Jack Hermansson vs. Chris Curtis is the co-main event for UFC Fight Night betting on July 23 from the O2 Arena in London.
Hermansson was originally scheduled to face Darren Till at this event, but after Till withdrew with an injury, the fast-rising Curtis stepped in. UFC bettings odds opened with Hermansson as a -160 favorite but money has rolled in on Curtis, shifting this fight to a pick'em.
We bring you our best free Hermansson vs. Curtis picks and predictions for tonight's UFC Fight Night.
Hermansson vs Curtis fight odds
Live odds courtesy bet365.
Hermansson vs Curtis method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Jack Hermansson | Chris Curtis |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +550 | +230 |
| To win by Points | +270 | +330 |
| To win by Submission | +500 | +2,600 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook on July 21, 2022.
Hermansson vs Curtis picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Hermansson vs Curtis betting preview
Jack "The Joker" Hermansson is the No. 8-ranked middleweight contender. He lost to Sean Strickland by split decision when he last stepped into the Octagon back in February.
Hermansson broke into the rankings after a four-fight win streak between 2017 and 2019 but has had mixed results since then, going 2-3 over his last five fights. That said, he's been facing some of the better fighters in the middleweight division and his most recent defeats (to Strickland and No. 3 contender Marvin Vettori) were competitive bouts.
Hermansson is an excellent grappler, with three of his last five wins coming via submission. However, he's also a crafty striker who likes to switch stances and set up combinations with feints and leg kicks.
Chris "The Action Man" Curtis is fresh off a unanimous decision victory against Rodolfo Vieira last month where he pummeled the grappling specialist with shots to the body and stuffed an incredible 20 takedown attempts.
Curtis has now racked up eight wins in a row, including three victories in the octagon since making his UFC debut with a first-round knockout of Phil Hawes last November. The 35-year-old has enjoyed a lengthy MMA career on the regional circuit and finished current UFC fighter Andre Fialho in 2019 while losing to Top-5 welterweight Belal Muhammad all the way back in 2014.
Curtis is a very dangerous striker that throws with volume and power, and he has the takedown defense to keep fights standing up.
Hermansson vs Curtis tale of the tape
| Jack Hermansson | Chris Curtis | |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Age | 35 |
| 6-foot-1 | Height | 5-foot-10 |
| 185 lbs | Weight | 185 lbs |
| 77.5 inches | Reach | 75 inches |
| 22-7 (11 KO) | Record | 29-8 (16 KO) |
Hermansson vs Curtis UFC prediction and best bet
Our prediction is compiled from the analysis of the fighters and is an indication of who we are leaning with to win this bout.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this fight or where the most value lies, and is where we would put some of our bankroll behind.
Prediction: Curtis ML
The odds have shifted towards Curtis and I'm following the line movement. Hermansson has been taking on killers but when he can't implement his grappling early, he gets drawn into extended striking exchanges, which will be a problem against the strong-armed Curtis.
Curtis has excellent takedown defense and is coming off a fight where he stuffed 20 takedown attempts. Meanwhile, Hermansson went 0-for-8 on takedown attempts against Strickland and also had a tough time taking down and controlling Vettori on the mat.
Curtis doesn't have the fastest hands but he still connects with accuracy and power and does an excellent job of attacking the body and head. Look for The Action Man to keep this bout standing up where he will have the edge.
Prediction: Chris Curtis moneyline (-110 at DraftKings)
Best bet: Fight to go the distance - Yes
Curtis has knockout power but Hermansson has a granite chin with the durability to eat punches. Not to mention that Curtis will likely be hesitant to go all out with his striking because he'll need to watch out for the takedown threat that the Joker possesses.
That said, Hermansson will likely have a tough time getting the finish as well. The Joker typically ends fights via submission or ground-and-pound and he won't be able to pull those off if he can't get Curtis to the mat. Bet on this fight to go the distance at plus money.
Pick: Fight to go the distance (+110 at FanDuel)
