Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez prediction, odds, pick for UFC 317

It is time for an additional betting prediction and pick inside UFC 317 as we turn attention towards this ranked matchup within the Women’s Flyweight (125) Division on Saturday. Brazil’s No. 8-ranked Viviane Araujo will tackle Fight Ready MMA’s No. 10-ranked Tracy Cortez in what needs to be a high-level bout. Check the UFC odds series for our Araujo-Cortez prediction and pick.

Viviane Araujo (13-6) has gone 7-5 since entering the UFC in 2019. She’s fought each former and future champions during her time with the promotion, and while she’s just 2-3 over her last five fights, those two wins have come during her three most up-to-date bouts. Araujo is available in the betting underdog standing 5-foot-4 with a 68-inch reach.

Tracy Cortez (11-2) has gone 5-1 contained in the UFC since 2019. She rode a formidable 11-fight winning streak dating back to 2017 with wins in each of her first five UFC fights, but dropped her first bout to Rose Namajunas during her most up-to-date appearance. She’ll look to get one back because the betting favorite here. Cortez stands 5-foot-5 with a 65.5-inch reach.

Listed here are the UFC 317 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings. 

UFC 317 odds: Viviane Araujo-Tracy Cortez odds

Viviane Araujo: +205

Tracy Cortez: -250

Over 2.5 rounds: -720

Under 2.5 rounds: +450

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Why Viviane Araujo will win

• Last Fight: (W) Karine Silva – U DEC
• Last 5: 2-3
• Finishes: 3 KO/TKO, 4 SUB

Viviane Araujo had her best performance in recent memory with a improbable unanimous decision victory over Karine Silva because the +240 betting underdog.

She was tasked with a robust up-and-coming fighter within the division and rose to the occasion, proving that she still has a ton of gas left within the tank at 38 years old. Still, she’ll need to be on top of her game during this fight if she desires to match the high energy of Cortez as an opponent.

Viviane Araujo actually has the ending upside and has done so throughout her early profession, but she’s fought to a call in 11 of her 12 UFC appearances. She’s rather more focused on forcing opponents into bad positions and controlling the fight from there, so expect her to take this fight to the bottom where she’s most comfortable.

Araujo has a solid takedown accuracy of 43%, but her defense is much more impressive at 80%, so expect her to be the one controlling where this fight takes place. We have seen her withstand significant damage up to now, but her chin is proven, and it will take a herculean effort from Cortez to get Araujo out of there early.

Why Tracy Cortez will win

• Last Fight: (L) Rose Namajunas – U DEC
• Last 5: 4-1
• Finishes: 1 KO/TKO, 1 SUB

Tracy Cortez got here up just short during her fight against Rose Namajunas, suffering her first MMA loss since 2017 and breaking an 11-fight unbeaten streak.

She’s a particularly emotional fighter, and it’s certain that she’ll only grow from the loss and learn from her mistakes. She has age and athleticism on her side during this matchup, and we will expect high-energy output from her during all three rounds.

While she’s not much of a finisher, Tracy Cortez does an important job of wearing her opponents down and eventually changing the trajectory of a fight. She’s very strong along with her takedown defense and does an important job of defending herself from submission attempts with only one submission loss on her record.

To win this fight, Tracy Cortez could have to stay in perpetual motion and consistently land her jab to disrupt Araujo from closing the gap. Tracy Cortez has grown significantly as a talented boxer, so we should always see a few of that Mexican fighting style come to light if she’s down at any point of this fight.

Final Viviane Araujo-Tracy Cortez prediction & pick

We’ll have one other exciting matchup on the ladies’s side as each fighters wish to slowly climb up the rankings and contend for a title shot. Viviane Araujo has been on this spot before, and he or she’s intent on constructing upon her last winning performance against a young competitor.

Tracy Cortez, then again, will be considered a veteran of this division and could have something to say along with her improved boxing and talent to take the fight to the bottom.

While Viviane Araujo poses a tricky challenge, I believe the betting odds are accurate during this matchup as Tracy Cortez simply has more ways to regulate the fight. She will be able to achieve this along with her energetic striking, and he or she’s not one to face back and permit opponents to search out shots on her.

For our final prediction, we’ll roll with the betting favorite in Tracy Cortez to win this fight with a solid mixture of clinch fighting, striking, and defensive grappling if the situation calls for it.

Final Viviane Araujo-Tracy Cortez Prediction & Pick: Tracy Cortez (-250)