UFC 313 'Weekend Lock' ... What's Yours?
03/07/2025 08:15 PM
UFC 313 is less than 24 hours away ...
It all goes down this weekend (Sat., March 8, 2025) from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the pay-per-view (PPV) main event, Light Heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, takes on No. 1-seeded contender,Magomed Ankalaev. In UFC 313's co-main event,Justin Gaethje vs.Rafael Fiziev will run back their "Fight of the Night"-winning scrap from UFC 286 back in March 2023.
We're starting a new series at MMAMania.com called "Weekend Lock," where we will share one bet that we feel could slap in "Sin City" when the chaotic dust settles. We also want to hear what our readers think (that's you!), so please tell us your most confident UFC 313 betting lock in the comments section below (full UFC 313 odds here).
Without further ado ...
Our UFC 313 lock is that Gaethje vs. Fiziev 2 will go three full, five-minute rounds (currently -110 in most sports books). Both men are incredibly durable. In addition, we've already seen this fight (it was very fun the first time) go three full, five-minute rounds just two years ago.
And with Gaethje coming off a super scary knockout (watch highlights) and Fiziev returning from a bad knee injury (see it here), perhaps both men will be even more cautious than their initial encounter.
Nevertheless, if Fiziev had more time to prepare for the rematch instead of flying across the world from Thailand on less than one-week notice (details here), I'd be more inclined to think there's a chance for him to stop Gaethje, who has to fully crack at some point based on all the wars he has endured inside the Octagon.
Here are the updated lines for "Gaethje vs. Fiziev 2" (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook):
- Justin Gaethje victory: +125
- Justin Gaethje via TKO/KO/DQ: +375
- Justin Gaethje via submission: +3000
- Justin Gaethje via decision: +300
- Rafael Fiziev victory: -160
- Rafael Fiziev via TKO/KO/DQ: +190
- Rafael Fiziev via submission: +2000
- Rafael Fiziev via decision: +225
Either way, "Gaethje vs. Fiziev 2" is going to be awesome. Both men are allergic to boring fights and it should look a lot like their first encounter.
It might be an edge-of-your-seat "Weekend Lock," too, but we aren't here to suggest betting on a Carlos Leal victory over Alex Morono (-800).
Do you agree with our lock of the weekend? Sound off in the comments and let us know your most confident UFC 313 pick this weekend.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 313 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ "Prelims" matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 313: "Pereira vs. Ankalaev" news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
