Mixed martial arts fans will have their time occupied this weekend as UFC 269 is the next event on the company’s schedule. The card is filled from the top to bottom with some amazing matchups, including the UFC Lightweight Championship main event. However, that isn’t the only bout that people are looking forward to.
The UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship will be on the line in the co-main event when Amanda Nunes defends her title against former Ultimate Fighter 18 winner Julianna Pena.
The fight was originally supposed to take place at UFC 267 back in August, but it had to be postponed after Nunes tested positive for COVID-19. Now that she’s healthy, the fight can go down.
There’s a lot of information to take in ahead of UFC 269, which is why this betting guide has everything you need to know from general information to who’s favoured to win the fight (odds courtesy of BetOnline).
UFC 269 General Information
UFC 269 will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, December 11. The early prelims will begin at 6:15 p.m. EST and can be viewed on the UFC Fight Pass. The preliminary card will begin at 8 p.m. EST and can be viewed on ESPNEWS and ESPN+.
Meanwhile, the main card will start at 10 p.m. EST and can be seen on ESPN+ or pay-per-view providers for $69.99 USD.
UFC 269 Odds: Amanda Nunes vs Julianna Pena
Odds via BetOnline as of Tuesday, December 7
- Record: Amanda Nunes (c) (21-4-0) vs Julianna Pena (10-4-0)
- Moneyline: Nunes (-900) vs Pena (+550)
- Total: 1.5 Rounds — Over (-135), Under (+105)
- Method of victory: Nunes via KO/TKO in Round 1 (+225)
The complete odds list and props can be found on BetOnline.ag.
Nunes Favored to Retain
At an overwhelming -900 odds, Nunes is favored to retain her championship at UFC 269. This should come as much of a surprise considering that she’s one of the most dominant women in MMA history.
To put things into perspective, Nunes hasn’t lost a fight since September 2014 and is currently on a 12-bout win streak. She’s also done that while being champion in two different divisions. Her last victory came when she successfully defended the UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship back in March, defeating Megan Anderson by submission in the first round.
At the end of the day, it’s too difficult to bet against Nunes. Yes, Pena may be the No. 3-ranked women’s bantamweight fighter, however, she’s also lost two of her last four fights by submission. Unfortunately for her, Nunes averages 2.50 takedowns and 0.86 submissions per 15 minutes, which points to the bout likely ending up on the mat at some point. If that’s the case, the champion knows what to do to beat her challenger.
As mentioned above, BetOnline is favoring the fight to end in a first-round knockout for Nunes. Thirteen of her 21 career MMA wins have come from KO/TKO (61.9%) and she’s knocked out the best that the sport has to offer, including Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey. Unless she’s really lost a step since March, it’s hard not to see Nunes retaining at UFC 269.
Can Pena Pull Off UFC 269 Upset?
Much like anyone who faces Nunes, Pena (+550) will be a major underdog when she enters the cage this Saturday. The 32-year-old “Venezuelan Vixen” is a grappling expert with a 54% accuracy rate, averaging 2.49 takedowns per minute. While she can handle her own against most opponents, Nunes is a grappling expert herself. It also doesn’t help that Pena only has a 24% takedown defense rate, which could lead to her downfall.
Three of Pena’s last four wins have come by decision. That strategy may have worked against other opponents, but BetOnline is favoring that the fight won’t go the distance at -450 odds. Only 20% of Nunes’ fights have gone the distance and she’s won four of them, with the only loss coming in 2013.
At the end of the day, it’s clear that Pena is getting this championship match because Nunes has beaten everyone else in the company. Is an upset impossible? You can never say never in the world of sports. With that being said, no one has really come close to beating Nunes lately and it likely won't start with Pena.
