Alexander Volkanovski vs. Chan Sung Jung is the headline event for UFC 273 betting on April 9 from VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
Volkanovski will be making his third defense of his featherweight title and oddsmakers aren't expecting a competitive fight against the Korean Zombie. UFC betting lines opened with the reigning champion as a -455 favorite and have since grown all the way to -770, while the challenger comes back at +540.
Here are our best free UFC 273: Volkanovski vs. The Korean Zombie picks and predictions for Saturday, April 9.
Volkanovski vs The Korean Zombie fight odds
Live odds courtesy of the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Volkanovski vs The Korean Zombie method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Alexander Volkanovski | Chan Sung Jung |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +240 | +900 |
| To win by Points | -140 | +1,000 |
| To win by Submission | +1,000 | +1,700 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Volkanovski vs The Korean Zombie picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Volkanovski vs The Korean Zombie betting preview
Alexander "The Great" Volkanovski hasn't lost since 2013, winning 21 straight fights (including 10 at the UFC level). He defeated Max Holloway for the featherweight championship in 2019 and successfully defended his title with a rematch against Holloway in 2020.
In his previous fight in September, he beat Brian Ortega by unanimous decision. It was an impressive performance where he easily outstruck his opponent standing up, pounded him on the mat, and displayed terrific submission defense when Ortega tried to use his jiu-jitsu.
Volkanovski has a background in wrestling and used to compete at the semi-professional level in Rugby League, playing at 214 lbs. Despite now fighting in the 145-pound division, he retains that core strength which he unleashes with his powerful kickboxing and ferocious ground-and-pound.
The "Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung is the No. 4 ranked UFC featherweight contender and accepted this title challenge after Holloway was forced to withdraw from a trilogy due to an injury in January.
Jung previously challenged for the belt all the way back in 2013 when he was knocked out by Jose Aldo. After that defeat, he took more than three years away from MMA to fulfill his mandatory military service in South Korea.
Since returning to the octagon in 2017, KZ has gone 4-2 with three stoppage wins and a last-second knockout loss to Yair Rodriguez in one of the most entertaining tilts of 2018. In his most recent fight last June, he defeated Dan Ige by decision and displayed a well-rounded game plan with a more methodical approach than the one we are typically used to.
The Korean Zombie earned his nickname from his incredible ability to keep coming forward and attacking, while seemingly shrugging off his opponent's strikes.
Volkanovski vs The Korean Zombie tale of the tape
| Alexander Volkanovski | The Korean Zombie | |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Age | 35 |
| 5-foot-6 | Height | 5-foot-9 |
| 145 lbs | Weight | 145 lbs |
| 71 inches | Reach | 72 inches |
| 23-1 | Record | 17-6 |
Volkanovski vs The Korean Zombie 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: Volkanovski (-770)
Oddsmakers aren't giving Jung much of a chance and it's tough to see any area in which he'll have the edge.
Jung has strong technical boxing ability but was pieced up in the striking exchanges by Ortega when they faced off in 2020, and Ortega was completely outclassed by Volkanovski standing up last year. KZ is also an underrated grappler but if Volkanovski could defend Ortega's slick submissions, he shouldn't have much problem with Jung's.
When it comes to striking defense, these two fighters are worlds apart with Volkanovski absorbing just 3.34 significant strikes per minute despite pushing the pace (and taking on Holloway twice), while Jung is known for being hittable.
Wherever this fight goes, Volk should have the advantage but with such a lopsided line (and growing), we need to look elsewhere for betting value.
Best bet: Volkanovski by points (-140)
Jung has a reputation for being a bit of a glass cannon who either finishes opponents or gets stopped himself. That said, he displayed a far more measured approach in his last fight against Ige and he'll need to continue with that style if he doesn't want to get wrecked in this one.
For his part, Volkanovski tends to be a high-volume striker who prefers to break down his opponent over the course of a fight with output and cardio. Seven of his last nine wins have come by points, including three in a row that went a full 25 minutes. We'll back the champ to win by decision.
