Dmitry Bivol is a -150 favorite over Artur Beterbiev (+110 underdog) in their bout on October 12 for the undisputed light heavyweight title.
This fight takes place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and marks Beterbiev's first bout since January 2024. Beterbiev and Bivol were scheduled to square off in June 2024, but that fight was scrapped due to an injury.
Here are the Beterbiev vs Bivol odds alongside a betting preview and my best bets.
Beterbiev vs Bivol Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Artur Beterbiev | +120 |
| Dmitry Bivol | -150 |
Odds as of October 7
Using our odds calculator, Bivol's favorite status means a $100 bet on him pays out $171.43. The same bet $100 bet on Beterbiev pays out $220.
How To Bet Bivol
Bivol can't lose his technicality, no matter how hard Beterbiev pushes him. Dmitry doesn't take damage because he maintains range and rarely gets drilled with clean punches. A mad combo from Beterbiev could put Bivol on wobbly legs, and it's over from there, as Beterbiev is excellent at hunting injured opponents.
Where I have trouble is with Bivol's lack of finishes. Before his last fight, Bivol recorded nine consecutive decision victories. It's an uphill battle to fight against a savage like Beterbiev for 12 full rounds while maintaining distances and dodging heavy blows.
Bivol's avenue to victory is tricker. I recommend betting him to win by decision.
How to Bet Beterbiev
Even at 39, the underdog Beterbiev is considered one of the best finishers in the sport. The Russian-Canadian must take some risks because Bivol's jab and technicality will make this fight more difficult than usual.
In my eyes, Beterbiev needs to earn Bivol's respect with a flurry of combos early. Beterbiev doesn't have "touch of death" power, rather his strength comes as a result of great set-ups and strong footwork. He uses short punches in tight, which are hard to defend and often wear opponents down as the fight goes on.
Folks have concerns about Beterbiev's age, but I'm not there. I recommend the +120 pick on Beterbiev, but you can shoot for a KO at greater value if you're feeling greedy.
Beterbiev vs Bivol Pick
This will be a great fight regardless of the outcome. But with such a close matchup, I'm leaning toward the underdog Beterbiev.
