At last, West Virginia sportsbooks offer a live sporting event to place bets on.
This Saturday night, the highly anticipated UFC 249 will be broadcasted live from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
The originally planned event for April 18 was ultimately canceled by California state officials and Disney due to the perceived high risks associated with the spreading coronavirus pandemic. Top executives and California Gov. Gavin Newsom concluded that the safety concerns outweighed the feasibility of proceeding with the event.
UFC president Dana White’s long-awaited fight night, UFC 249, is scheduled for this Saturday, May 9th, at 10 p.m. ET, approximately a month after its initial announcement.
There are a total of 12 fights included in the event, which includes both the early and preliminary card.
The main card of the event features five fights, culminating in an exciting Lightweight showdown as the main event. Tony Ferguson, with his impressive 15-1 UFC record, will step into the octagon to face off against the formidable Justin Gaethje.
Due to the current travel restrictions, Ferguson is unable to enter the US from Russia, preventing him from fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov as originally planned.
An interim lightweight champion will be crowned after the Ferguson vs. Gaethje bout determines the winner.
UFC 249 has a lineup of captivating fights in store. Dominick Cruz will face off against Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo, while Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik are set to clash in an exciting Heavyweight contest.
The anticipated matches are expected to inject much-needed excitement into sportsbooks nationwide. Despite the closure of physical sportsbooks in the Mountain State, all three online sports betting apps are currently accepting bets.
You have the option to place bets on UFC 249 using any of the available mobile platforms.
Although the NFL Draft undeniably increased the betting activity in the state, nothing can quite compare to the thrill of live sports. The upcoming UFC event this week is expected to generate a significant amount of enthusiasm and a plethora of bets.
UFC 249 Main Event
Although fans of the fight may be disappointed by the absence of the anticipated Ferguson vs Nurmagomedov matchup, they can still expect an exceptional spectacle. The prime-time event on Saturday night is expected to conclude UFC 249 on a high note.
Despite being 36 years old, Ferguson shows no signs of slowing down. He has emerged victorious in his last 12 fights, defeating renowned athletes in the sport.
This weekend, Ferguson is set to face Gaethje, adding to his victories over skilled fighters like Rafael Dos Anjos, Anthony Pettis, and many others.
Despite having only participated in six UFC events, Gaethje boasts an impressive professional fighting record. He has emerged victorious in 21 out of 23 MMA fights.
Fans who are undecided about this matchup are in for a delightful surprise. Both fighters have a remarkable history of engaging in thrilling battles inside the octagon.
Despite having participated in only a handful of UFC events, Gaethje has undoubtedly maximized his opportunities. With an impressive tally of seven post-fight bonuses, he has rightfully earned the moniker “The Highlight.”
Fight of the Night awards were given to four out of his six appearances.
Despite Gaethje being a highly skilled opponent, Ferguson is favored by sportsbooks as the betting favorite for this main event in all three mobile options available in WV, indicating he holds an advantage.
All of them exhibit similar probabilities, albeit with slight variations.
Ferguson is listed at -177 on DraftKings, -174 on FanDuel, and -176 on BetMGM.
DraftKings is offering Gaethje as the underdog at +150, FanDuel at +148, and BetMGM at +145.
Both sides of the fight offer potential value for bettors. Despite being a solid favorite against an unscheduled opponent, Ferguson’s odds are fairly decent. Many favorites in UFC fights have faced much higher odds.
Additionally, Gaethje has effectively demonstrated his skills, thus a triumph from him would not be seen as a significant surprise.
Notable UFC Fights
There are several intriguing fights scheduled for Saturday’s fight card. Fans watching the preliminary card will have ample chances to place bets on exciting matchups.
In addition to the headline bout of UFC 249, one of the most anticipated fights is likely to take place between Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz.
Cruz’s presence on the card is solely due to Jose Aldo’s inability to travel to the US, mirroring the main event situation. Cruz, however, sees a silver lining as he now has an opportunity to seize the Bantamweight title from Cejudo.
Despite not having fought since December 2016, Cruz has previously held this title twice. If Cejudo intends to secure his sixth consecutive win, he must bring his best performance.
At present, DraftKings displays the subsequent odds for this championship bout:
- Henry Cejudo -220
- Dominick Cruz +183
Although it is expected that the last two fights on Saturday night will be the most exciting, there are also a few other matches worth noting.
The Ngannou vs. Rozenstruik match has the potential to be the most explosive bout. This Heavyweight showdown promises a unique experience compared to the other fights on the card.
Both fighters possess an aggressive style, often overpowering their opponents swiftly. Collectively, they have accumulated a total of 24 victories throughout their careers, with an impressive 23 of them resulting in either a knockout or submission.
Despite being a significant favorite at WV sportsbooks, Ngannou’s odds on DraftKings are as follows:
- Francis Ngannou -278
- Jairzinho Rozenstruik +225
Greg Hardy going head-to-head with Yorgan De Castro is yet another thrilling battle that is sure to captivate your attention.
Given their lack of experience, it is hard to predict what this fight will bring for Hardy and De Castro. NFL fans may recall Hardy’s impressive performance during his time with the Carolina Panthers, as well as his controversial departure from the league due to domestic violence.
- Greg Hardy -200
- Yorgan De Castro +165
UFC 249 Odds At WV Sportsbooks
In West Virginia, bettors have the convenience of using all three mobile betting apps to compare and discover the most favorable odds for a particular fighter. These options encompass:
In addition to moneylines, these books offer a wide range of betting options. You can place bets on the winning method and predict the round in which a fighter will emerge victorious. Furthermore, you have the opportunity to wager on the outcomes of specific rounds.
The exact winning method for UFC 249’s main event is offered by DraftKings with the following odds:
The highly anticipated match between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje
- The odds for Gaethje winning by knockout, technical knockout, or disqualification are +180.
- Ferguson by Submission +245
- There is a +255 odds for Ferguson to win by KO, TKO, or DQ.
- Ferguson by Decision +525
- Gaethje by Decision +1200
- Gaethje by Submission +2500
- Tie +7000
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