Max Holloway vs Arnold Allen 4/15/2023 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is coming to Kansas City, Missouri with a stacked card on Saturday. UFC on ESPN 44 features featherweights in the main event with former champion Max Holloway seeking his fourth shot at divisional kingpin Alexander Volkanovski. However, Arnold Allen, who has yet to lose in his eight-year UFC career, presents himself as Holloway’s toughest challenge yet. The co-main event features a fun stylistic clash between Edson Barboza and Billy Quarantillo. In the light heavyweight division, Dustin Jacoby and Azamat Murzakanov will sort things out near the bottom of the UFC’s rankings, while Tanner Boser makes a long-anticipated cut down to 205 pounds against Ion Cutelaba. The high-stakes Pedro Munhoz-Chris Gutierrez bantamweight battle and an opener featuring the legendary Clay Guida should make this an enjoyable event.
Although only 31 years old, Holloway remains one of the best fighters in the world, despite being currently locked out of a featherweight title shot. Since his rough start in 2012, he went on a 13-fight winning streak, becoming one of the all-time greats. However, his reign as 145-pound king lasted only two and a half years until he ran into Alexander Volkanovski, who won the title from him and turned him back in an immediate rematch. Although Holloway had to earn his way back to a trilogy fight, he is probably the second-best fighter in the division, and he will have to face potential challengers until he finally establishes himself as the best option left for Volkanovski.
Max Holloway vs Arnold Allen 4/15/2023 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions
Arnold Allen, signed to the UFC when he was 21, took a much slower path to prominence, fighting only once per year until the promotion finally got behind him in 2019. Although he has been undefeated under the UFC banner, he has had a rocky path at times. He has developed into a bouncy-range striker with consistent power but inconsistent volume. His last win over Sodiq Yusuff saw him get outlanded but win rounds as the much harder hitter. Although Allen has the physical tools to hang with Holloway, he will need to show the same kind of offensive momentum that has marked Holloway’s best performances.
In this upcoming fight, both Holloway and Allen are motivated to deliver an impressive performance. Holloway, ranked number 2 in the division, and Allen, ranked number 4, understand that a win would likely propel them into title contention. In terms of physical attributes, the two fighters are closely matched. Holloway stands at 5’11” with a 69″ punching reach and a 42″ leg reach, while Allen is 5’8″ with a 70″ punching reach and a 39″ leg reach.
Although the statistics show that Holloway lands more significant strikes than Allen by more than double, their accuracy is similar. When grappling is taken into account, Allen has a slight edge. However, it’s worth noting that Allen fights in an orthodox stance, which could potentially pose some challenges for Holloway.
Max Holloway vs Arnold Allen. According to the official UFC betting odds, Holloway is the favorite. Bookmakers have him at -155, while Allen is considered a +135 underdog. Fans are free to make their picks based on these odds, but we must emphasize the importance of responsible betting in MMA, as one punch can quickly alter the outcome of a fight.
Location: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Missouri.
Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023
Prediction: Max Holloway beats Arnold Allen by knockout.
