UFC Fight Night Predictions: 4 Best Bets for Saturday, May 31

With UFC 316 just around the corner, MMA’s premier organization will provide fans with a top-notch card ahead of next week’s PPV. With prelims starting at 6:30 p.m., viewers will be treated to 11 total MMA matchups on Saturday.

What should bettors expect from the main card? We’ll cover all four fights below, providing bettors with our top choices in each of these matchups for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night.

Zachary Reese (8-2) vs Duško Todorović (12-5)

The main card’s initial matchup features two fighters who experienced TKO losses in their last outing. Reese lost his middleweight division fight to up-and-comer Azamat Bekoev in the first round, lasting just over three minutes with the Russian. Now, he’ll regroup in his fifth UFC fight, looking for his third win in the MMA’s top organization.

Reese is heavily favored in his matchup against Todorović on Saturday. Todorović is at a disadvantage as the 6-foot-1 fighter is giving up three inches in both height and reach to his opponent. The Serbian hasn’t lasted a full match since 2021 as he’s relied on powerful moves and strikes to take down opponents quickly. That’s worked against him, too.

Best Bet: UNDER 1.5 Rounds (-172)

Dustin Jacoby (20-9-1) vs Bruno Lopes (14-1)

The matchup between Jacoby and Lopes features a seasoned light heavyweight UFC veteran versus a relative unknown. Jacoby has 13 UFC fights under his belt, but the 37-year-old has dropped four of the previous six fights he’s entered. He’s 8-4-1 since entering the MMA’s premier organization, but the veteran cager is heading toward the end of his career.

Conversely, Lopes is a fresh face to the MMA scene. The 6-foot-2 athlete fought his first UFC Fight Night match in January, defeating Magomed Gadzhiyasulov in a unanimous decision. The 32-year-old needs to put together a win streak in order to make a name for himself. A win on Saturday will certainly help the Brazilian’s cause.

Best Bet: Lopes To Win (+175)

Mateusz Gamrot (24-3) vs Ludovit Klein (23-4-1)

The penultimate fight features a pair of heavyweights in the lightweight division. Gamrot has been featured on UFC PPVs in four of his past fights and is ranked No. 7 in the division. Since reaching the UFC, the fighter is 7-3, and he enters Saturday’s matchup with a loss to Dan Hooker in his last outing.

Gamrot’s opponent for UFC Fight Night should be an excellent matchup. Klein will be giving up three inches to Gamrot, but “Mr. Highlight” has a two-inch reach advantage. After losing two of his first three UFC fights, Klein is 6-0-1 in his past seven outings. A win would likely vault the 30-year-old Slovakian into the UFC rankings.

Best Bet: OVER 2.5 Rounds (-330)

Erin Blanchfield (13-2) vs. Maycee Barber (14-2)

The main event of UFC Fight Night’s card features two of the top flyweight contenders. Blanchfield last fought in November, earning a unanimous decision over former champion Rose Namajunas in a five-round bout. Since joining the UFC, the 26-year-old is 7-1, and her only loss was to Manon Fiorot.

Barber’s layoff has been significantly longer as she recovered from an injury following her unanimous decision over Katlyn Cerminara last March. It was her sixth straight victory, but “The Future” has been on hold as she recovered from multiple health scares. Can the grappler overcome Blanchfield’s reach advantage to claim a seventh straight win?

Best Bet: Blanchfield To Win (-240)