Here. We. Go. It’s been a month since the last UFC pay-per-view, but the wait is over, thanks to UFC 312. Sean Strickland will challenge for the UFC middleweight title once more in a rematch with Dricus Du Plessis. In the co-main event, Zhang Weili will defend her strawweight strap against a new face in Tatiana Suarez. Let’s cut to the chase and get into the picks.

Here’s what we've got today:

• Main Card Breakdown and Prediction

• Quick Hitter: Best Three-Leg Parlay

• Two Best Straight Bets of the Day

Make sure you’re all set up with our special offers.

• Ballers VIP Subscription ($200 $99 a month)

• BetUS - Get 125% Bonus on Your First Deposits

• Bovada - Get a $750 welcome bonus

Share with your friends and get entered to win free cash.

Main Card Breakdown and Prediction

This card doesn’t have the biggest names, but there’s still plenty of money to be made. Each fight has something unique to watch, starting with a hometown hero returning home to Sydney, Australia.

Jake Matthews (-235) vs. Francisco Prado (+194)

Matthews makes his appropriately timed return to kick off the main card. “The Celtic Kid” hasn’t fought in eight months, and he’s sure to provide a nice crowd pop during his walkout. Unfortunately, his fight style likely won’t generate much excitement. Matthews is a rangy boxer, staying out of the pocket while peppering long-range shots.

That’s in stark contrast to Francisco Prado’s approach to mixed martial arts. Prado is a firecracker, throwing bombs and absorbing whatever comes back his way. His chin is excellent, and he should have the speed and power advantage over the 37-year-old Matthews.

He hits harder, can absorb more, and while he isn’t as technical, his speed should mitigate that deficiency. Prado is a very live underdog, and that’s where the newsletter money is going here.

Jimmy Crute (+122) vs. Rodolfo Bellato (-144)

Not a lot of name recognition here, but this should be a banger. Crute consistently fights like his hair is on fire, charging towards opponents to initiate frantic exchanges. He will likely lean on his wrestling here, as the Aussie has landed ten takedowns in his last four fights.

Crute relies heavily on dragging his opponent down and pounding them out, largely because his striking is subpar at best. He hits hard, but his head remains on the center line, a sitting duck for experienced strikers standing across from him. At light heavyweight, that’s often enough to cost someone a fight.

Bellato has the tools to capitalize on Crute’s lack of striking defense. He hits like an absolute truck, and he’s athletic and active in his attempts to get up from the ground. The Brazilian also has a granite chin, ensuring he can take Crute’s best shot and keep the fight going. The favorite is the play here.

Justin Tafa (+124) vs. Tallison Teixeira (-152)

It’s weird seeing a UFC debutant on the main card, but that’s exactly where Tallison Teixeira finds himself. The 6’7” Brazilian giant, an undefeated knockout artist, clearly produces enough fireworks to earn himself some PPV points. Teixeira is a true stand-and-bang fighter, using his massive reach to poke his way in until the wipeout straight right hand finds a home.

He’ll have a willing dance partner in Justin Tafa. A veteran of nine UFC fights, Tafa is a pure kickboxer, relying on immense power to end fights before he gets his lights put out.

On paper, this is a terrible matchup for Tafa. Teixeira has a massive reach advantage and clear KO power. However, the Brazilian has only fought professionally seven times. He’s never faced a fighter of Tafa’s caliber (never thought I’d say that), and the stage is going to be massive. Sprinkle a little bit on Tafa’s money line, but beware that this is the most dangerous bet of the main card.

(C) Zhang Weili (-102) vs. Tatiana Suarez (-122)

Finally, Weili returns to defend her crown once more. The strawweight GOAT has won her last four fights, displaying a shocking level of speed, power, and diversity in her MMA game. Weili’s excellent pop sets her apart from the rest of the division. She’s a threat to end the fight at any time on the feet; all four of her limbs contain true knockout power. She’s one of the most complete offensive champions we’ve ever seen, but that completeness is not present defensively.

Takedown defense is a huge issue for many a fighter, and Weili is no exception. She’s only defended 50% of takedowns in her UFC career, ceding them to the likes of Yan Xianon and Rose Namajunas, fighters known for their preference to strike.

Unlike the two opponents listed above, Suarez is at her best when she’s wrestling. She’s landed two takedowns in each of her UFC fights, using a variety of traditional shots combined with body locks and trips. Once on the ground, Suarez is a boa constrictor, slowly advancing positions towards a submission. It’s easy to see her path to victory here, while it isn’t nearly as clear for Weili. Take the challenger.

