In the spring of 2020, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, was the first location that opened back up for UFC cards, and the promotion is returning there on April 9 for UFC 273. The card has two title fights at the top of the bill, including Aljamain Sterling vs Petr Yan 2 for the bantamweight strap and Alexander Volkanovski vs the Korean Zombie for the featherweight gold in the main event.
UFC 273 can be seen on PPV and the Sportsbook fight of the night will happen at 7 p.m. ET. In UFC 273 odds for the main event, the champ, Volkanovski, is the betting favorite.
Be sure to take a look at the UFC odds and other betting opportunities at Sportsbook:
UFC 273: Volkanovski vs Zombie Betting Notes
This will be the third title defense for Volkanovski since he won the belt against Max Holloway in December 2019. Not only will the champ look to hold on to his gold but he’s also aiming to extend his lengthy 20-fight winning streak.
The Korean Zombie, or Chan Sung Jung, got this championship opportunity after Holloway had to pull out of the fight, denying a trilogy bout for the belt. Zombie has won three of his last four and this will be his second crack at UFC gold.
In addition to the UFC 273 odds and predictions seen below, Joe Osborne has also weighed in with his UFC 273 best bets.
UFC 273 Odds: Volkanovski vs Korean Zombie
Online sportsbook Sportsbook has the UFC 273 odds and for the featherweight belt, Volkanovski is the -750 favorite while the Zombie is a +475 underdog. If you’re looking to make $100 on a Volkanovski win, you need to bet $750, while a $100 winning wager on the challenger would earn you $475.
Looking at our sports betting calculator, we can see that the champ’s odds translate to an implied win probability of 88.24 percent and the challenger’s betting line represents an implied win probability of 17.39 percent.
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If you’re building a UFC parlay and want the biggest favorite on the card, you will be taking Volkanovski (-750) in his title defense vs the Korean Zombie (+475). Conversely, if you want to try your hand at the fight with the tightest UFC 273 odds, there are two options to choose from as Mackenzie Dern is a -120 favorite over Tecia Torres at -110 while Jared Vanderaa (-120) vs Aleksei Oleinik (-110) share the same odds.
UFC 273 Betting Odds & Fight Card
- Main Card
- Featherweight Championship – Alexander Volkanovski (-750) vs The Korean Zombie (+475)
- Bantamweight Championship – Aljamain Sterling (+350) vs Petr Yan (-475)
- Welterweight – Gilbert Burns (+375) vs Khamzat Chimaev (-550)
- Women’s Strawweight – Mackenzie Dern (-120) vs Tecia Torres (-110)
- Lightweight – Vinc Pichel (-125) vs Mark Madsen (-105)
- Prelims
- Women’s Bantamweight – Raquel Pennington (-175) vs Aspen Ladd (+145)
- Welterweight – Ian Garry (-375) vs Darian Weeks (+275)
- Middleweight – Josh Fremd (+155) vs Anthony Hernandez (-190)
- Heavyweight – Jairzinho Rozenstruik (-155) vs Marcin Tybura (+125)
- Welterweight – Mickey Gall (+150) vs Mike Malott (-180)
- Bantamweight – Julio Arce (-180) vs Daniel Santos (+150)
- Women’s Strawweight – Piera Rodriguez (-125) vs Kay Hansen (-105)
- Heavyweight – Jared Vanderaa (-120) vs Aleksei Oleinik (-110)
Jump over to our How to Bet UFC guide to learn about betting on the UFC. Once you’ve learned about the sport, our sportsbook review page can help you choose where to bet on UFC 273. Lastly, you can see more UFC betting news here at Odds Shark.
- Date/Time: April 9, 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Jacksonville, Florida
- Arena: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
- Where to Watch: ESPN+, PPV
Alexander Volkanovski vs Korean Zombie Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Alexander Volkanovski | -750 |
| Korean Zombie | +475 |
It has been just shy of nine years since The Korean Zombie (+475) fought for a title, losing to Jose Aldo in the fourth round in August 2013. He looks to make good on his second attempt against Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski (-750) but that will be a tall task as the champ hasn’t tasted defeat in nine years.
