Dennis Buzukja vs. Marcio Barbosa prediction, odds, pick for UFC Winnipeg

The UFC Winnipeg: Burns vs. Malott Predominant Card is finally here as we bring you a betting prediction and pick for the opening bout within the Featherweight (145) Division. Recent York’s Dennis Buzukja will tackle Brazil’s Marcio Barbosa in a fight that is sure to finish inside the space! Check our UFC odds series for the Buzukja-Barbosa prediction and pick.

Dennis Buzukja (12-5) comes into this bout behind a 1-3 record since 2023. He recently earned a performance bonus together with his TKO win over Connor Matthews, but fell short his last trip against Francis Marshall via split decision. Now, he is available in the heavy underdog trying to get back within the win column. Buzukja stands 5-foot-9 with a 70.5-inch reach.

Marcio Barbosa (17-2) will make his UFC debut following a first-round knockout to earn him a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. Riding four-straight knockout wins in the primary round as much as his debut, he’ll look to money in and impress because the heavy favorites. Barbosa stands 5-foot-6 with a 70.5-inch reach.

UFC Winnipeg Odds, courtesy of DraftKings. 

UFC Winnipeg Odds: Dennis Buzukja-Marcio Barbosa Odds

Dennis Buzukja: +380

Marcio Barbosa: -500

Over 1.5 rounds: +135

Under 1.5 rounds: -175

Why Dennis Buzukja Will Win

• Last Fight: (L) Francis Marshall – S DEC
• Last 5: 2-3
• Finishes: 5 KO/TKO, 1 SUB

Dennis Buzukja put forth a solid effort against Francis Marshall during his last trip, only falling behind by six total strikes and allowing one in all Marshall’s six takedown attempts. While Marshall wasn’t capable of cause any significant damage, the lone takedown and activity could have swung the slightly uneventful fight in his favor. This time around, Buzukja may have no time to waste against an aggressive opponent immediately bringing the fight to him.

Up to now, Buzukja has been willing to interact opponents in brawls and has no fear in putting every little thing into his knockout power early within the fight. He fights behind an amazing camp in Serra-Longo out of Staten Island, NY and has a plethora of coaching partners to supply him the same look to Barbosa. Nevertheless, putting things together on fight night hasn’t gone in Buzukja’s favor so far, so he can have to sell out and provides himself a probability to knock his opponent out.

It’s price noting that Barbosa’s cardio and chin have yet to be truly tested and Buzukja is just the fighter willing to bring the fight to his opponent. If he’s capable of remain composed within the pocket in the course of the wild exchanges, he’ll give himself a probability to counter and catch Barbosa on the chin in hopes of dropping him. While he often is the significant underdog, Buzukja can thrive in a fight like this and should not be counted out by any means.

Why Marcio Barbosa Will Win

• Last Fight: (W) Damon Wilson – TKO (ground strikes, R1)
• Last 5: 4-1
• Finishes: 14 KO/TKO, 2 SUB

Marcio Barbosa made a stellar impression together with his devastating knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series, ending his last 4 consecutive fights in similar fashion inside the first round. In walking down his opponents, Barbosa has little regard for his own safety and is solely focused on ending the fight early together with his fists. Knowing Buzukja is willing to just accept such a fight, we ought to be expecting an early finish out of Barbosa if there is a noticeable power discrepancy.

Barbosa may have to watch out in over-extending himself on his strikes as he’s been known to whiff at times and put himself in dangerous. Every strike is thrown with fight-ending intentions and while he’s capable of land most of the time, he still must be wary of a savvy opponent like Buzukja who’s seen this look prior to now.

Still, up thus far, all we have seen from Barbosa is him walking opponents down and eventually folding them together with his power. He should sport the heavier strikes during this fight and it will be interesting to see how Buzukja responds to the initial impacts.

Final Dennis Buzukja-Marcio Barbosa Prediction & Pick

With the full rounds set to fall under, we must always expect a frantic first round from each fighters as they’ve each been involved of their share of one-round wars. From a knockout standpoint, Marcio Barbosa is clearly the more dangerous fighter. Nevertheless, we’re still waiting to see what he looks like under pressure and the way his striking holds up when fatigued within the later rounds.

Dennis Buzukja hasn’t had things fall his way as of late, but a win here could put him right back on the right track with momentum moving forward. If he can remain composed within the pocket while slipping Barbosa’s biggest shots, don’t sleep on his probability to land strong counters and damage Barbosa together with his own striking.

Nevertheless, I expect the aggression from Barbosa to be an excessive amount of as he eventually walks Buzukja down and ends this fight. We’ll roll with the strict betting favorite and the under on this one.

Final Dennis Buzukja-Marcio Barbosa Prediction & Pick: Marcio Barbosa (-500); UNDER 1.5 Rounds (-175)