Expert picks, best bets: Can Reyes halt Ulberg's winning streak at UFC Fight Night?

The UFC returns to Australia this play for a UFC Fight Night paper headlined by airy heavyweights Carlos Ulberg and Dominick Reyes astatine RAC Arena successful Perth (10 p.m. ET Saturday, ESPN App, with prelims astatine 7 p.m.).

Ulberg, ESPN's No. 4-ranked airy heavyweight, enters the contention riding an eight-fight winning streak. He picked up a unanimous determination implicit erstwhile champion Jan Blachowicz successful his past bout successful March.

Reyes, ranked No. 7 by ESPN, is simply a erstwhile divisional rubric challenger. He has knocked retired each of his past 3 opponents dating to June 2024.

ESPN MMA analysts Din Thomas and Anthony Smith supply their main lawsuit predictions, and ESPN betting adept Ian Parker adds penetration connected the worth bets disposable connected the card.

Reyes has been warring astute lately. The question was always: "Is helium bully capable to beryllium a champion?" He has ever been bully enough. The sound connected him is that helium has made mediocre decisions successful past fights. If helium sits back, fights from the extracurricular and is smarter astir erstwhile it's due to beryllium aggressive, helium tin usage his punching powerfulness and athleticism to his advantage. I won't beryllium amazed if Ulberg catches him. We've seen that before. But Reyes is big, he's talented and he's got it backmost successful his caput that helium tin marque a tally for the title. -- Anthony Smith

Normally, I don't spell with guys I person mislaid religion in, but this is simply a pugnacious one. I mislaid religion successful Reyes aft helium mislaid 4 successful a enactment from 2020 to 2022, but precocious I've regained it. He is connected a three-win tally and he's confident. He has the quality to enactment hands connected people. With his newfound confidence, I deliberation helium volition outwork Ulberg successful each areas. -- Din Thomas

Betting analysis

Odds close arsenic of Sept. 25. For the astir up-to-date odds, sojourn ESPN BET.

Parker: Over 1.5 rounds. The victor of this combat could presumption himself arsenic adjacent successful enactment for a changeable astatine the airy heavyweight championship. Ulberg is the much well-rounded fighter, but the...