- Not only has Volkanovski not lost since 2013, but that defeat is also the only one on his record. He is 23-1 with 14 stoppages (11 knockouts, three submissions) while that loss was a knockout.
- The orthodox fighter is quite well-rounded with a high striking output of 6.42 significant strikes per minute, absorbing 3.34. He also mixes in 1.77 takedowns per 15 minutes, which was a big factor in his narrow split-decision win over Holloway in their rematch.
- The Great also had the highest output of his career in his defense against Brian Ortega, landing 214 significant strikes that was just shy of 60 strikes more than his previous best. He is cautiously aggressive, plodding forward but not with reckless abandon, instead really setting up his shots.
- In his battles with Holloway, he showed grit and determination after getting dropped, but those characteristics were on display against Ortega when he battled through a tight guillotine. Volkanovski batters his foes with great leg kicks before letting his hands fly.
- Volkanovski’s last three fights were Max Holloway (win – unanimous decision), Max Holloway (win – split decision) and Brian Ortega (win – unanimous decision).
- Since losing to Aldo in 2013, Zombie has sported a 4-2 record with three of those wins being knockouts. Overall, his record is 17-6 with 14 finishes (six knockouts, eight submissions) while half of his defeats have come by knockout.
- In Zombie’s last fight, we saw him go to his wrestling, securing three takedowns in the victory to mark his first takedowns in six fights dating back to 2012. The large layoff between fights, from 2013 to 2017, was due to mandatory military service he was required to fulfill.
- On the feet, Jung has some good pop in his hands but he doesn’t have an extremely high output, surpassing 100 significant strikes just once in his career (126 in 2018). He has a tremendous jab and when he’s in the pocket, he does a great job timing his opponents and countering heavily.
- Zombie’s last three fights were Frankie Edgar (win – knockout), Brian Ortega (loss – unanimous decision) and Dan Ige (win – unanimous decision).
Prediction: Alexander Volkanovski (-750) via knockout
For more on this fight, see our Volkanovski vs Zombie odds analysis article.
Aljamain Sterling vs Petr Yan Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | +350 |
| Petr Yan | -475 |
The rematch a year in the making is upon us. After winning the bantamweight title in March 2021, Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling (+350) is making his first title defense against the guy he beat to win the title. Interim champion Petr “No Mercy” Yan (-475) is that man and if you don’t recall, Yan lost that fight following a disqualification due to an illegal knee to a grounded opponent.
Aljamain Sterling is the NEW UFC Bantamweight Champion after this illegal knee disqualified Petr Yan #UFC259pic.twitter.com/lQ6ITgu9ip
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) March 7, 2021
- That championship win for Sterling was his sixth straight victory, the longest streak since he won 12 in a row to begin his pro career. His record is 20-3 with 10 stoppage victories (two knockouts, eight submissions) and one defeat by knockout.
- Funk Master is a well-rounded mixed martial artist, though he does his best work on the floor with 80 percent of his finishes being submissions. He’s trained by former welterweight champion and jiu-jitsu black belt Matt Serra, so you know he’s dangerous on the floor.
- When he gets in a flow on the feet, he can be a handful as well with his 71-inch reach, which is quite long for the division. He has surpassed 100 significant strikes in two of his last four bouts.
- Aljamain is fast and fights long with a lot of kicks and straight punches, forcing his opponents to try to close the distance before he shoots for a takedown. He averages 1.77 takedowns per 15 minutes but has landed just one over his last four fights.
- Sterling had a strong first round vs Yan, winning it on one judge’s scorecard, though he was dropped with a well-timed right hand. Petr took over as the bout progressed and it looked as though Funk Master might be stopped before the DQ.
