UFC on ESPN 46: Vettori vs. Cannonier Odds, Schedule, Predictions
A pivotal middleweight clash between Jared Cannonier and Marvin Vettori closes out UFC on ESPN 46 from the UFC's Apex Facility in Las Vegas.
Cannonier and Vettori round out the latest middleweight rankings and both are looking to build the momentum of a winning streak after failed title bids.
Cannonier lost to Israel Adesanya in July 2022 but bounced back with a win over Sean Strickland in his next appearance. Meanwhile, Vettori is 2-1 since his failed bid to take Adesanya's belt in 2021.
Arman Tsarukyan looks to continue his ascent up the lightweight rankings in the co-main event. The 26-year-old will meet Joaquim Silva, a veteran with enough experience to test Tsarukyan as he looks to prove he's a challenger.
Here's a look at the complete card with a closer look and predictions for the featured bouts.
Fight Card, Schedule and Odds
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Main Card (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)
- Jared Cannonier (+105) vs. Marvin Vettori (-125)
- Joaquim Silva (+700) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (-1050)
- Christian Duncan (-155) vs. Armen Petrosyan (+135)
- Lucas Almeida (+170) vs. Pat Sabatini (-200)
- Nikolas Motta (+165) vs. Manuel Torres (-195)
- Nicolas Dalby (+165) vs. Muslim Salikhov (-195)
Prelims (ESPN2/ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
- Alessandro Costa (-280) vs. Jimmy Flick (+235)
- Kyung Ho Kang (+115) vs. Cristian Quinonez (-135)
- Denys Bondar (-125) vs. Carlos Hernandez (+105)
- Tereza Bleda (-225) vs. Gabriella Fernandes (+190)
- Dan Argueta (+165) vs. Ronnie Lawrence (-195)
- Modestas Bukauskas (-200) vs. Zac Pauga (+170)
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Vettori vs. Cannonier
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Marvin Vettori and Jared Cannonier is a fascinating matchup because of the polarity of the two fighters' styles.
Vettori is a busy fighter. He thrives on volume. He will go for takedowns relentlessly while throwing a high number of strikes to force his opponent to stay on the defensive. The problem is that there isn't much consequence behind those strikes.
The Italian Dream has just one knockdown on record and two TKO wins.
Conversely, Cannonier is a cannon. It takes a long time for him to reload between shots, but he brings serious firepower.
The Killa Gorilla has a unique career arc that includes knockout wins at heavyweight, light heavyweight and middleweight. A lot of his success is owed to his power. He has the ability to turn out the lights with one punch and can push the pace if the fight calls for it.
Cannonier has solid takedown defense which means that Vettori is going to have to rely on several takedown attempts to smother his opponent. It's a dangerous proposition to have to close the distance that many times against Cannonier.
Prediction: Cannonier via second-round TKO
Tsarukyan vs. Silva
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As the odds would indicate, this is not a balanced matchup on paper.
Arman Tsarukyan is a scary up-and-comer for the top of the lightweight division. He's a dominant wrestler who can accumulate damage in a hurry from dominant positions on the ground. He also has some pop in his hands in the standup.
Joaquim Silva hasn't done much to scare anyone in the division. He's technically been in the organizations since 2015 but his lack of activity and a 2-3 record over his last five fights leaves him with little momentum heading into this fight.
The Brazilian's jiu-jitsu is solid. Three of his 12 career wins have come by submission. It's always interesting when a dominant wrestler like Tsarukyan meets someone with a slick submission game.
There may be pockets of intrigue if the fight goes to the ground.
But Tsarukyan probably doesn't have to go that route. This could be a good opportunity for him to show off his boxing while earning another statement win.
Prediction: Tsarukyan via first-round TKO
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Petrosyan vs. Duncan
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Armen Petrosyan and Christian Leroy Duncan are hardly household names. They might take a step toward that status with a Fight of the Night contender on Saturday night.
Petrosyan and Duncan are both talented strikers looking to make a name for themselves at middleweight.
Duncan was highly successful in Cage Warriors. The European promotion has produced several UFC fighters including Conor McGregor. He's a dangerous striker with a flair for the dramatic. He's a perfect 8-0 in his career thus far.
Petrosyan is a bit more polished and experienced in the UFC. This will be his fourth time making the walk to the Octagon and he's 2-1 with two decision victories to his name.
He has demonstrated some knockout power prior to coming to the promotion, but thus far he's been a point fighter who has won by pushing a strong pace.
In a matchup between two kickboxers, it's hard not to go with the more powerful fighter. Petrosyan can certainly earn another decision win but it's going to take a smart gameplan and great execution.
Duncan's margin for error is a bit wider and that could lead to him taking more chances and earning a knockout.
Prediction: Duncan via third-round TKO
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