UFC 252 Predictions: Miocic Vs Cormier 3 Betting Picks

Joseph Kata, Last Updated: September 3rd, 2024 - NJ Sports Betting - Free $3,250 For Sports Bets In New Jersey

The biggest empty-arena UFC event of 2020 is about to go down with Miocic vs. Cormier 3 and we’re getting ready with some UFC 252 predictions!

That’s right! We get the finale to the heavyweight title trilogy between champion Stipe Miocic and top contender Daniel Cormier. If the first two fights are indicative of what’s to come, this will no doubt be a can’t-miss barnburner.

While the card has some solid fights featuring many top contenders vying for a shot at their respective weight class titles, all eyes will be on this UFC 252 main event that will no doubt end in something historic depending on the outcome.

When Is UFC 252?

UFC 252 is scheduled for August 15, 2020 with the main card starting at 10 PM EDT, changing venues back to the UFC APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada after a couple of months on Fight Island. It was originally scheduled to take place at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland until the pandemic caused a drastic shift in schedules and locations for all UFC events.

Best Sportsbooks For UFC Betting

Attention: 252-1 Odds Promo – New Sports Bettors Only

Don’t Miss Betting At Draftkings

Miocic Vs Cormier Betting Odds

UFC Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, not one to back out of tough fights, agreed to face Daniel Cormier for the third fight in a row at UFC 252.

It’s still a bit early for all methods of victory to have odds attached to them, but the current odds show just how split everyone is when it comes down to the winner of this fight.

We’ll update this section as more odds come in, but the current UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier fight odds are below:

• Fight Result (Win): Miocic -106 at DraftKings, Cormier -110 at FOXBet and Draftkings
• Stipe Miocic Wins By KO/TKO: +185 at DraftKings
• Stipe Miocic Wins By Decision/Points: +550 at FOXBet
• Daniel Cormier Wins By KO/TKO: +220 at FOXBet
• Daniel Cormier Wins By Decision/Points: +350 at DraftKings

Miocic Vs Cormier Tale Of The Tape

Miocic Vs. Cormier 3 Prediction

Oof, this one is about as tough as it gets to pick a winner. First, it’s the third match of a series that is tied at one-to-one. Second, look at the previous fight results:

• UFC 226 July 7, 2018 – Cormier Wins via KO, 4:33 Round 1
• UFC 241 August 17, 2019 – Miocic Wins via TKO, 4:09 Round 4

The one constant through these two fights? Eye pokes. Controversy is tied into their first meeting as Cormier repeatedly poked Miocic in both eyes throughout Round 1. While an eye poke didn’t directly lead to the KO finish, there was definitely damage to Stipe’s eyes in the round.

Instead of adjusting as a result of the controversy ahead of Miocic vs Cormier 2 at UFC 241, Daniel doubled-down on the eye pokes in their second fight. And even though Stipe wound up suffering from retinal damage as a result of multiple eye pokes through almost four rounds, he was able to power through and walk a tired Cormier down with multiple body shots before a flurry caused Herb Dean to stop it, giving the belt back to Miocic.

So what’s going to happen in this fight? Eye pokes, most likely. While Cormier has complained in the past about Jon Jones’ eye pokes, it seems like he at least enjoys the tactic enough to not change a thing about the way he’s setting up his punching range with an open hand.

No, I’m not trying to discredit Cormier’s abilities by calling eye pokes to light. It’s just a frustrating part of MMA that needs to change in general because it often turns the tides in the infractor’s favor. However, Miocic has shown the ability to push through the pain and the lack of sight, as he did when he won the belt back in August.

You can probably see where I’m leaning here. Cormier is a UFC Hall Of Famer. He’s the first to become champion in both the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight divisions at the same time, doing what we all thought Jon Jones would do first.

He’s been a contender or a champ ever since his Strikeforce days and he’s a legend in the industry even before he made it to the UFC thanks to his Olympic wrestling pedigree.

Stipe Miocic knows all this, and will still beat Daniel Cormier to not only retain his championship during one of the strangest sports years in history. Not only will he remain the UFC Heavyweight Champion, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was DC’s last fight.

He would probably leave his gloves in the Octagon if there were fans there, but with the chance to fight Jon Jones getting slimmer, this may be all for Cormier.

Stipe’s body blows were a huge factor in the previous fight, and Cormier’s not getting any younger or more fit. I don’t expect this fight to go to a decision, and I’ll update the fight result to reflect that once the odds are released. For now, I’m picking Miocic to win and retain the title.

Prediction: Miocic To Win -106 At DraftKings

Be sure to monitor any UFC odds boosts at DraftKings and FOXBet during fight week to enhance your payout!

UFC 252 Betting Predictions

Dos Santos Vs Rozenstruik Prediction

Another rather close fight that could go either way, but whatever way it goes, will have huge implications in the Heavyweight Title scene. Both Cigano and Bigi Boy are coming off KO losses, including both getting the lights turned off in the first round by next-in-line Francis Ngannou.

Dos Santos has been on the fringes of contention again and needs a big win against Rozenstruik to get back into the conversation. Jairzinho was heading up that ladder until Ngannou took just 20 seconds to stall that ascension back in May.

Both have something to prove and both will come out hot I’m certain to stamp their ticket back into contention. That means this fight will most likely end by knockout to me, and I’m not above not picking a winner and simply going with the fight to end by KO or TKO.

I think it’s the best bet in this scenario with two guys so evenly matched and it’s the one that I’m going with. While we wait for those odds to come in at either FOXBet or DraftKings, I’ll still make the prediction final.

Prediction: Fight To End In A KO, TKO, Or A DQ -275 at FOXBet

O’Malley Vs Vera Prediction

Sean O’Malley may look like a clown at times with how wildly-colored his curly locks are, but the Bantamweight division knows he’s no joke thanks to an undefeated record and four straight UFC wins after earning his UFC contract via Dana White’s Contenders Series.

He’s facing UFC vet Marlon Vera, who has had an up-and-down path en route to this fight since debuting for the company in 2014 at UFC 180. I’m not even going to sugarcoat this.

Vera is meat for a hungry lion right now. Sugar Sean O’Malley has been ready for the big time for a while now, both in quick and entertaining fight results as well as in personality.

If the UFC is setting up Vera as a stepping stone for O’Malley, I’m taking the bait here. The lines show O’Malley as a strong favorite, and rightfully so. Instead of simply picking Sugar Sean as the victor (-315 at DraftKings to go that route), I’m going with O’Malley to be victorious via KO in what will be, to me, the first of many times we see him featured high on a PPV card.

Prediction: O’Malley Via KO, TKO, DQ +138 at DraftKings

Be sure to monitor sportsbooks in your area during Fight Week for great promotions you can use to your advantage, including odds boosts, fight insurance, and more. You can follow BonusSeeker on Twitter @BonusSeekers for the best UFC 252 Promotions at sports betting sites in your area!

ABOUT Joseph Kata

Joseph is a contributor at BonusSeeker after working many years as a site manager for MLB and NHL.com. Over the last 15 years, he has written for sports, betting, real estate, and dating sites. While one of his passions is delivering quality, usable content, he is also passionate about his family and sports.