UFC 291

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Developing Stories 📰

UFC is back on PPV this weekend with its second card in the month of July. The promotion heads back to Salt Lake City, Utah for an epic clash between lightweights Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje in the main event. While no official title will be at stake, UFC is resurrecting the ceremonial "BMF" title for the rematch between the two all-action fighters. The pair engaged in a grueling four-round battle in April 2018 with Gaethje ultimately succumbing to strikes. The BMF belt is at stake with retired titleholder Jorge Masvidal pegged to wrap the championship around the winner's waist. While only a ceremonial title is at stake, both Poirier and Gaethje are in striking distance of a fight with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. A strong performance could set them up for a showdown in short order. Dustin Poirier sits in the top 10 for most post-fight bonuses awards and has earned seven Fight of the Night awards across 11 UFC bouts, while Justin Gaethje boasts the joint-most knockouts in lightweight history and is tied with Anderson Silva for the most finishes in UFC history at 14. Saturday night's event is not to be missed.

The co-main event sees what could be a brawl with title implications in the light heavyweight division when former champ Jan Blachowicz welcomes former middleweight titleholder Alex Pereira. The 205-pound title was recently vacated by Jamahal Hill after the champ suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon. It's the second time in the last calendar year that the title has been left vacant after Jiri Prochazka was forced to do the same with a shoulder injury. Now, with Prochazka's return looming, the winner of Saturday's contest could be in position to challenge for the title once more.

Headlines 🚨

On This Day in Sport History: 1991 Dennis Martinez pitches the 13^th perfect game in baseball history.

1994 Baseball players decide to start a strike scheduled for August 12^th 1994.

Mets Trade reliever David Robertson to Marlins for 2 minor leaguers.

Pirates trade Carlos Santana to Brewers for prospects.

Lee Hodges got off to a good start as he posts a 63 for a one-shot lead in the 3M open.

Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey will undergo knee surgery on the meniscus and is expected to miss the start of the season.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow carted off practice field with apparent calf injury.

The University of Colorado will leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12 after the 2023-24 season.

The Atlanta Hawks and the Orlando Magic will play a regular-season game in Mexico City on Nov. 9.

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

⚾️ Tigers at Marlins

• Detroit is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games on the road

⚾️ Yankees at Orioles

• The total has gone OVER in 6 of NY Yankees's last 8 games when playing Baltimore

⚾️ Phillies at Pirates

• Philadelphia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh

• Philadelphia is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Pittsburgh

⚾️ Angles at Blue Jays

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing at home against LA Angels

⚾️ Brewers at Braves

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 5 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games 

⚾️ Rays at Astros

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Houston's last 9 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay

• Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay

⚾️ Twins at Royals

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas City's last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota

⚾️ Cubs at Cardinals

• The total has gone OVER in 6 of St. Louis's last 7 games at home

⚾️ Athletics at Rockies

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oakland's last 6 games when playing Colorado

• Colorado is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Colorado's last 9 games when playing at home against Oakland

⚾️ Mariners at Diamondbacks

• Seattle is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Arizona

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Seattle's last 5 games when playing on the road against Arizona

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Arizona's last 5 games when playing Seattle

⚾️ Rangers at Padres

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Texas's last 6 games when playing on the road against San Diego

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Texas's last 6 games

• San Diego is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Texas

• San Diego is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Texas

⚾️ Reds at Dodgers

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cincinnati's last 5 games 

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

⚾️ MLB

38% of bets and 61% of money is on NYY -1.5 (+130)

38% of bets and 63% of money is on LAA +165

34% of bets and 64% of money is on UNDER 8.5 LAA at TOR

46% of bets and 79% of money is on OVER 10 MIN at KC

59% of bets and 80% of money is on UNDER 11 OAK at COL

58% of bets and 74% of money is on TEX +140

35% of bets and 56% of money is on UNDER 9 SEA at ARI

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Injury Report 🏥 via ESPN

BAL (3B) Gunnar Henderson | Day-to-Day - Back

CWS (SP) Mike Clevinger | 15 Day IL - Biceps, will be activated from IL to start Saturday vs Cleveland

CLE (SP) Noah Syndergaard | 15 Day IL - Finger, scheduled to be reinstated to start Monday vs Houston

COL (SP) Kyle Freeland | 15 Day IL - Shoulder, will be activated and start today vs Oakland

COL (RF) Kris Bryant | 10 Day IL - Finger

COL (1B) CJ Cron | Day-to-Day - Back, possible to return today

LAA (SP) Shohei Ohtani | Day-to-Day - Cramping, expected to DH today

MIA (RP) Matt Barnes | 60 Day IL - Hip

MIN (LF) Joey Gallo | Day-to-Day - Illness

MIN (2B) Jorge Polanco | 10 Day IL - Hamstring, expected to return to action this weekend vs Kansas City

MIN (1B) Alex Kirilloff | Day-to-Day

NYY (RF) Aaron Judge | 10 Day IL - Toe, expects to return today

SEA (SS) JP Crawford | Day-to-Day

STL (C) Wilson Contreras | Out - Head

TEX (C) Jonah Heim | Day-to-Day - Wrist

TEX (SP) Nathan Eovaldi | Day-to-Day - Rest, likely to return to start Sunday vs San Diego

Weekend Picks 🔒

Rays Astros under 8.5 | McClanahan and Javier take the mound. The Rays have cooled off as they’ve scored fewer than 5 runs in 9 of their last 10 games. The under is also 2-7-1 in the last 10 meetings overall.

Phillies -1.5 +100 | The Phillies have solid value as the Pirates are looking to be sellers at the trade deadline. The Pirates have lost by multiple runs in 8 consecutive losses and Keller has struggled in recent starts.

Rangers +150 | This is a pretty even matchup and with the Rangers as underdogs we are going to take a shot here.

Blachowicz -110 | Considering where he’s at in his career, I think the desperation of needing to win will override any sort of ego that could force Blachowicz into a striking battle. While it might not be exciting, the smart approach is to try to put Pereira on his back and keep him there. The strategy will win rounds and could lead to tentativeness with Pereira’s striking if he knows takedown attempts are coming.

Poirier -145 | Poirier has the technical striking advantage, while Gaethje relies too much on swinging for the fences. If Poirier is smart, he'll change levels when he gets the chance. Once on the ground, he'll have an advantage, and he's a legitimate threat to win by submission.