The UFC heads back to the Apex in Las Vegas this Saturday for UFC Vegas 63. The card only has 10 fights on it, but it’s headlined by a fantastic featherweight bout between top contenders Calvin Kattar and Arnold Allen. 

On top of that, there are a few other notable fights that we’ll break down for you today in our best UFC picks article right here at Bookies.com.

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UFC Vegas 63 Main Event Best Bet

Arnold Allen (-120) vs. Calvin Kattar (+100)

The main event of UFC Vegas is a five-round featherweight bout between top-10 ranked fighters Calvin Kattar and Arnold Allen. The oddsmakers have Kattar set as a +100 underdog, and he’s my pick to win the fight.

Kattar joined the UFC in 2016 and since then he’s gone 7-4 overall in the Octagon, with notable wins over the likes of Giga Chikadze, Dan Ige, and Shane Burgos. The 34-year-old American is a tremendous boxer and he’s shown off his striking skills throughout his UFC career. 

We also know he is one of the toughest and most durable fighters in his weight class, having never been knocked out in UFC competition despite facing some very heavy hitters over the years. Overall, Kattar has shown he’s just one notch below the elite level at 145 lbs, which is a good place to be.

Allen is a bit of an enigma and it’s hard to know how good he really is. The 28-year-old Brit has actually been in the UFC since 2015, but he’s fought just nine times. That being said, he’s won all nine of his UFC fights, and he’s increasingly stepped up in competition, with wins over Dan Hooker and Sodiq Yusuff in his last two outings. 

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There’s a lot to like about Allen, especially his striking, but his overall level of competition pales in comparison to Kattar’s. Not only that, but Allen has never gone the full five-round distance in his UFC career, nor has he headlined his own card up until this point.

Allen is an excellent young fighter and this is the first time I’ll be picking against him in the UFC, but I think Kattar matches up well against him. I expect a competitive striking battle between these two fighters, but ultimately I see Kattar landing more volume and more damage, and winning a decision on the judges' scorecards. Take Kattar to win as a +100 underdog on UFC betting sites and take a look at the prop of Kattar by decision.

UFC Vegas 63 Best Bet: Calvin Kattar wins at +100 with DraftKings Sportsbook

UFC Vegas 63 Prop Bet: Calvin Kattar wins by decision with DraftKings Sportsbook

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Other UFC Vegas 63 Best Bets

Waldo Cortes-Acosta (-200) vs. Jared Vanderaa (+170)

In heavyweight action, Waldo Cortes-Acosta faces Jared Vanderaa. Cortes-Acosta is a -200 betting favorite to get the win, and I believe he gets the job done with a stoppage victory.

Cortes-Acosta is the first MMA fighter from the Dominican Republic to make it to the UFC. The 31-year-old heavyweight only has seven professional MMA fights to his name so far, but he’s won all of them, including five wins by knockout. In his last fight on Dana White’s Contender Series, Cortes-Acosta scored a brutal knockout victory to earn a UFC contract. The promotion has high hopes for this young heavyweight, and if he can beat Vanderaa in impressive fashion in his UFC debut, it could help convince the UFC matchmakers to give him a bigger push.

Vanderaa was also a Contender Series alum, but let’s just say he’s been highly disappointing since joining the UFC last year. Since then, Vanderaa is 1-5 in the UFC, including losses in his last four fights. He’s just 30 years old, which is young for a heavyweight, but I think at this point we’ve seen enough of Vanderaa to know that he’s not a UFC-caliber fighter. 

He has some power like anyone in the UFC’s heavyweight weight class, but his striking defense is bad, his ground game isn’t great, and he’s shown multiple times now that his opponents can finish him.

Since it’s a heavyweight fight, Vanderaa has a puncher’s chance here, but that’s it. I expect Cortes-Acosta to take it to him in this fight and knock Vanderaa out in a brutal fashion. Give me Cortes-Acosta as a -200 favorite on betting apps, and you can take him by TKO if you want a prop to bet.

UFC Vegas 63 Best Bet: Waldo Cortes-Acosta wins at -210 with DraftKings Sportsbook

UFC Vegas 63 Prop Bet: Waldo Cortes-Acosta wins by TKO with DraftKings Sportsbook

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Dustin Jacoby (-155) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. (+135)

In light heavyweight action, Dustin Jacoby takes on Khalil Rountree Jr., with Jacoby set as a -155 betting favorite. This should be an awesome fight between two powerful strikers, and one from which I expect Jacoby to emerge victorious.

Jacoby has been red hot as of late, as he’s unbeaten over his last nine fights, including a 6-0-1 record in the UFC. Now 34 years of age, Jacoby previously fought for the UFC back in 2010-2011, losing both of his fights. 

After being released by the UFC, Jacoby went on to become a star kickboxer and then made his way back up the ranks, re-joining the UFC in 2020. Since then, he hasn’t lost, and it shouldn’t be long until he breaks into the top-10 of the light heavyweight division.

Rountree Jr. has been in the UFC since 2016, and although he’s a very exciting fighter, he’s also very inconsistent. The 32-year-old striker is 6-5, 1 NC overall in the UFC, as he’s failed to string together a win streak of longer than two fights. 

That being said, he has looked much improved recently as he’s won his last two fights over Karl Roberson and Modestas Bukauskas, both by knockout. While he has looked very dangerous, it’s hard to ignore all of his UFC losses, including three by stoppage. He’s a fun fighter to watch, and he always has a puncher’s chance to beat anyone, but overall, he’s just very on and off.

Jacoby is one of the most consistent fighters at 205lbs and he’s on a roll, while Rountree Jr. is still super inconsistent. You have to go with Jacoby to win this fight as a -155 favorite, and if you want to take a shot on a prop, give consideration to Jacoby by TKO.

UFC Vegas 63 Best Bet: Dustin Jacoby wins at -155 with DraftKings Sportsbook

UFC Vegas 63 Prop Bet: Dustin Jacoby wins by TKO with DraftKings Sportsbook

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