Although Julianna Pena stunned fans when she submitted Amanda Nunes in December, the champion looks set to enter this weekend’s rematch as a large betting underdog.
Pena entered the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship fight last year as a significant underdog, with closing odds of +700 at most bookmakers. With a 2-2 record in her previous four bouts, Pena’s form was far from enticing for bettors, and many were quick to dismiss her chances against Nunes, who is regarded as one of the best female mixed martial artists of all time.
It was a relatively typical start for Nunes at UFC 269, who came out firing with heavy leg kicks and powerful punches. She dropped Pena during the first round and then later took her back. Nunes controlled the first round, and it looked as if it would be a long night for Pena at this point.
However, during the second round, Pena started to land her own heavy punches, and at the one-minute mark, she was crushing Nunes with a combination of head strikes. Nunes was still advancing, but she was clearly fatigued. The two fighters kept trading strikes, but, surprisingly, it was Pena who was wearing them better. Her grit and determination were on display for all to see. After backing Nunes all the way back to the cage, Pena then took her down and submitted her with a rear-naked choke.
Nunes wasn’t able to put Pena out in the same way that she had done with so many others. Pena took all of her best shots, kept coming forward, and eventually found her way to win.
Watch Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes fight
- Date: Saturday, July 30
- Time: PPV Main Card starts at 10 pm ET, Prelims start at 6 pm ET
- Watch:
ESPN + PPV (order here)
UFC 277 is a PPV event, meaning fans must order UFC 277 on the ESPN+ website to watch every main card fight live, including the Pena vs. Nunes rematch. After ordering, fans can stream every UFC 277 fight to a preferred device, including TVs, mobiles, computers, laptops, tablets, and more.
The odds suggest a completely different outcome at UFC 277, however. Pena, the champion, will enter as a +210 underdog against Nunes, who is favored at odds of -250. Interestingly, Nunes had opened as an even larger favorite, but money appears to be coming in to support the champion, and the odds are tightening as we get closer to the event.
At UFC 269, Nunes’ implied probability to win was close to 95%. This time, at UFC 277, odds suggest a 78% chance of winning for Nunes.
Oddsmakers have also set odds for the total rounds markets, with over/under 2.5 rounds being the line of choice for this weekend’s main event. Under 2.5 rounds is favored at odds of -120, and odds that the fight doesn’t go to a decision are -240 at some sites.
Read on for the latest UFC 277 betting odds for Pena vs. Nunes II and all of the other main card and preliminary fights.
UFC 277 Odds
Main Card – 10:00 pm ET / 7:00 pm PT only on
- Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes (title fight)
- Brandon Moreno vs. Kai Kara-France
- Derrick Lewis vs. Sergei Pavlovich
- Alexandre Pantoja vs. Alex Perez
- Magomed Ankalaev vs. Anthony Smith
Prelims – 8:00 pm ET / 5:00 pm PT on ESPN+
- Alex Morono vs. Matthew Semelsberger
- Drew Dober vs. Rafael Alves
- Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Don’Tale Mayes
- Drakkar Klose vs. Rafa Garcia
Early Prelims– 6:00 pm ET / 3:00 pm PT on ESPN+
- Adam Fugitt vs. Michael Morales
- Ji Yeon Kim vs. Joselyne Edwards
- Nicolae Negumereanu vs. Ihor Potieria
- Orion Cosce vs. Mike Mathetha
