The oddsmakers really like both Alexander Volkanovski and Khamzat Chimaev’s chances at UFC 273.
UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski (23-1 MMA, 10-0 UFC) meets Chan Sung Jung (17-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) in the April 9 headliner. According to Tipico, the champ currently is a whopping -800 favorite over “The Korean Zombie,” who is a +470 underdog.
And undefeated rising star Chimaev (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) also is a big favorite in his matchup with former title challenger Gilbert Burns (20-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC). Oddsmakers have Chimaev as a -600 favorite with “Durinho” a +400 underdog.
Jung is no stranger to being a big underdog. According to Best Fight Odds, Jung was a +600 underdog in his featherweight title fight against Jose Aldo at UFC 163, a fight he lost by TKO in Round 4. But Jung has beaten the odds before when he was a +475 underdog in his seven-second knockout of Mark Hominick at UFC 140.
Volkanovski is coming off one of his best performances to date. He survived multiple submission scares to batter Brian Ortega at UFC 266 this past September.
Chimaev has been massively favored in all his UFC fights so far, but to be such a big favorite over an experienced and credentialed fighter like Burns may come as a surprise. While Burns acknowledged he’s taking a big risk fighting Chimaev, he said he’s more than up for the challenge.
UFC 273 takes place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
