UFC 236 betting preview: Saturday odds and trends

The UFC annually stages perhaps its best card of the year on the July 4 holiday weekend in the United States. That looks to be the case again this summer. The best card before that arrives this Saturday from State Farm Arena in Atlanta with two title fights headlining UFC 236.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The main event is for the lightweight title and a rematch between Americans Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier. Holloway is priced at -225 with Poirier at +175. This is a championship fight even though neither is currently the lightweight champion. That would be Khabib Nurmagomedov, but the Russian is currently suspended for his role in the post-fight brawl with Conor McGregor in October in which Khabib won the belt.

Thus, this is for the interim belt. Holloway (20-3) is the featherweight champion and ranked as the No. 4 pound-for-pound fighter overall by the UFC. “Blessed” has won 13 straight fights – the last four by TKO. Holloway’s last loss was to McGregor in August 2013. Holloway will keep his featherweight title regardless, but presumably would fight Khabib this fall if he wins Saturday.