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BETTING

UFC St. Louis Preliminary Card Best Bets: Two Moneyline Wagers To Boost Your Bankroll

The UFC takes a rare trip outside of the Apex for a Fight Night event in St. Louis, Missouri, this weekend, and we’re covering all your betting needs for a fight card stacked with up-and-coming talent from top to bottom.

Let’s waste no more time and dive with our UFC odds right into the most noteworthy betting picks for the UFC St. Louis preliminary card bouts.

And don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel, where our expert covered the Alex Caceres vs. Sean Woodson and Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento bouts.

Picks Summary

  • Chase Hooper ML (+115) 
  • Esteban Ribovics ML (-155)

*All odds from Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)


Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Chase Hooper

UFC St. Louis Lightweight Preliminary Bout

Saturday, May 11, 2024 – 09:05 PM ET at Enterprise Center


Viacheslav Borshchev

32-year-old Russian striker Viacheslav Borshchev has delivered a mixed bag of results since joining the UFC in 2022. Behind a background in kickboxing, his striking offense isn’t to be messed with, but a glaring weakness in grounded situations has kept him square with a 2-2-1 promotion record.

  • Borshchev Pro Record: 7-3-1
  • Borshchev KO/TKO Wins: 6
  • Borshchev Submission Wins: 0

Chase Hooper

Chase Hooper, who is just 24, has been a work in progress for the UFC since they ushered him into the featherweight division as a teenager. Despite his green tendencies, “The Dream” continues his evolution with an elite ground game, and eight fights for the promotion have delivered a slow build since 2019, but one that’s also shown much promise.

  • Hooper Pro Record: 13-3-1
  • Hooper KO/TKO Wins: 4
  • Hooper Submission Wins: 6

Borshchev vs. Hooper: Fight Tape Analysis

In this classic striker-against-grappler matchup, the game plans are simple. As a former kickboxer and fighter who returns to the octagon with a 100% KO rate in the UFC, Borshchev wants to keep this fight standing and avoid his opponent’s world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills.

On the feet, Hooper is simply out of his league, but as evidenced in the Russian’s bouts with Marc Diakiese and Mike Davis, the takedown threat is significant.

Now, Hooper isn’t an elite-level wrestler, but should this fight hit the mat, Borshchev will be met with transitions, submission attempts and BJJ mastery that he will not handle.

UFC St. Louis Preliminary Card Odds & Prediction

The UFC pricing with OddsTrader’s top-rated sportsbooks places Hooper as a slight underdog, and I’m struggling to overlook this price.

Slowly but surely, Hooper has gained momentum as a 155-pound fighter, where he’s remained unbeaten. The young boy we once knew has filled out and now competes as a man. We’ve watched him get dropped, fight through adversity and win contests where he lost the striking battle.

It’s safe to say that Borshchev has some of the worst takedown defense and grappling skills in the lightweight division. He made Marc Diakiese look like Khabib Nurmagomedov. Whether pulling guard, tripping or utilizing the cage to get this fight grounded, Hooper only needs one per grounded moment each round to win said round.

Don’t get it twisted; it’ll be a short night if Hooper hangs around on the feet. However, with a huge 6’1” frame, world-class grappling, and an opponent that’s lost outside of kickboxing, I’m willing to take a stab at the plus money.

UFC Pick: Chase Hooper ML (+115) [1u returns 1.15u profit] at Caesars Sportsbook


Esteban Ribovics vs. Terrance McKinney

UFC St. Louis Lightweight Preliminary Bout

Saturday, May 11, 2024 – 09:05 PM ET at Enterprise Center


Esteban Ribovics

Argentina’s Esteban Ribovics didn’t prove his worth against Loik Radzhabov in his promotional debut but quickly reminded us of his potential when dominating Kamuela Kirk to a unanimous decision.

Aged 28, Ribovics desperately needs high-level experience, but with a diverse and well-rounded skill set, don’t be surprised if we’re looking at a top-ranked fighter of the future.

  • Ribovics Pro Record: 12-1-0
  • Ribovics KO/TKO Wins: 6
  • Ribovics Submission Wins: 5

Terrance McKinney

With eight UFC bouts, five wins and three losses, Terrance McKinney is the epitome of kill or be killed, as all 8 of his UFC outings have ended via submission or KO/TKO.

He isn’t technical, and his style isn’t pretty, but in the first few minutes of every fight, he will bring hell to the opponent standing opposite him in the cage.

  • McKinney Pro Record: 15-6-0
  • McKinney KO/TKO Wins: 7
  • McKinney Submission Wins: 8

Ribovics vs. McKinney: Fight Tape Analysis

In all but one of his 15 pro career victories, McKinney has won in round one. Since joining the UFC, he’s lost two bouts in round two and the other beyond two minutes. You’ll notice he puts his entire body, soul and efforts into the first 120 seconds of any contest, but if it doesn’t go as planned, he suffers a massive adrenaline dump, and cardio issues begin to kick in.

McKinney would be an undefeated three-division champion if the UFC held one-round bouts with two minutes on the clock. However, the red flags begin waving whenever he faces an opponent with respectable durability and the smallest ounce of finishing ability.

Ribovics fits the description of a man who can survive McKinney’s early onslaught and finish the fight once the previously mentioned cardio issues kick in. The Argentinian is eerily calm inside the octagon, laser-focused, and, most importantly, skilled in all areas.

Of all his skills, wrestling is certainly a question mark for Ribovics. Still, while his sprawling and overall takedown defense needs work, he has rarely struggled to fight the hands, return to his feet and resume a kickboxing contest where he’s most comfortable.

UFC St. Louis Preliminary Card Odds & Prediction

The pricing with sharp sportsbooks makes Ribovics a slight betting favorite, and honestly, whenever you fade McKinney, it’s a sweat early in the contest.

However, a calm and methodical style should heavily assist Ribovic, who’s never been stopped inside the distance and has the durability of defensive skills to withstand McKinney, two minutes from hell.

Once McKinney gasps for air like he is following a failed attempt at finishing the opposition, it’s Ribovics’ fight to lose as he’ll have his way with the underdog in any way he sees fit.

UFC Pick: Esteban Ribovics ML (-155) [1.55u returns 1u profit] at Caesars Sportsbook

*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.

*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-Gambler

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