Edwards vs Nate Diaz Betting Picks, Lines, Odds & Prediction
One of the most anticipated fights of the year will take place on June 12th at the Gila River Arena in Phoenix. Legendary Nate Diaz will take on Leon Edwards in the five-round co-main event of the UFC 263. The fight was supposed to take place next weekend, but it’s been moved to the already stacked UFC 263 card. It could easily be the biggest card of the year with Deiveson Figueiredo taking on Brandom Moreno in the flyweight championship fight and the main event featuring the middleweight title match between Israel Adesanya and Marvin Vettori 2.
Neither of the fighters has been much to the octagon lately. Diaz’s last fight was in November 2019 when he suffered a TKO loss to Jorge Masvidal for the BMF title. Edwards’s last fight was a win in July 2019 against dos Anjos, his eight straight since losing to Usman in 2015. However, due to the pandemic, he hasn’t stepped to the octagon again until this March and no contest vs Belal Muhammad.
Leon Edwards vs Nate Diaz Odds & Line Movement
Edwards comes to the fight as a huge favorite. At the moment, the oddsmakers have him at -425. Diaz is priced at +315. In other words, to win $100 betting on Edwards, you’ll have to bet $425. A $100 wager on Diaz would net a $315 profit. Nate Diaz has been entering the fights as an underdog for a while now. In fact, the last time he was favored was way back in 2013 in a loss to Josh Thomson. In seven fights since he’s always been a plus-money option. On the other hand, these are the shortest odds on Edwards in his career. The -425 line is the most he’s ever been favored by. He’s unbeaten in his last 9 fights, winning 8 times. “Rocky” has been the underdog in only two fights during that stretch.
Leon Edwards vs Nate Diaz Fight Preview
At the first glance, there’s not much separating two fighters. Both are southpaws and stand at around 6’0″ tall. But, Edwards is almost seven years younger and his body has a lot less mileage than Diaz’s. With his fighting style, the Jamaican-born fighter should prove to be a very tough matchup for his opponent. He’s grown a lot as a fighter in his 7-year career and possesses a well-rounded set of skills. Edwards is more tough and durable and more than capable of matching Diaz’s movement and cardio. He does tend to be a bit conservative, throwing only 2.56 significant strikes per minute. However, he’s a danger on the counter and mixes his shots well. His perhaps greatest weakness is the lack of submission game.
Diaz has been known for years as a fierce competitor, always ready to throw down. He possesses solid boxing skills and is an excellent jiu-jitsu fighter. Besides he’s extremely tough with excellent cardio. He has strong chins and can take his punches. He uses these skills to pressure opponents and loves to walk into striking range to provoke exchanging hands. Still, the lack of power compared to Edwards may be the deciding factor.
UFC Betting Pick: Leon Edwards (-425) via knockout
Edwards will be extremely motivated for this fight. It’s likely the statement match he needs to get his title shot. Nate Diaz shouldn’t be underestimated, but Edwards is a superior boxer and will look to patiently pick Diaz apart. If he fights smart, which he definitely can, expect Edwards to put Diaz away.
