UFC on ESPN+ 96: Alex Perez vs. Muhammad Mokaev Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Mar 2)
- Muhammad Mokaev is hoping to prolong his unbeaten run.
- Alex Perez is fighting only his third fight in this decade.
- Perez is a former UFC Flyweight title contender.
Alex Perez vs. Muhammad Mokaev odds suggest The Punisher will get the job done on March 2 in Vegas. Mokaev is a -360 favorite and in this preview, we’re going to explain why that’s the case. We’re also going to give you advice on whether or not to back the betting favorite.
How to Watch
- When: Saturday, March 2, 2023, at 10:00 p.m. ET
- Where: UFC Apex, Enterprise (Vegas), Nevada
- How to Watch: ESPN+
Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Alex Perez | +260 |
| Muhammad Mokaev | -360 |
Fight Preview
The main reason why Alex Perez vs. Muhammad Mokaev odds are favoring Mokaev is that the Dagestani-born English fighter is undefeated in his professional career. The Punisher has 11 wins in his portfolio, along with one no contest, and zero losses.
He’s been fighting in the UFC for almost two years, winning five fights so far. Four of those wins happened by submission and for one of those, he got a Performance of the Night bonus.
However, there’s a caveat – Mokaev has never fought such a good grappler as Alex Perez. In fact, the four fighters he’s defeated so far in the UFC are nowhere near as good as the former UFC Flyweight title challenger.
Perez is 24-7 overall, but he lost his last two fights, which is one of the main reasons why UFC on ESPN+ 96 odds are favoring his opponent. However, those losses happened to Alexandre Pantoja and Deiveson Figueiredo.
The loss to Figueiredo happened in 2020 in a title fight, while the loss to Pantoja happened two years later. That was the last time Perez fought, but this doesn’t mean he’s unfit. On the contrary, he spent the last year preparing for his return to Octagon, but three of his bouts fell through.
Alex Perez vs. Muhammad Mokaev Prediction
Although we understand why Mokaev is the betting favorite, we do think there’s a good chance Perez will beat him. This guy is a top-class wrestler who’s got plenty of experience fighting at a top level. No one should be surprised if he ends up winning at UFC on ESPN+ 96.
Free Pick
- Alex Perez
