The Octagon heads back to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada this Saturday for UFC Vegas 87: Shamil vs. Rozenstruik. The card features 11 fights in total, and we will break down the main event between heavyweights Shamil Gaziev and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, plus two other bouts in our UFC Vegas 87 Bookies.com UFC picks.

UFC Vegas 87 Main Event Best Bet

Shamil Gaziev (-148) vs. Jair Rozenstruik (+124)

The main event of UFC Vegas 87 sees Shamil Gaziev fight Jairzinho Rozenstruik in a battle of heavy-handed heavyweights. Gaziev is a -148 betting odds favorite, and I like him to win here.

Gaziev is 34 and he is 1-0 in the UFC with a knockout win over Martin Buday in his promotional debut last year. The Bahraini fighter turned pro back in 2020 and so far he has had a tremendous career with 11 stoppage wins. He has big-time knockout power, as we saw against Buday, but we also saw in his Dana White’s Contender Series fight against Greg Velasco that he can submit his opponents on the ground. He is still untested against high-level competition in the UFC, but based on what we have seen from him so far, he looks like a future contender.

Rozenstruik is 35 and he is 7-5 in the UFC with all seven wins coming by way of knockout. The Suriname native is a powerful kickboxer who has picked up some very impressive wins in the UFC since joining the promotion back in 2019. However, when he has stepped up to fight elite fighters, he has faltered, and he’s struggled lately with losses in three of his last four bouts. He always packs a puncher’s chance, but his striking defense isn’t strong and his takedown defense isn’t the greatest either. Against Gaziev, he will have to land that big blow on his opponent and put him away, but on paper, this looks like it will be a difficult fight for him.

Gaziev looked amazing in his UFC debut back in December, so even though Rozenstruik has far more UFC experience, I like Gaziev to get the win in this fight and move into the rankings just based on his momentum. Go with Gaziev to win at -148, and take him to win by knockout.

UFC Vegas 87 Best Bet: Shamil Gaziev wins at -148 with DraftKings Sportsbook

UFC Vegas 87 Best Prop Bet: Shamil Gaziev wins by TKO with DraftKings Sportsbook

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Other UFC Vegas 87 Best Bets

Vitor Petrino (-298) vs. Tyson Pedro (+240)

The light heavyweights go at it in the co-main event when Vitor Petrino faces Tyson Pedro. Petrino is a -298 favorite and I like him to finish this fight devastatingly.

Petrino is 26 and he is 3-0 in the UFC with two stoppage wins. The Brazilian won a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022 with a brutal knockout and so far, he has looked like a terrific light heavyweight prospect. He has big-time knockout power on the feet, and we’ve also seen him take his opponents down and finish them on the mat. Undefeated with a 10–0 record, with nine wins by finish, there is a lot to like about Petrino going forward. The UFC is very high on him and there is no reason to think he can’t make a push for the top 15.

Pedro is 32 and he is 6-4 in the UFC. The Aussie first joined the UFC in 2016 and he has had some big wins over the years, earning six UFC finishes, but he has also lost some fights he should have won and he’s been both knocked out and submitted inside the Octagon. He is a very dangerous fighter who has won three of his last four fights by knockout. At the same time, though, it does feel like he feasts on low-level opposition and loses to more talented fighters.

I think this is going to be a slugfest for as long as it lasts, and I view Petrino as the fighter with more upside who has a ton to gain here with a big finish. Look for these two to go toe-to-toe, with Petrino landing the KO blow and finishing Pedro by knockout. Take Petrino as a -298 betting apps favorite, and go with him to win this fight by TKO for a prop.

UFC Vegas 87 Best Bet: Vitor Petrino wins at -298 with DraftKings Sportsbook

UFC Vegas 87 Best Prop Bet: Vitor Petrino wins by TKO with DraftKings Sportsbook

Muhammad Mokaev (-360) vs. Alex Perez (+285)

The flyweights are on display when Muhammad Mokaev takes on Alex Perez. Mokaev is a -360 betting favorite, and I like him to remain undefeated and move to 12-0, 1 NC with a big win here.

Mokaev is 23 and he is 5-0 in the UFC with four wins by way of submission. The Brit is one of the top young fighters at 125 lbs in the UFC and he could potentially be a future champion. He has shown phenomenal grappling skills so far in the UFC, averaging over six takedowns per 15 minutes, and he is ultra-dangerous on the mat with his submission skills. His striking is still a work in progress but overall he is a solid flyweight fighter with a ton of upside going forward. Going up against Perez, there is no doubt Mokaev will be looking to get a submission win.

Perez is 31 and he is 6-3 in the UFC. The American appeared on the first season of Dana White’s Contender Series back in 2017 and earned a UFC contract with a finish. He then won six of his first seven UFC fights, including four wins by stoppage, and was looking like a serious title contender. However, after losing in a title fight to Deiveson Figueiredo in 2020, he has struggled to stay healthy, fighting just once since then, losing that fight by stoppage. When he’s healthy, Perez is a top-tier flyweight, but it feels like the best days in his career are behind him.

Mokaev is one of the best flyweight prospects in the UFC, while Perez is a declining veteran who rarely fights anymore. Go with Mokaev to win this fight as a -360 favorite, and take him to win this fight by submission for a prop.

UFC Vegas 87 Best Bet: Muammad Mokaev wins at -360 with DraftKings Sportsbook

UFC Vegas 87 Best Prop Bet: Muammad Mokaev wins by submission with DraftKings Sportsbook

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