UFC 243 Odds, Facts, and Previews For Main Fights

We bring you the latest on UFC 243 odds, which features an MMA fans' dream as two world-class strikers in Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya fight on home turf to decide the true UFC middleweight champion.

On Sunday, October 6, 2019, the UFC returned to Melbourne, Australia, with one of its biggest Land Down Under events ever.

Although Fight Night was Sunday in Australia, for bettors in Canada the action played out on Saturday. Early Prelims were at 6:15 PM ET, the Prelims started at 8:00 PM ET and the Main Card went at 10:00 PM ET.

UFC betting odds, from Bodog sportsbook, last updated October 6, 2019:

* Fight Winners in RED below.

Favorite Win UFC 243 Result Win Underdog

Robert Whittaker

 1.87 KO/TKO R2 03:33 1.87

Israel Adesanya

Dan Hooker

 1.667 Decision R3 05:00 2.20

Al Iaquinta

Tai Tuivasa

 1.286 Submission R2 03:14 3.65

Sergey Spivak

Dhiego Lima

 1.69 Decision R3 05:00 2.15

Luke Jumeau

Yorgan De Castro

 2.00 KO/TKO R1 02:10 1.77

Justin Tafa

Megan Anderson

 1.182 Submission R1 03:57
 4.75

Zarah Fairn dos Santos
 

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UFC 243 - Sunday, October 6, 2019

UFC 243 will be live from sunny Melbourne, Australia in the newly named Marvel Stadium.

The event has 12 planned bouts although the bout order has yet to be finalized. More fights could also be added while some may be changed closer to the event. There are plenty of UFC 243 Vegas odds available.

The main event features an all-Kiwi blockbuster featuring middleweight champion Robert Whittaker fighting interim champ Israel Adesanya to unify the UFC middleweight championship. 

Anchoring the co-main event will be a lightweight banger featuring the ever-entertaining Al Iaquinta taking on rising New Zealand star Dan Hooker.

Find out more about UFC 243 betting on the UFC odds page.

UFC 243 - All Fights

Main Card (PPV)

  • Middleweight Championship: Robert Whittaker vs Israel Adesanya 
  • Lightweight: Al Iaquinta vs Dan Hooker
  • Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs Sergey Spivak
  • Welterweight: Luke Jumeau vs Dhiego Lima
  • Heavyweight: Justin Tafa vs Yorgan De Castro

Prelims (TSN)

  • Lightweight: Jake Matthews vs Rostem Akman
  • Women's Featherweight: Megan Anderson vs Zarah Fairn Dos Santos
  • Heavyweight: Jamie Mullarkey vs Brad Riddell
  • Welterweight: Callan Potter vs Maki Pitolo

Early Prelims (ESPN+)

  • Bantamweight: Khalid Taha vs Bruno Silva
  • Women's Flyweight: Nadia Kassem vs Ji Yeon Kim

UFC 243 - Robert Whittaker vs Israel Adesanya

Both Whittaker and Adesanya have a lot in common: they are both unbeaten at middleweight, are the best strikers in their division, and are representing New Zealand. It's no wonder the odds have them closely matched despite a slight advantage to Whittaker.

The champion gets the benefit of the doubt because his chin is tested and he has been through plenty of wars. Adesanya won a five-round slugfest himself, however.

While Whittaker has the experience edge, Adesanya has a significant reach advantage. And although this never deterred Whittaker before, Adesanya's fluidity and extensive kickboxing background could be the edge.

As a slight dog, bet on "The Last Stylebender" to edge Whittaker in what should be a thrilling back-and-forth. He has valuable UFC 243 betting odds.

Israel Adesanya UFC 243 Odds
2.10
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UFC 243 - Al Iaquinta vs Dan Hooker

Iaquinta is a better boxer but Hooker might be a better overall martial artist. And they both have plenty of experience against high-level competition although either has yet to prove they can consistently beat top-tier opponents.

Hooker fighting on home turf could be an edge. Since 2011, Hooker has only lost on home soil once. And he's virtually unbeaten at lightweight.

