Mixed Martial Arts Weekend Watch & Bet

Match information

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight contenders, Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa, will collide this weekend (Sat., June 1, 2024) at UFC 302 inside Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Less than a year ago, Strickland did the impossible, escaping UFC Apex to dethrone Israel Adesanya ... on short-notice circumstances. He became a star over night — in a weird, Strickland-y sort of way — but lost his title almost immediately. Fortunately, with a victory here, Strickland is back in the mix, lined up nicely for huge rematches with either Adesanya or Du Plessis. Costa, meanwhile, put on his best performance in recent memory against Robert Whittaker, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the veteran Aussie. It’s good to see the Brazilian fighting more actively after negotiating a new contract, but Costa has to get back in the win column if he’s to remain atop Middleweight. Strickland is one of the best defensive fighters in the sport, the rare mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter truly comfortable standing in the pocket and parrying off shots. He combines that comfort with a high work rate and sharp jab, though Strickland has faced criticism for failing to build beyond those tools. In this match up, Strickland has to ensure the jab is the difference maker. Nobody is wrestling here — it’ll be a kickboxing match. If Strickland cannot establish his jab, he’s going to end up stuck on the fence, eating body shots — not a fun place to be against “Borrachinha.” Fortunately, Costa’s face tends to be a magnet for jabs. Between his jabs and teeps, Strickland should be able to make pressuring difficult. As soon as Costa is a bit more hesitant to step forward, Strickland can look to take the initiative himself and start moving Costa backward. If Strickland really wants to make a statement and leapfrog the Khamzat vs. Whittaker winner, he may also want to start following that jab with his right hand