Finally, there is a live sporting event that’s available to bet on at West Virginia sportsbooks.
UFC 249 takes place this Saturday night, live from VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
The event was originally scheduled for April 18, however, California state officials along with Disney decided to cancel. The risks around the spread of the coronavirus pandemic were deemed too high for top executives and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Now, about a month later, UFC president Dana White has his highly-anticipated fight night. UFC 249 will take place this Saturday, May 9, at 10 p.m. ET.
The event includes 12 total fights, counting the early and preliminary card.
Its main card consists of five fights, concluding with a Lightweight battle in the main event. Tony Ferguson will take his 15-1 UFC record into the octagon against the impressive Justin Gaethje.
Ferguson was initially supposed to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov, but the travel restrictions in place won’t allow him to enter the US from Russia.
The winner of the Ferguson vs. Gaethje bout will be crowned an interim lightweight champion.
There are several other intriguing fights set for UFC 249. Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo will meet up with Dominick Cruz, while Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik have a Heavyweight contest.
These fights should bring a lot of much-needed action to sportsbooks everywhere in the country. Although retail sportsbooks in the Mountain State are still closed, all three online sports betting apps are actively taking wagers.
You’re able to bet on UFC 249 through any of the mobile platforms.
While the NFL Draft certainly helped boost the betting handle in the state, there’s nothing quite like live sports. This week’s UFC event should prove to create a lot of excitement and plenty of wagers.
UFC 249 Main Event
Despite the fact that fight fans won’t get the matchup they’ve been waiting for between Ferguson and Nurmagomedov, they will still see a great show. Saturday night’s prime-time event should close out UFC 249 with a bang.
Ferguson is now 36 years old, but doesn’t appear to be slowing down whatsoever. He’s won his last 12 fights, including over some marquee names in the sport.
Ferguson defeated both Rafael Dos Anjos and Anthony Pettis, along with several other highly-capable fighters. He’ll be facing another one in Gaethje this weekend.
Gaethje also enters with an impeccable record in professional fighting. Even though he’s only competed in six UFC events thus far, he’s 21-2 overall in MMA fights.
Those who don’t have a preference in this matchup are in for a treat. Both fighters have been involved in some fantastic affairs in the octagon previously.
Gaethje may have only a few UFC events under his belt, but he’s made the most of them. He’s earned seven post-fight bonuses to date, helping him get the nickname “The Highlight.”
Four of his six appearances received Fight of the Night awards.
Although Gaethje is more than a formidable opponent, Ferguson is listed as the betting favorite at sportsbooks. All three mobile options in WV give him the advantage for this main event.
Each of them show similar odds, but they do vary just slightly.
DraftKings features Ferguson at -177, whereas FanDuel is at -174 and BetMGM -176.
You’re able to take Gaethje as the underdog on DraftKings at +150, FanDuel +148 and BetMGM +145.
Bettors could probably see value in both sides of the fight. As a solid favorite facing a fighter who wasn’t originally scheduled, Ferguson has fairly decent odds. A lot of favorites have seen much longer odds in UFC fights.
At the same time, Gaethje has shown his abilities and a victory wouldn’t be considered too much of an upset.
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Notable UFC Fights
Saturday’s fight card includes a bunch of other interesting fights, too. Those watching the preliminary card will have plenty of opportunities to bet on great matchups.
Besides the top listing in UFC 249, the best fight might be between Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz.
Similar to the main event, Cruz is listed on the card strictly because Jose Aldo is unable to travel to the US. Fortunately for Cruz, he now has a chance to take the Bantamweight title away from Cejudo.
In spite of not fighting since Dec. 2016, Cruz has held this title twice previously. If Cejudo plans on winning his sixth straight, he’ll need to bring his A-game.
Currently, DraftKings shows the following odds for this championship fight:
- Henry Cejudo -220
- Dominick Cruz +183
While it’s not surprising that the two best fights on paper are the last two to occur Saturday night, there are some others as well.
The bout between Ngannou and Rozenstruik could be the most explosive. This Heavyweight affair will look a little different than some of the other fights on the card.
Both fighters can get after it, typically beating their opponent in quick order. Combined, the two have 24 career wins, with 23 of those ending in a knockout or submission.
Ngannou is a sizable favorite at WV sportsbooks, though. DraftKings lists the following odds:
- Francis Ngannou -278
- Jairzinho Rozenstruik +225
Another fight that will catch your eye is Greg Hardy going up against Yorgan De Castro.
Hardy and De Castro are both inexperienced, so it’s difficult to tell what this fight has in store. NFL fans might remember Hardy from his quality playing days with the Carolina Panthers and his dishonorable discharge from the league for domestic violence.
- Greg Hardy -200
- Yorgan De Castro +165
UFC 249 Odds At WV Sportsbooks
Bettors in WV can use all three mobile betting apps to find the best price for a specific fighter. These options include:
Beyond betting on moneylines, these books provide a lot of other options, too. You can wager on the winning method, as well as what round a fighter can win. You’re even able to bet on the results from individual rounds.
DraftKings offers the following odds on the exact winning method for UFC 249’s main event:
Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje
- Gaethje by KO, TKO or DQ +180
- Ferguson by Submission +245
- Ferguson by KO, TKO or DQ +255
- Ferguson by Decision +525
- Gaethje by Decision +1200
- Gaethje by Submission +2500
- Tie +7000