- Sterling’s last three fights were Pedro Munhoz (win – unanimous decision), Cory Sandhagen (win – submission) and Petr Yan (win – disqualification).
- That defeat to Sterling snapped a 10-fight winning streak and was just the second blemish on Yan’s record, the first being a narrow split decision. He holds a 16-2 record with eight stoppages (seven knockouts, one submission) and has never been stopped.
- No Mercy’s fight IQ is off the charts. He often throws away the Sportsbook round of bouts as he reads everything his opponents throw at him, absorbing their power and formulating his game plan before going on the attack.
- He has a high output of 5.98 significant strikes per minute, landing over 100 significant strikes in two of his last three bouts, including 194 in his championship win over Jose Aldo. His pace seems to increase as the fight progresses and he chips in 1.75 takedowns per 15 minutes, hitting 61 percent of his attempts.
- Once Yan figured out the timing and stuffed a couple of Sterling’s takedowns, it became a very lopsided fight and that tide swung late in the first round. He seemingly had the advantage everywhere the fight played out. Sterling’s best moments were when he swarmed Petr with a flurry of strikes but that pace is unsustainable.
- Yan’s last three fights were Jose Aldo (win – knockout), Aljamain Sterling (loss – disqualification) and Cory Sandhagen (win – unanimous decision).
Prediction: Petr Yan (-475) via knockout
For more on this fight, see the Sterling vs Yan odds analysis article.
Gilbert Burns vs Khamzat Chimaev Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Gilbert Burns | +375 |
| Khamzat Chimaev | -550 |
The boogeyman in the welterweight division, Khamzat “Borz” Chimaev (-550) returns to the Octagon looking to remain undefeated and perhaps earn a title shot. He will have his hands full with former title challenger Gilbert “Durinho” Burns (+375), who also would love another crack at champion Kamaru Usman.
- Burns’ loss to Usman in February 2021 ended a six-fight winning streak but he got back on the horse with a win over Stephen Thompson in July. Overall, he’s 20-4 with 14 finishes (six knockouts, eight submissions) and half of his losses coming by knockout.
- Though Durinho lost to Usman, he did have the champ on skates following a big right hand. He doesn’t set up his hands that well, usually using aggression and powerful strikes to hurt his opponents.
- His tempo has slowed in previous fights due to the power shots but Burns’ best work is done on the floor with his outstanding jiu-jitsu skills. With his wild striking, he does leave big Sportsbooks to be hit, especially by jabs and straights.
- Burns’ last three fights were Tyron Woodley (win – unanimous decision), Kamaru Usman (loss – knockout) and Stephen Thompson (win – unanimous decision).
- Chimaev continued his undefeated streak into the UFC with four opponents up, four opponents down, two different weight divisions and only one man making it out of the first round. He is 10-0 with six knockouts and four submissions, having never reached the midway point of the second round.
- Borz has absolutely run through his competition. The UFC stats page has him landing 112 significant strikes and absorbing one. That “one” came in his debut against John Phillips and finding that punch in reviewing the fight is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
- Three of Chimaev’s opponents were picked up, slammed to the ground and mauled until they lost a TKO or were submitted. The other opponent, middleweight Gerald Meerschaert, was a one-punch knockout victim in 17 seconds. Rumor has it Borz is even better on his feet than he is on the ground. He even had a wrestling match with middleweight contender Jack Hermansson that clearly went in favor of Chimaev.
- Some have criticized the strength of his competition, though his last opponent was ranked No. 11.
- Chimaev’s last three fights were Rhys McKee (win – knockout), Gerald Meerschaert (win – knockout) and Jingliang Li (win – submission).
Prediction: Khamzat Chimaev (-550) via submission
Mackenzie Dern vs Tecia Torres Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Mackenzie Dern | -120 |
| Tecia Torres | -110 |
Looking to extend her three-fight winning streak and inch closer to the top of the division is Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres (-110). Aiming to halt that momentum and get back into the win column is Mackenzie Dern (-120).
