UFC 248 took place Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card was headlined by an excellent middleweight title fight between champion Israel Adesanya and former Olympic silver medalist Yoel Romero.
Closing odds are courtesy of Several Bookmakers. Here’s a quick recap of each of those fights.
Favorites that Won
Israel Adesanya was the more active fighter against Yoel Romero in a bout in which both fighters were timid and didn’t want to lead themselves exposes. Adesanya won by unanimous decision. Adesanya closed -280 with the return on Romero +230
In an all-time classic, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Weili Zhang battered each other for 25 minutes. The fighters went toe to toe in a fight where there unfortunately had to be a winner and a loser. With two judges siding with Zhang, the champion retained the title by split decision. The champion closed -230 while Jedrzejczyk closed +195
Beneil Dariush and Drakkar Klose went toe to toe in one of the best fights of 2020 thus far. Klose hurt Dariush in a round two sequence, but seconds later Dariush wobbled Klose. Dariush smelled blood and landed another big power shot that sent Klose to the canvas. Dariush was triumphant with a second-round knockout. Dariush closed -175 with the return on Klose +155
After a slow start, Alex Oliveira landed a big upper cut in round two which opened up Max Griffin. At that point, Oliveira took over the fight and ultimately winning by split decision. Oliveira closed -135 while Griffin closed +115
Sean O’Malley shrugged off the rust quickly from a two-year absence and was able to TKO Jose Quinonez in the opening round. O’Malley closed -300. Quinonez closed +240
Mark Madsen rag dolled Austin Hubbard early in this fight en route to a decision victory. Madsen closed -300 with the return on Hubbard +255
Once Rodolfo Vieira got Saparbek Safarov to the mat he had no issue working for a submission and getting the finish. Vieira closed -500 while Safarov closed +375
Danaa Batgerel landed a clean left hand that sent Guido Cannetti to the canvas just over midway into the opening round. Batgerel followed up with strikes on the ground to finish him off for a TKO victory. Batgerel closed -130 while Cannetti closed +110
Underdogs that Won
Neil Magny put on a masterclass performance as he landed in combination across 15 minutes to win a unanimous decision over Li Jingliang. Magny closed +145 with Jingliang closing -170 in defeat
Gerald Meerschaert dropped Deron Winn in the third round. He took his back and was able to sink in a choke to earn the submission win. Meerschaert closed +110. Winn closed -130
Giga Chikadze slowed down in the second half of the second round and did just enough to earn a split decision over Jamaal Emmers. Chikadze closed +150 while Emmers closed -170
