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Alexander Volkov and Jairzinho Rozenstruik are both aware of the stakes as the ranked heavyweights prepare to square off Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik. Their matchup tops the main UFC fight card (4 p.m. ET) from the Apex facility in Las Vegas. Although both fighters have been perennial contenders over the past few years, they have both stumbled to losses in two of their last three. The No. 7-ranked Volkov and No. 8-ranked Rozenstruik both acknowledged this week that the loser of their matchup is likely headed out of the top-10 rankings, while the winner can remain a viable contender in the crowded division.

Caesars Sportsbook lists Volkov as the -155 favorite (risk $155 to win $100), while Rozenstruik is the +135 underdog in the latest UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik odds. In the co-main event, Movsar Evloev (-400) faces Dan Ige (+320) in a matchup of featherweight contenders. Before making any UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik picks, make sure you check out the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine combat expert Andrew Gombas. 

With more than 1,400 pickss tracked by the third-party monitoring service Bet MMA, he has shown a six-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 in memorable fashion by encouraging SportsLine members to back Calvin Kattar (+200) against Giga Chikadze (-240) in a battle of ranked featherweight contenders in the main event. Kattar dominated to win a unanimous decision and give his followers an easy winner. Anyone who has followed Gombas already has seen massive returns. 

Now, with UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik (see tickets at StubHub) approaching, Gombas has studied the card from every angle and released his top MMA picks. Those picks are available at SportsLine.

UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik preview 

Although they have different fighting styles, Volkov and Rozenstruik have seen their careers follow similar trajectories. Both were once hailed as among the most promising prospects in the division but have consistently come up short against world-class opposition. The winner of Saturday's main event will remain in the title picture, but the loser could be relegated to the role of top-15 gatekeeper. 

Rozenstruik (12-3) wowed MMA observers with devastating power that saw him knock out his first four UFC opponents. However, he is just 2-3 since that promising start and his losses have come against current champion Francis Ngannou, former interim champion Ciryl Gane and No. 4-ranked Curtis Blaydes. 

The 34-year-old Surinamese fighter went 1-2 in 2021, with losses to Gane and Blaydes sandwiched around a knockout victory over prospect Augusto Sakai in June. The September defeat against Blaydes was marked by inactivity from both fighters, and Rozenstruik has developed a reputation for hesitance to pull the trigger against upper-tier opponents. 

Volkov (34-10), 33, similarly won his first four UFC fights and appeared to be on the fast track toward a potential title shot. But he has split his last eight appearances since, with the first defeat coming on a late knockout by two-time title challenger Derrick Lewis after Volkov had controlled most of the fight.

Volkov and Rozenstruik have numerous common opponents and the Russian fighter also has registered losses against Gane and Blaydes. His last appearance came in a March main event against rising prospect Tom Aspinall, who finished Volkov in the first round. Aspinall is now ranked No. 6, just ahead of both Volkov and Rozenstruik. You can only see who to back at UFC Fight Night here.

UFC Fight Night predictions

We'll reveal one of Gombas' UFC Fight Night selections here: He is backing Michael Trizano (-245) to get his hand raised against Lucas Almeida (+205) in a matchup of featherweight prospects on the main card.

Trizano (9-2) is considered a well-rounded prospect who joined the UFC following stops at Bellator and Ring of Combat. He earned a roster spot with a victory on the recruiting program "The Ultimate Fighter" in July 2018 and has since split four fights with the promotion. The 30-year-old New Yorker is looking to rebound from a decision loss to fellow prospect Hakeem Dawodu.

Almeida (13-1) is a straight-ahead brawler who has eight knockouts and five submissions among his 13 professional MMA victories. The 31-year-old Brazilian is making his UFC debut following an appearance on "Dana White's Contender Series" last September.

"Almeida fights like a mad man and isn't afraid to trade punches. He starts fast and fades down the stretch. Trizano is more battle-tested. He has the better cardio and has a grappling edge, if he chooses to take it," Gombas told SportsLine. 

How to make UFC Fight Night picks 

Gombas also has strong picks for Volkov vs. Rozenstruik and other fights on the UFC Fight Night card. He's also backing a fighter who "is an elite grappler" to post a dominant victory. Those UFC Fight Night picks are only available at SportsLine.

Who wins Volkov vs. Rozenstruik? And what other picks do you need to see? 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 odds, fight card, betting lines

Alexander Volkov (-155) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (+135)
Jeff Molina (-185) vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov (+165)
Erin Blanchfield (-500) vs. JJ Aldrich (+400)
Tony Gravely (-135) vs. Johnny Munoz (+115)
Damon Jackson (-450) vs. Daniel Argueta (+370)
Felice Herrig (-130) vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (+110)
Alonzo Menifield (-160) vs. Askar Mozharov (+140)
Joe Solecki (-180) vs. Alex Da Silva (+160)
Benoit Saint-Denis (-165) vs. Niklas Stolze (+145)
Movsar Evloev (-400) vs. Dan Ige (+320)
Karine Silva (-115) vs. Poliana Botelho (-105)
Michael Trizano (-245) vs. Lucas Almeida (+205)
Ode Osbourne (-190) vs. Zarrukh Adashev (+170)
Rinat Fakhretdinov (-260) vs. Andreas Michailidis (+220)