Not long ago, Sean Strickland wasn't sure if he'd ever walk again, much less compete in professional mixed martial arts. But the middleweight prospect is now perhaps just one win away from a title shot. He can make his case with a strong performance against fellow contender Jack Hermansson in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland on Saturday. Their clash headlines the MMA showcase from the Apex facility in Las Vegas, with the main UFC fight card set for 7 p.m. ET. A few years ago, the No. 7-ranked Strickland was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that jeopardized both his basic functionality and his MMA career, but he managed to make a full recovery and has won four straight fights following a two-year absence.
Strickland is a -230 favorite (risk $230 to win $100), while Hermansson is a +195 underdog (risk $100 to win $195) in the latest Hermansson vs. Strickland odds from Caesars Sportsbook. In the co-main event, Punahele Soriano (-185) will take on Nick Maximov (+165) in a matchup of middleweight prospects. Before locking in any UFC Fight Night picks, make sure you see the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Andrew Gombas.
Gombas is a former NCAA wrestler who taps into his experience on the mat to dissect the X's and O's of MMA matchups in a manner that sets him apart from other MMA analysts. He started the MMA handicapping service MMA Knockout Bets in 2018 and has shown a profit every year since.
With more than 1,400 selections tracked by the third-party monitoring service Bet MMA, he has shown a 6 percent return on investment for his followers. Over the past two years, his followers have netted a profit of more than $10,000.
In January, Gombas kicked off the 2022 UFC season by advising SportsLine members to back underdog Calvin Kattar (+200) against Giga Chikadze (-240) in a matchup of featherweight contenders in the main event. Kattar dominated the action from the opening bell to win a lopsided decision and give Gombas' followers an easy winner. Anyone who has followed him already has seen massive returns.
Now, with UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland looming, Gombas has studied the UFC card from every angle and released his top MMA picks. Those selections are available at SportsLine.
UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland preview
The winner should immediately be in the title mix in a division that has been stagnant for a while, but is about to see major movement. Champion Israel Adesanya defends his title in a rematch against former title-holder Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 on Feb. 12. On the same card, No. 3-ranked Jared Cannonier takes on No. 4-ranked contender Derek Brunson. Either Cannonier or Brunson could be targeted for the next title shot, though it's possible the winner of their showdown could be paired against the winner of Saturday's main event in a title-eliminator. Regardless, the winner of Hermansson vs. Strickland will likely be just one more win away from a title shot.
Strickland (24-3) is a nonstop brawler who comes toward his opponent from the opening bell and doesn't relent until the final bell sounds or he finishes the fight. The 30-year-old North Carolina native has won four straight bouts since returning from a two-year hiatus caused by a serious motorcycle accident.
He has continued to excel against upper-level competition, and his last performance saw him win a lopsided decision over former perennial contender Uriah Hall last July.
Still, Strickland is in for a tough stylistic matchup against Hermansson (22-6), a dangerous submission specialist who can end a fight with any number of techniques should his opponent make a mistake and provide the opening.
The 33-year-old Swedish fighter was climbing the ranks before struggling with some of the division's heavier strikers. He lost a unanimous decision to recent title contender Marvin Vettori in December 2020, but rebounded with a decision win against heavy-handed prospect Edmen Shahbazyan last May. You can only see who to back here.
UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland prediction
We'll share one of Gombas' UFC Fight Night picks here: He is going with Hakeem Dawodu (-185) to get his hand raised against Michael Trizano (+165) in a showdown of featherweight prospects.
Dawodu (12-2-1) gained attention for his punching power and endurance while compiling an undefeated record in the respected World Series of Fighting promotion before joining the UFC in March 2018. The 30-year-old Canadian brawler has posted a 5-2 mark with the UFC, but saw a five-fight winning streak come to a halt in his last performance. He was on the short end of a decision against Movsar Evloev at UFC 263 last June.
Trizano (9-1) is a well-rounded prospect who has shown stand-up skills and a solid ground game while compiling a 2-1 record with the UFC. The 30-year-old former Ring of Combat champion is looking to build on a decision win over fellow prospect Ludovit Klein last May.
"I think this is a great matchup for Dawodu. He has a power edge and Trizano may very well walk right into his jab. I think he possibly finds a finish," Gombas told SportsLine.
How to make UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland picks
Gombas also has strong picks for Hermansson vs. Strickland and every other fight on the UFC Fight Night card. He's also backing one fighter who "is a good leg kicker and has great athleticism" to earn a dominant victory. Those selections are only available at SportsLine.
Who wins Hermansson vs. Strickland? And what other picks do you need to jump all over? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed top picks on UFC Fight Night, all from the insider who's up more than $10,000 on MMA picks the past two years, and find out.
UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland odds
Sean Strickland (-230) vs. Jack Hermansson (+195)
Tresean Gore (-160) vs. Bryan Battle (+140)
Phil Hawes (-360) vs. Sam Alvey (+300)
Punahele Soriano (-185) vs. Nick Maximov (+165)
Shavkat Rakhmonov (-230) Carlston Harris (+195)
Denys Bondar (-245) vs. Malcolm Gordon (+205)
Alexis Davis (-215) vs. Julija Stoliarenko (+185)
Hakeem Dawodu (-185) vs. Michael Trizano (+165)
Miles Johns (-215) vs. John Castaneda (+185)
Jailton Almeida (-400) vs. Danilo Marques (+320)
Chidi Njokuani (-115) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (-105)
Philip Rowe (-140) vs. Jason Witt (+120)
Julian Erosa (-290) vs. Steven Peterson (+245)
