Belal Muhammad vs Gilbert Burns Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for UFC 288 (Back the Underdog in Welterweight Bout)

Muhammad vs Burns Fight Info, Date & Time

UFC 288 — Co-Main Event Welterweight Bout
Belal Muhammad (22-3-0, 5 KOs) vs. Gilbert Burns (22-5-0, 6 KOs)
Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Fight Time: This will be on the main card, which begins at 10 p.m. ET.
Venue: Prudential Center — Newark, NJ
Coverage: ESPN+, PPV

Muhammad vs Burns Odds & Prop Bets

All UFC 288 odds, lines and prop bets are available on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Moneyline:
- Belal Muhammad: (+110)
- Gilbert Burns: (-140)

Method of Victory:
- Muhammad by KO/TKO: (TBD)
- Muhammad by Points: (TBD)
- Muhammad by Submission: (TBD)
- Burns by KO/TKO: (TBD)
- Burns by Points: (TBD)
- Burns by Submission: (TBD)

Muhammad vs Burns Prediction

Muhammad enters Saturday riding a nine-fight unbeaten streak that was kept alive by a KO/TKO victory over Sean Brady back in October of 2022. On the other side, Burns owns a 3-2 record in his last five fights, most recently taking down Jorge Masvidal by unanimous decision on April 8, 2023.

Muhammad is the one who looks poised for a title opportunity in the near future, though, so he will be the one fighting with a lot on the line against one of the more experienced pros in the welterweight division. His wrestling and cardio finesse gives him a chance to beat any opponent set in front of him.

The stats back up an upset as well. Muhammad averages a reliable 4.47 significant strikes landed per minute as well as a takedown defense rate of 92%, which both outshine Burns' marks of 3.38 and 47%. The 34-year-old can control this fight from start to finish in front of the New Jersey crowd.

Winner: Belal Muhammad (+110)

Muhammad vs Burns Best Bet

This is a fight between two pros who line up similarly both in their physical attributes and in their grappling styles inside the octagon. That makes the aspect of momentum and recent form come into play, which I noted above favors Muhammad. The quick turnaround for Burns is a big disadvantage.

Burns' aggressiveness is what sets him apart among welterweight fighters, but that is something Muhammad has taken away from his foes in the past as he tends to be the victor of slow, technical battles. This one will come down to making adjustments and I trust Muhammad in that scenario.

Bet: Belal Muhammad ML (+110)

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. 

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