UFC 297: Preview & Picks for Degenerates
First PPV of the Year ladies and gentleman!
This upcoming Saturday, January 20th, Sean Stickland defends his Light Heavyweight Championship belt against Dricus Du Plesis. Boy are we in for a banger!
Below the ReRackPicks crew shares their picks for UFC 297.
Operation Bankrupt Vegas begins now.
–Main Card Picks–
*Arnold Allen vs Movsar Evloev*
Featherweight Bout: 10:00 PM E.T.
Matchup on Paper
| Arnold Allen | vs | Movsar Evloev |
| 29 | Age | 29 |
| 5’7″ | Height | 5’6″ |
| 145 lbs | Weight | 145 lbs |
| 70 inches | Reach | 72.5inches |
| 19-2-0 | Record | 17-0-0 |
Emperor’s Pick: Arnold Allen ML (+162) .5u
Same age, almost same build, but only one of these fighters has a way better opponent resume than the other. Yes, that is Arnold Allen.
I get the Russian is dominant but Allen is due and if I can get him at plus money after coming off a loss to the Blessed One, I will do it.
Give me the Englishman.
*Chris Curtis vs Marc-Andre Barriault*
Middleweight Bout: 10:30 PM E.T.
Matchup on Paper
| Chris Curtis | vs | Marc-Andre Barriault |
| 36 | Age | 33 |
| 5’8” | Height | 6’1” |
| 185 lbs | Weight | 185 lbs |
| 75.5inches | Reach | 74 inches |
| 30-10-0, 1NC | Record | 16-6-0, 1NC |
Emperor’s Pick: Marc-Andre Barriault ML (+162) .5u
It makes me sick that I am going to bet against Chris Curtis here but Barriault fighting in his hometown country at plus money just makes sense.
I’m betting on the younger and bigger fighter here who’s entering 2024 on a very positive note compared to his opponent.
*Neil Magny vs Mike Malott*
Middleweight Bout: 11:00 PM E.T.
Matchup on Paper
| Neil Magny | vs | Mike Malott |
| 36 | Age | 32 |
| 6’2” | Height | 6’1” |
| 170 lbs | Weight | 170 lbs |
| 80 inches | Reach | 73 inches |
| 28-12-0 | Record | 10-1-1 |
Emperor’s Pick: Mike Mallot To Win By Submission or Decision (-170) 1u
Mallot is currently 3-0 in the UFC and he has defeated 2 of his opponents with submissions while the other with a KO. If you are a degenerate like me, you instantly think oh lets take Mallot to win by KO or Sub. Well that’s not the paly folks. The play is Mallot by Sub or Decision.
Neil Magny can take a beating. I mean, just some time ago everyone believed this man was going to get KO’d by KO specialist Ian Garry, Clearly that never came to fruition. And to hammer this point even further, the last time Magny was KO’d was back in 2018… Since then he has fought in 10 more fights and has only been submitted or taken things to decision.
Mallot will win, but I can’t see it being by KO
*Raquel Pennington vs Mayra Bueno Silva*
Woman Bantamweight Bout: 11:30 PM E.T.
Matchup on Paper
| Raquel Pennington | vs | Mayra Bueno Silva |
| 35 | Age | 32 |
| 5’6” | Height | 5’5” |
| 135 lbs | Weight | 135 lbs |
| 67.5inches | Reach | 66.5 inches |
| 15-9-0 | Record | 10-2-1, 1NC |
NO PICKS
*Sean Strickland vs Dricus Du Plessis*
Main Event: Championship Middleweight Bout: 12:00 AM E.T.
Matchup on Paper
| Sean Strickland | vs | Dricus Du Plessis |
| 32 | Age | 30 |
| 6’1” | Height | 6’1” |
| 185 lbs | Weight | 185 lbs |
| 76 inches | Reach | 76 inches |
| 28-5-0 | Record | 20-2-0 |
JIGO’s Pick: Sean Strickland ML (-112) 5u | Strickland/Du Plessis o2.5 (-115) 1u
Strickland is a certified killer. All he does is spar. The man eats, breathes, and sleeps fighting. 5u play on Strickland ML.
For the Over, I believe Strickland will try to get Dricus to go the distance in order to tire him out.
Emperor’s Pick: Strickland/Du Plessis u3.5 Rounds (-160) 1u
I honestly just believe someone will die in the octagon within the first 3 rounds. With the way both have been saying how they just want an all out war in the middle, someone is going to be unconscious very soon in this fight.
Give me the under.