UFC 308 Prelim Picks & Predictions: Neal Outlasts Dos Anjos

Rafael Dos Anjos is aging, and Geoff Neal has what it takes to pick up the decision victory on Saturday.

Danny Howard - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Danny Howard • Betting Analyst
Oct 26, 2024 • 08:17 ET • 4 min read
Geoff Neal UFC 308
Photo By - Imagn Images

UFC 308 takes place this weekend at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and is headlined by Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway.

The preliminary card is also high on drama as Rafael Dos Anjos faces off against Geoff Neal and Father Time, and my UFC 308 preliminary predictions expect Neal to prevail on October 26.

UFC 308 prelim picks and predictions

Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira
Prediction: Aslan ML (-105 at BET99)
Best Bet: Aslan by KO (+140 at BET99)

Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira
Prediction: Ferreira ML (+115 at BET99)
Best Bet: Ferreira by KO (+250 at BET99)

Geoff Neal vs. Rafael Dos Anjos
Prediction: Neal ML (-310 at BET99)
Best Bet: Neal by decision (+110 at BET99)

Click on each fight to jump to the full analysis.

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UFC 308 prelim odds and picks

Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira fight odds

Bet99
Method of Victory Aslan Cerqueira
To win outright -105 -120
To win by KO/TKO +140 +165
To win by decision +900 +750
To win by submission +1800 +700
Draw +2500 +2500

Odds as of 10-26

Aslan is a crude but powerful striker who might not amount to much aside from entertaining filler, but he's far more proven than Cerqueira.

While Cerqueira comes into this fight with an 11-0 record, he's built it against terrible regional opposition in Brazil, and he's in for a rude awakening that might have him hop on the next plane back to Sao Paolo. 

Aslan will bring the fight right to Cerqueira, and his heavy strikes should lead to an early stoppage.

Prediction: Aslan moneyline (-105 at BET99)
Best Bet: Aslan by knockout (+140 at BET99)

Abus Magomedov vs Brunno Ferreira fight odds

Bet99
Method of Victory Magomedov Ferreira
To win outright -154 +125
To win by KO/TKO +210 +270
To win by decision +425 +675
To win by submission +440 +950
Draw +2500 +2500

Odds as of 10-25

Unfortunately for Magomedov, he hasn't displayed the "Dagestani magic" taking over the UFC. He's struggled thus far, being dominated by Caio Borralho and knocked out by Sean Strickland in his biggest tests while only managing wins against lesser competition. 

Ferreira, on the other hand, is an explosive striker who fights with reckless abandon, often putting himself at risk for a knockout while chasing one of his own. 

While Magomedov has some decent skills, I haven't seen anything to suggest Ferreira will have trouble closing the distance and landing a big shot to put him away.

Prediction: Ferreira moneyline (-105 at BET99)
Best Bet: Ferreira by knockout (+250 at BET99)

Geoff Neal vs Rafael Dos Anjos fight odds

Bet99
Method of Victory Neal Dos Anjos
To win outright -303 +225
To win by KO/TKO +220 +2000
To win by decision +105 +425
To win by submission +2000 +850
Draw +2500 +2500

Odds as of 10-26

This fight between a seasoned veteran and a former champion may not have major implications for the division, but it's an intriguing matchup nonetheless.

Dos Anjos has bounced between lightweight and welterweight with mixed results, and it’s becoming increasingly clear he's fading fast, as evidenced by his recent losses to Mateusz Gamrot and Vicente Luque. 

On the other hand, Neal is still capable of putting on solid performances against tough opponents, even though he’s dropped his last two fights to Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry.

While Neal isn’t going to make a run against the welterweight elite, he’s still capable and can’t be faulted for falling short against two potential title contenders. This version of Dos Anjos, on the other hand, doesn’t have much left to give aside from being able to take a beating and still go the distance.

Prediction: Neal moneyline (-105 at BET99)
Best Bet: Neal to win by decision (-105 at BET99)

Not intended for use in MA.
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Danny Howard - Covers.com
Betting Analyst

After a decade of covering all things boxing, from recapping the sport’s biggest fights to sharing behind-the-scenes details of the sweet science, Danny found himself immersed in sports betting, focusing on the sports he knows best. As a boxing and MMA contributor with seasoned experience from growing up around each sport, he can uncover the nuances and intangibles that can make the difference between victory and defeat.

Danny’s work has been mentioned on ESPN and USA Today, and he was a featured guest on The Esportz Network podcast, where he shared his combat sports insights. He is also a published author, with his novel And Stay Down! Boxing’s Worst Comebacks available on Amazon.

Danny is always on the lookout for the best odds and props when it comes to fight night, with Draft Kings and BetMGM being his go-to sites. Danny’s approach to finding value in the theater of the unexpected hinges on the fighters' recent form, especially when considering props.

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