The first UFC event of 2023 is finally here! On Saturday, the Octagon heads back to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC Vegas 67. 

The card is headlined by middleweight contenders Nassourdine Imavov and Sean Strickland, and we’ll break down that fight and give our best UFC picks for it, plus two other bouts, in the latest edition of our Bookies UFC Best Bets.

Odds via DraftKings sportsbook and current as of publication. Check out our DraftKings sportsbook review.

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UFC Vegas 67 Main Event Best Bet

Nassourdine Imavov (-120) vs. Sean Strickland (+100)

The main event of UFC Vegas 67 is a battle of top-15 ranked middleweights when Nassourdine Imavov takes on Sean Strickland. Strickland is a +100 underdog on betting apps and I favor him to win.

Strickland took this fight on short notice following an injury to Kelvin Gastelum. Despite taking the bout on short notice, I still think this is a favorable fight for Strickland. Remember, he just fought three weeks ago when he lost a razor-thin split decision to top contender Jared Cannonier. 

His stock didn’t drop from that loss in my eyes and I still think he has everything it takes to be a top fighter at 185 lbs. I’m a big fan of Strickland and believe he has all the tools to beat most of the middleweights in the UFC, and that includes this fight against Imavov.

Imavov is just 27 years old and he has looked awesome in the UFC with a 4-1 record so far. The French fighter has won his last three fights in a row, showing off both a strong ground game as well as solid striking skills. He is also a big middleweight, standing at 6’3” with a 75” reach. 

He has all the tools to make a run for the middleweight title if he can keep improving, and if he can get past Strickland, it would go a long way to showing he belongs in the elite at 185 lbs. However, I still make him the underdog in this fight despite having had the full training camp.

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I would have picked Imavov against Gastelum, but Strickland is a tougher matchup despite him taking the fight on short notice. 

I like Strickland to go in there and use his jab to outpoint Imavov and win a decision, defending his spot in the top 10 in the process.

UFC Vegas 67 Best Bet: Sean Strickland Wins at +100 at DraftKings Sportsbook

UFC Vegas 67 Best Prop Bet: Sean Strickland Wins by Decision

Other UFC Vegas 67 Best Bets

Ketlen Vieira (-115) vs. Raquel Pennington (-105)

Also on the main card is a women’s bantamweight bout between Ketlen Vieira and Raquel Pennington. Vieira is a -115 UFC betting favorite, and I’m predicting she gets her hand raised.

Vieira is the No. 2 ranked women’s bantamweight and for good reason. The 31-year-old Brazilian has an excellent record of 7-2 in the Octagon, and in her last outing, she picked up the biggest win of her career when she defeated former champion Holly Holm by decision. 

Prior to that, she beat another former champ, Miesha Tate. Vieira has an excellent ground game and she has also improved her striking, turning her into one of the best fighters in her division.

As for Pennington, I consider her one of the most underappreciated fighters in the division. The 34-year-old American is the No. 5 ranked fighter in the division and she has a record of 11-5 in the UFC, which is excellent as well. In fact, she comes into this fight in great form, having won her last four fights. That’s why the odds for this fight are so close. 

That being said, I think Vieira matches up well against her. Pennington’s takedown defense is just 63% and I believe Vieira can exploit that, plus I think Vieira can hold her own if this fight takes place on the feet.

Overall, it should be a competitive fight, but I like Vieira to get her hand raised. Give me Vieira at -115 odds and take her to win the fight by decision if you are interested in betting on a prop.

UFC Vegas 67 Best Bet: Ketlen Vieira Wins at -115 at DraftKings Sportsbook

UFC Vegas 67 Best Prop Bet: Ketlen Vieira Wins by Decision

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Sijara Eubanks (-200) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (+170)

Opening up the preliminary card is a women’s flyweight bout between Sijara Eubanks and Priscila Cachoeira. Despite being the +170 underdog in the fight, I’m taking Cachoeira to get the win.

After starting her UFC career with three losses in a row, Cachoeira has really turned things around in recent years. The 34-year-old Brazilian has won four of her last five fights, including three of those wins coming by way of knockout. 

She has shown that she has big power in her hands and she is fighting with a lot more confidence now. Her ground game is still a question mark, but on the feet, she has a chance to get the knockout.

Eubanks, meanwhile, started her UFC career with two wins in a row but she has really struggled since then. The 37-year-old American is just 3-5 over her last eight bouts, and she’s just 1-3 over her last four fights. 

In her last outing, she was knocked out by Melissa Gatto, which is not a good sign heading into a fight against a striker such as Cachoeira. Eubanks has a path to win with her wrestling, but if she can’t get her grappling going, she might get knocked out again.

This fight is a lot closer than the odds indicate, and I’m rolling with the underdog here. Give me Cachoeira to get the win as a +170 underdog, and for a prop, take her to win by knockout.

UFC Vegas 67 Best Bet: Priscila Cachoeira Wins at +170 at DraftKings Sportsbook

UFC Vegas 67 Best Prop Bet: Priscila Cachoeira Wins by TKO

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