UFC 277 Prelims & Early Prelims Predictions, Picks & Odds

The American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX will be buzzing with MMA enthusiasts on Saturday, July 27 when UFC comes to town with UFC 277. The pay-per-view card is stacked from top to bottom, showcasing something for everyone.

Naturally, fans are dying to see most of the fights on the main card, including a UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship rematch between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena. Having said that, the preliminary card also offers several bouts that could steal the show.

UFC 277 Preliminary Card and Odds (Odds as of Wednesday, July 27)

The UFC 277 odds listed below are via BetOnline Sportsbook.

Welterweight: Alex Morono (+136) vs. Matthew Semelsberger (-174)

Alex Morono (21-7) has been on quite the successful run lately. The former LFC Welterweight champion is 4-1 in his last five fights, winning his last three in a row ahead of UFC 277 — including his most recent two by unanimous decision.

It won’t be easy against Matthew Semelsberger (10-3), who’s won seven of his last eight outings. Four of those victories have come from knocking his opponents out, which bodes well for a fight against Morono, someone who’s been knocked out twice in his career.

This fight should be fairly competitive, but I’m taking Semelsberger to walk out with the victory.

Prediction: Semelsberger Outright (-174)

Lightweight: Drew Dober (-235) vs. Rafael Alves (+180)

After suffering back-to-back losses, Drew Dober (24-11) ended his losing ways with a first-round TKO victory over Terrance McKinney back in March. The 33-year-old Omaha, NE native hopes that a victory can help him crack the top-15 lightweight rankings.

Standing in Dober’s way is none other than Rafael Alves (20-10). Known as “The Turn,” the veteran Brazilian fighter has had one of the more successful runs in his career, going 6-1 in his last seven fights.

Three of Alves’ last four wins have come by submission. What’s promising for him is that Dober has been submitted four times over his career, so I like Alves enough to pull off the upset and potentially make Dober tap out here.

Prediction: Alves Outright (+180)

Heavyweight: Don'Tale Mayes (-170) vs. Hamdy Abdelwahab (+132)

A former Hoosier FC Heavyweight champion, Don’Tale Mayes (9-4) enters UFC 277 looking for his third consecutive win. He scored a TKO victory over Josh Parisian back in December, hoping to parlay that momentum into another win in Dallas.

Meanwhile, Hamdy Abdelwahab is set to make his UFC debut after going 5-0 to begin his professional MMA career. He’s knocked out every opponent he’s faced thus far, leaving time to tell if Mayes joins that list.

Although experience is on Mayes’ side, I see Abdelwahab pulling off the upset and grabbing some much-deserved attention this weekend.

Prediction: Abdelwahab Outright (+132)

Lightweight: Drakkar Klose (-250) vs. Rafa Garcia (+190)

After losing his UFC pay-per-view debut in 2017, Drakkar Klose (12-2-1) has finally hit his stride. He’s been victorious in four of his last five fights ahead of UFC 277, picking up a second-round TKO win over Brandon Jenkins in his last fight, earning ‘Performance of the Night’ honors.

On the other hand, Rafa Garcia (14-2) begin his UFC career with back-to-back losses, only to win two in a row since then. He made Jesse Ronson submit in his last fight in April but was deducted a point due to an illegal knee.

While Garcia could be on the upswing now, I like Klose’s recent performances too much to bet against him.

Prediction: Klose Outright (-250)

UFC 277 Early Preliminary Card and Odds

Welterweight: Michael Morales (-650) vs. Adam Fugitt (+420)

Michael Morales (13-0) has been untouchable in his five-year MMA career. He’s yet to lose in 13 outings, picking up KO/TKO victories in 10 instances. Over half of his fights have ended in Round 1, making it interesting to see if that trend continues at UFC 277.

While Adam Fugitt (8-2) has won four consecutive fights, it’s clearly going to be an uphill battle for him. Morales is the biggest favorite of the weekend, with his -650 odds translating to an implied probability of 86.7%.

Prediction: Morales Outright (-650)

Women’s Bantamweight: Joselyne Edwards (-130) vs. Ji Yeon Kim (+102)

Joselyne Edwards (11-4) enters the upcoming UFC PPV running on less than two months of rest. She made her featherweight debut with a victory over Ramona Pascual at UFC 275 but is 0-2 in her last two fights as a bantamweight.

Ji Yeon Kim (9-5-2) hopes to end her own losing ways after dropping four of her last five fights, including the last three in a row. It truly seems like Kim’s best days are behind her, which is why I like Edwards’ chances of winning a lot more.

Prediction: Edwards Outright (-130)

Light Heavyweight: Nicolae Negumereanu (+114) vs. Ihor Potieria (-146)

Nicolae Negumereanu (12-1) began his UFC career with his first-ever loss but has since won three straight fights. Two of those wins came by split decision, leaving the 27-year-old Romanian looking for a more decisive victory at UFC 277.

Though Negumereanu has been impressive, so has Ihor Potieria (19-2). The Ukraine-born fighter tallied a TKO win in his UFC debut back in December, marking his 15th consecutive MMA win. It’ll be a close contest, but I like Potieria here.

Prediction: Potieria Outright (-146)

Welterweight: Orion Cosce (-174) vs. Mike Mathetha (+136)

Orion Cosce (7-1) enters UFC 277 looking to rebound from his first-ever loss suffered at the hands of Philip Rowe back in July 2021. The Arcata, CA native had won six of seven previous fights by KO/TKO before that.

Mike Mathetha (3-1) also had his undefeated streak snapped in his last fight, losing to Jeremiah Wells by technical submission at UFC 271. Based on a small sample size, I’m expecting Cosce to handle Mathetha with relative ease this weekend.

Prediction: Cosce Outright (-174)

UFC 277 Event Details

When is UFC 277?

UFC 277 will take place on Saturday, July 30, 2022.

Where is UFC 277?

UFC 277 will take place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

What time does UFC 277 start?

• UFC 277 Early Prelims Start Time: 6 p.m. ET
• UFC 277 Prelims Start Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Start Time of UFC 277’s Main Card: 10 p.m. ET

How can I watch UFC 277?

The early prelims will be available on UFC Fight Pass, while the prelims will be available on both ABC and ESPN/ESPN+, and the main card will be available via pay-per-view (which can be ordered through the ESPN+ app).

Other UFC 277 Content on Betting News

• UFC 277: Pena vs. Nunes Fight Card, Betting Odds & Date
• Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes 2 UFC Betting: Can the Lioness Regain Her Gold?
• Brandon Moreno vs. Kai Kara-France 2 UFC Betting: Who’ll Win the Interim Flyweight Title?