(C) Dricus Du Plessis (-220) vs. Sean Strickland(+176)

And we come to the main event of the evening. If someone had told hardcore MMA fans that this would be a title fight a couple of years ago, they would call you insane, and you can’t fault them. Du Plessis is perhaps the least technical champ we’ve ever seen. He relies on pure toughness and power to drudge forward through fire, landing winging shots before diving into takedown attempts.

Somehow, that style has worked for DDP, and it’s especially suited to combat Strickland. The perpetual forward motion of the champion puts Strickland on the back foot, a position he’s profoundly unfamiliar with. The power Du Plessis throws with gave Strickland pause in the first fight, and his ability to mix in silly-looking takedowns ended up winning him the fight.

That isn’t to say that Strickland doesn’t have a chance here. He just has fewer ways to win. In order to steal the belt away, the American will have to fight three perfect rounds at the very least. He doesn’t have fight-ending power, and he’s never wrestled offensively with any consistency. It’s tough to see how Strickland overcomes his underdog status. DDP will hold the championship when Saturday night ends.

Quick Hitter: Best 3-Leg Parlay

There are plenty of good lines on this card, but everyone knows betting parlays is way more fun. Here’s a quick three-legger that has a reasonable chance of cashing.

Leg 1: Kody Steele (-270)

Steele is as close to a lock as it gets. He’s an elite prospect facing a fighter who will almost certainly be back on the regional scene within a couple of fights. -270 is steep, but it’s fine as a leg in a parlay.

Leg 2: Quillan Salkilld (-650)

Yes, yes, this is a huge favorite. The next leg will make up for it, and this is an absolute lock. Salkilld is an excellent Australian prospect facing Anshul Jubli, a man who was just knocked out by Mike Breeden, a bottom feeder of the UFC lightweight division who is no longer with the company. Lock it in.

Leg 3: Colby Thicknesse (+280)

Thicknesse will face Aleksandre Topuria in his short-notice debut, but no matter. The Aussie is a polished prospect out of HEX Fight Series, one of the best UFC feeders in the world. Topuria, on the other hand, has exclusively faced cans on his rise to the big show. There’s not a shot in hell the line should have Thicknesse as a massive favorite. He should make a lot of people a lot of money tonight.

Here’s a look at what ten bucks on this parlay would net you.

Two Best Straight Bets

Parlays are great and all, but they’re also the method of bet that the books make 98% of their profit on. The money is in straight bets, and we’ve got a couple of good ones for you here.

1) Bruna Brasil (+290)

At first glance, the line looks way too big to be confident in, but this is a live underdog right here. Brasil is extremely well-rounded, relying on solid kickboxing and fantastic jiu-jitsu to win fights. The jiu-jitsu will be key here as she takes on former world champion kickboxer Wang Cong.

Cong, like most kickboxers, is insanely susceptible to the ground game. Brasil has all the tools she needs to get this fight to the ground, courtesy of the Fighting Nerds gym. Additionally, Cong didn’t look like a world-beater on the feet in her last fight, struggling to get out of the way of counterstrikes as she worried about potential takedowns.

Brasil is far from a lock, but this line should be closer to +190. She’s tough, reliable, and versatile, making her more than worth a look here.

2) Viacheslav Borschev (-118)

Borschev is a decent fighter, but this bet is more about his opponent. Nolan was supposed to be the next big Australian fighter, but that was before he got knocked out cold by Nikolas Motta, one of the worst lightweights on the roster. Nolan proceeded to fight cans, including his last fight against Alex Reyes.

Reyes was supposed to be a sacrificial lamb to boost Nolan’s stock on his home soil. No one told Reyes that. Nolan would beat him, but the American gave him hell, winning multiple exchanges and hurting his opponent several times.

Now, Nolan will face a former K-1 kickboxing champion. The exchanges he survived against Reyes will deal fight-ending damage. Borschev will weather an early storm and find a finish late in the first round or early in the second.

That's our rundown. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more hot tips and even hotter memes. We’re always having give aways and special promotions. Don't miss out on the fun!

🐦 @bettorsecrets

📸 @bettorsecrets

Disclaimer: We solely provide information about sports betting for entertainment purposes. We do not take bets, place bets, or receive affiliate revenues from companies that do. We have no financial interest in our readers or subscribers placing wagers.