Anthony Smith vs. Aleksandar Rakic Prediction & Betting Odds

UFC Fight Odds & Predictions: Anthony Smith (+225) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (-278).

Aleksandar Rakic will hope a win over Anthony Smith in Saturday’s main event takes him within range of a shot at the newly vacated UFC light heavyweight title, with both fighters having suffered defeat in their most recent outings.

It’s questionable whether Smith—No. 6 in the light heavyweight rankings—should be entering this bout as high as +225 with Sugarhouse, however, meaning the underdog selection could be where the value lies.

Rakic—a -278 favorite—boasts an impressive 12-2 career record (4-1 in the UFC), but a split-decision loss to Volkan Oezdemir in December proved the up-and-coming knockout specialist can be stopped.

Smith, 32, is likely to have analyzed that tape and the leg-kick solution Oezdemir deployed as a means of stopping Rakic’s heavy offense, capable of replicating that to full effect himself.

“Lionheart” has lost two of his last three fights—to UFC legends Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira—but it was less than two years ago that he submitted Oezdemir himself in another main event. Smith hasn’t lost back-to-back fights since 2013, and the more experienced light heavyweight could hold the keys to a value win against the odds.

Smith vs. Rakic Prediction

Smith via decision. Bet with free bets bonusm use code, get bonus at BetMGM in NJ/CO/IN.