranda Maverick (-185)

This is a stacked fight card. The UFC is going to be exciting for the next couple months. Make sure you don’t miss out on any UFC 298 predictions by signing up for a Sports Hub membership.