- Dern had been on a nice four-fight winning streak, her first since taking a year off to have a baby, but that streak was ended in October. Her record now stands at 11-2 with seven submission wins and two losses by decision.
- Evident in the record, Dern is an exceptional grappler and extremely dangerous on the floor. She does have some difficulty getting fights to the floor, though, completing only 10 percent of her takedown attempts, but her foes have shot on her, which is a big mistake.
- When it comes to striking, she throws big somewhat sloppy strikes from long distance that only land 36 percent of the time. She lands 3.13 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 4.22. Mackenzie will also rush into the pocket without setting up the shot but she’s fairly fast and because the punches are big, they have some power.
- Dern’s last three fights were Virna Jandiroba (win – unanimous decision), Nina Nunes (win – unanimous decision) and Marina Rodriguez (loss – unanimous decision).
- Prior to this current winning streak, Torres had been on a four-fight losing skid, falling to former champions Jessica Andrade, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Weili Zhang and contender Marina Rodriguez. Her record is 13-5 with two stoppage victories, a knockout and a submission, and she’s never been stopped.
- At five-foot-one with a 60-inch reach, she is indeed a tiny tornado. That stature doesn’t impact her performance, though, as she landed 144 significant strikes in her last performance, the highest in her UFC career. She averages 4.71 significant strikes per minute.
- Tecia is gritty and fast and constantly throws combinations, which is necessary for her to close the distance. She throws lots of kicks, so if Dern catches one and gets the fight on the floor, it could be really interesting.
- Torres’ last three fights were Brianna Fortino (win – unanimous decision), Sam Hughes (win – knockout) and Angela Hill (win – unanimous decision).
Prediction: Tecia Torres (-110) via decision
Vinc Pichel vs Mark Madsen Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Vinc Pichel | -125 |
| Mark Madsen | -105 |
Looking to remain undefeated is Mark “The Olympian” Madsen (-105) as he returns to the Octagon for the first time since August of last year. Aiming to snatch that perfect record away is Vinc “From Hell” Pichel (-125), who finds himself on a three-fight winning streak.
- It has been just shy of three years since Pichel had his last defeat, falling by submission to Gregor Gillespie. Overall, he’s 14-2 with eight knockout victories and his two defeats were a knockout and a submission.
- From Hell is a relentless fighter with a lot of pressure, averaging 3.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and outstriking each of his last three foes. He averages 3.42 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.49.
- Vinc was taken down four times in his last fight, marking just the second time over nine UFC bouts that his opponent has outnumbered him in takedowns. On the feet, he’s a little slow and at times is willing to absorb a shot to land one of his own or level change for a takedown.
- Pichel’s last three fights were Roosevelt Roberts (win – unanimous decision), Jim Miller (win – unanimous decision) and Austin Hubbard (win – unanimous decision).
- Madsen has fought only once during the COVID-19 pandemic, earning a split-decision win over Clay Guida to remain undefeated. He’s 11-0 with three knockouts and three submissions.
- Nicknamed The Olympian in deference to his 2016 Olympic Games appearance in which he placed second in Greco-Roman wrestling, he averages 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes.
- What was impressive in his last win, though close, was that it was contested solely on the feet with a scrappy vet in Guida. I anticipate more grappling exchanges this time around and he should have a speed advantage over Pichel.
- Madsen’s last three fights were Danilo Belluardo (win – knockout), Austin Hubbard (win – unanimous decision) and Clay Guida (win – split decision)
Prediction: Mark Madsen (-105) via decision
UFC 273: Volkanovski vs Zombie Best Bets
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| Bet | Odds |
|---|---|
| Volkanovski inside the distance | +170 |
| Yan inside the distance | +130 |
| Chimaev inside the distance | -225 |
| Torres by decision | +135 |
| Madsen by decision | +220 |