What makes the Kiwi so good is his endurance and durability. Iaquinta may be a sharper striker, but Hooker is tough as nails.

This will be a gruelling slugfest and has potential to steal the "Fight of the Night". Both fighters are tough and aggressive although Hooker's ability to excel in a streetfight gives him a slight advantage. He is one of UFC 243's best bets.

Dan Hooker To Beat Al Iaquinta Odds
1.74
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UFC 243 - Tai Tuivasa vs Sergey Spivak

If the two main fights are about evenly matched between high-level strikers, this one is a spoonfeeding to the hometown hero. Tai Tuivasa, despite dropping his last two fights, is one of the more popular heavyweights. 

At only 26, Tuivasa is still growing as a fighter. And he is pretty quick, smooth, and technical for a heavyweight. He lost to two former champions who had twice the experience he had. And now he gets to rip the head off of Sergey Spivak.

Poor Spivak. He isn't a bad fighter but he doesn't have the skills or hometown support of Tuivasa. Still, he's a big boy and if he catches Tuivasa he could win.

But Tuivasa should walk through him and get back on the win column. Do not hesitate and bet on UFC 243.

Tai Tuivasa To Beat Sergey Spivak Odds
1.39
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UFC 243 - Luke Jumeau vs Dhiego Lima

This will be grit versus skill as the scrappy Jumeau will look to harness the rowdy Australian crowd as he barrels through the Brazilian Lima.

Jumeau is the type who prefers an old school fistfight: you throw down, he throws down. He'll be more than happy to engage the chinny Lima and if he does, he has a good chance to knock out Lima who has durability concerns.

But Lima is smart enough and too skilled to fall for a brawl. He'll be the more disciplined and accurate fighter and for that reason, he'll be the winner.

Dhiego Lima To Beat Luke Jumeau Odds
1.59
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UFC 243 - Holly Holm vs Raquel Pennington

Fight Cancelled 30/09/19: A torn hamstring injury has forced Holly Holm to cancel her UFC 243 bout with Raquel Pennington. 

Holm rematches "Rocky" in what was a contentious bout during Holm's UFC debut in 2015. Pennington was a decision away from bursting Holm's gigantic hype. She even knocked her down and appeared to have won the fans over.

Now, Pennington gets to finish the job or Holm gets to score a more definitive victory. Either way, this will be another closely-contested bout.

Holm is the more technical of the two although Pennington's aggression could win the judges and the crowd over. It's a toss-up but since Pennington is the dog, side with her or just pass on this fight.

Holly Holm To Beat Raquel Pennington Odds
1.48
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How to Make the Best UFC 243 Bets?

Like in MMA, you have to learn many different styles and be adaptable if you are to make the best UFC bets. You can't simply pick a fighter you like and throw many. While this could work sometimes and in the short term, it is not a feasible strategy. 

You will need to have a well-rounded skillset. It starts by learning about the odds. You bet the numbers, not the fighters. 

Odds are a rough translation of a fighter's probability of winning. When you find an odds converter, judge for yourself if you think the fighter is being undervalued or overvalued by the bookie or the public.

And that's the next tip: play the public. 

The public is a fickle and emotional group making them prone to skewing odds in your favour. Many factors like a fighter's popularity, looks, and recent record influence how the public views them. 

Rise above all of that and stick with cold hard facts. 

Last but arguably the most important, find the best UFC betting sites and find one that suits your style. 

These books have sign-up offers that equal free bets. But they all offer different odds, markets, and promotions. Choose wisely!

Take these tips as a starting point and keep studying.

Where to Watch UFC 243?

UFC 243 odds

Like the lucky country, we're lucky to have a wealth of choices on where to watch UFC 243.

UFC 243 will be aired in three formats: pay-per-view, cable TV, and online at UFC Fight Pass. 

The UFC 243 main card is what features the best and biggest fights and will be available for purchase on PPV either through your cable provider or through any UFC streaming service like YouTube, the UFC app, and UFC Fight Pass.

The prelims and early prelims will air on TSN and UFC Fight Pass, respectively. Alternatively, Fight Network will sometimes air either or both of the prelims but please check the schedule to confirm.

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