Prediction for Figueiredo vs. Rivera January 20 – UFC

Odds Preview & Picks: Francisco Figueiredo (-150) vs. Jerome Rivera (+125). Prediction: Figueiredo via submission (+550).

If the career of UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo is anything to go by, we should expect plenty from his brother, Francisco, who makes his promotion debut against Jerome Rivera in Abu Dhabi.

Figueiredo (11-3-1-1NC) was signed in November and begins this new leg of his career as a -150 favorite to beat up-and-comer Rivera (10-3), who suffered a TKO loss to Tyson Nam (also fighting on this card) in his UFC debut. 

This bout could provide the biggest betting bargain of the entire UFC Fight Island 8 card, with the younger Figueiredo brother listed at +550 odds to tap Rivera with BetRivers promotion. Considering the Brazilian export has collected seven submission victories in 16 fights, it’s an understatement to say that number will appeal to many bettors, either on its own or as a booster to any parlay.

Rivera is a fine talent in the ground game himself with seven submission wins of his own, but like Figueiredo, he too has tapped to one opponent thus far. “The Renegade” is most comfortable on the ground, but here we fancy the more experienced combatant to take control if the fight progresses in that direction.

Like his more established sibling, “Junior Mingau” is a double threat and comes into the UFC having sealed his last two wins via KO/TKO. That being said, it’s foreseeable the South American will fall back on his biggest strength in his promotion debut and seek to prove his submission superiority over a much younger opponent.