UFC 297 live from the Scotiabank Arena marks the first pay-per-view event of 2024, and we’re covering all your betting needs for a fight card stacked with Canadian talent.

The UFC betting odds are live, so let’s waste no more time and delve into the most noteworthy betting picks for the UFC 297 preliminary card.

Picks Summary

• Serhiy Sidey ML (-170)
• Katona/Armfield Over 2.5 Rounds (-190)

*All odds from Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)

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Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras 2

UFC 297 Bantamweight Preliminary Card Bout

Saturday, January 20, 2024 – 06:30 PM ET at Scotiabank Arena

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Serhiy Sidey and Ramon Taveras will have a rematch on the UFC 297 prelims this weekend following a contentious stoppage in their last DWCS encounter last autumn.

Serhiy Sidey

With a record of 10-1 and a winning run of six fights, Sidey from Burlington has succeeded in two prominent Canadian regional organizations before debuting at the UFC APEX in September.

• Serhiy Sidey Pro Record: 10-1-0
• Serhiy Sidey KO/TKO Wins: 6
• Serhiy Sidey Submission Wins: 2

Ramon Taveras

Taveras, who is 30 years old, easily defeated Cortavious Romious in his second outing on DWCS last year, securing his place in the UFC. This victory improved his record and, more importantly, his confidence.

• Ramon Taveras Pro Record: 9-2-0
• Ramon Taveras KO/TKO Wins: 5
• Ramon Taveras Submission Wins: 3

Sidey vs. Taveras: Fight Tape Analysis

Taveras was undeniably dominating Sidey in the first moments of their inaugural bout. He possesses a significantly greater amount of force in his punches than his opponent, and his ability to counterattack effectively is a great way to take advantage of Sidey’s infrequent gaps in defense.

Regrettably, “The Savage” was ultimately defeated by the same elements leading to his downfall in this situation: Sidey’s resilience and expertise.

UFC 297 Preliminary Event Odds & Prediction

Sidey showed resilience by enduring Taveras’ preferred counter left and effectively responding to it in their first meeting. Despite the questionable stoppage, Taveras’ knockdown implies that Sidey has a stronger ability to withstand punishment than Taveras, which is crucial heading into UFC 297.

If Taveras cannot secure an early victory, the combination of Sidey’s well-tested endurance and additional factors make the situation challenging for Taveras. Ultimately, Sidey will likely endure the early pressure until he discovers another opportune moment to defeat Taveras successfully for a second time.

Sidey Moneyline: Supporting Facts

• Sidey already defeated Taveras in September 2023
• Sidey holds more experience and home support of the Canadian crowd
• Both of Taveras’ professional losses were by KO/TKO (2)

UFC Pick: Serhiy Sidey ML (-170) [1.70u returns 1u profit] at Bet365

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Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield

UFC 297 Bantamweight Preliminary Bout

Saturday, January 20, 2024 – 06:30 PM ET at Scotiabank Arena

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Brad Katona and Garrett Armfield will conclude the preliminary fights with an anticipated bantamweight clash that promises to deliver plenty of intense action.

Brad Katona

Katona achieved a significant milestone in August by being the first individual to secure victory in two seasons of The Ultimate Fighter. He accomplished this feat by decisively defeating Cody Gibson unanimously at UFC 292.

Hailing from Winnipeg and currently residing in Dublin, Katona has previously competed and emerged victorious in Toronto behind a supporting ‘Great White North’ crowd, and he’ll want to commence his second trip home remarkably by securing another triumph on Canadian soil this weekend.

• Brad Katona Pro Record: 13-2-0
• Brad Katona KO/TKO Wins: 1
• Brad Katona Submission Wins: 3

Garrett Armfield

Armfield was unexpectedly invited to join the UFC in the summer of 2022. He participated in a closely contested match against his former amateur adversary, David Onama, in the featherweight division but unfortunately lost.

After a slightly more than one-year hiatus, he made his comeback by competing in the bantamweight division and impressing with his skillful boxing, resulting in a victory by stopping Toshiomi Kazama in the first round in Singapore, thus proving that competing in hostile territory isn’t an issue.

• Garrett Armfield Pro Record: 9-3-0
• Garrett Armfield KO/TKO Wins: 6
• Garrett Armfield Submission Wins: 2

Katona vs. Armfield: Fight Tape Analysis

Armfield is a highly competitive underdog in this particular contest. Katona’s bout against Gibson exposed significant defensive vulnerabilities that the former has not yet rectified. Armfield’s powerful punches should have little trouble locating their intended target. As seen in his fight against Kazama, he only requires a few opportunities to deliver a knockout blow.

However, the Gibson battle demonstrated Katona’s resilience and determination. These attributes transported him beyond a superior combatant to Armfield, Valiev, and this could be replicated on Saturday, particularly considering that Armfield’s ability to defend against takedowns is not invincible.

UFC 297 Preliminary Event Odds & Prediction

I envision Katona strategically navigating through a barrage of powerful weapons to exhaust Armfield and gradually emerge victorious on the scorecards. That said, it’s the durability of Katona, which I believe presents a greater piece of betting value.

I don’t believe either man will dominate, but Katona’s robust chin and lack of finishing power will keep this fight going into the third round. The over 2.5 rounds is always live with the Canadian’s durability, and we’ll go back to the well with it this weekend behind a reasonable price of -190.

Over 2.5 Rounds: Supporting Facts

• Katona has never lost via KO/TKO or submission
• Katona has gone the distance in 6 consecutive bouts
• Armfield has never lost a pro bout via knockout

UFC Pick: Over 2.5 Rounds (-190) [1.90u returns 1u profit] at Bet365

*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.