UFC 296 is on the horizon, taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, December 16. The preliminary bouts conclude at 8:00 PM ET, showcasing a featherweight showdown between 10^th-ranked Bryce Mitchell and sixth-ranked Josh Emmett. Mitchell currently holds the moneyline favorite status and has odds set at -225.

 

Bryce Mitchell Betting Preview

 

Mitchell is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Dan Ige back at UFC Fight Night 228 in September of this year. This put him back on track after a second round arm-triangle choke submission defeat to Ilia Topuria in the fight prior.

 

He has accumulated 16 victories that are composed of nine submissions and seven decisions. Half of these wins have ended in the first round. His only loss was the recent defeat to Topuria.

 

“Thug Nasty” has a striking accuracy at 59 percent and lands takedowns at 41 percent of the time. His significant strike ratio is solid, as he lands 2.34 significant strikes each minute while taking on 1.64. This will need to be more aggressive if he wants to succeed.

 

Mitchell lands 3.53 takedowns and 1.61 submissions per 15 minutes of fight time. He also has a 58 percent defense against significant strikes, but lacks in defense against takedowns at 33 percent.

 

 

Emmett is currently on a two-fight losing streak heading into this event. His most recent defeat was a unanimous decision against Topuria at UFC on ABC 5 in June of this year.

 

Out of 18 wins, he has earned six knockouts, two submissions, and 10 decisions. He has earned six first round finishes and has half of his four losses by decision.

 

“CCO” delivers 36 percent of his strike attempts and 38 percent of his takedowns. He delivers 4.07 significant strikes and takes on 4.66 per minute of action. This ratio is slightly negative, which could impact the fight against his favor.

 

Emmett has landed 0.92 takedowns and 0.08 submissions every 15 minutes of fight time. He also defends well against significant strikes at 61 percent and is slightly better at 47 against takedowns compared to Mitchell.

 

 

MyBookie has the current odds for this fight, which shows Bryce Mitchell as a moderate favorite to win. Bettors might want to consider adding him to a parlay with other fights on the night or choose a prop bet that would potentially pay out more than the moneyline.

 

 

Emmett has arguably lost a step at 38, but is still a threat no matter who he faces. For this fight, Mitchell will likely be aggressive with his takedowns and try to win the fight on the ground. This could end in a decision for him.