UFC 258: Barber vs. Grasso betting odds, preview, and pick
February 8th, 2021
Although Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns is the main attraction at UFC 258 on Feb. 13, Maycee Barber vs. Alexa Grasso promises to be the evening's real showstopper.
We have the betting odds and preview you need before the first bell rings.
Barber’s knee injury looms large
Barber was on a tear before a knee injury doomed her in her last fight with Roxanne Modafferi a little over a year ago. Before that, Barber was turning in the kind of performances that suggested she was headed towards title contention.
A physical striker with excellent takedown defense, Barber’s mobility may be a factor in this fight, but her toughness will not be.
As a matter of fact, she’s ended seven of her eight wins within the distance. While Barber can get wild with her strikes, she doesn’t leave herself open after throwing big shots.
Barber vs. Grasso tale of the tape
| Maycee Barber | ----- | Alexa Grasso |
|---|
8-1 | Record | 12-3 |
22 | Age | 27 |
5'5" | Height | 5'5" |
65" | Reach | 66" |
4-1 | Last 5 Fights | 3-2 |
Striking power | Key Intangibles | Volume striking |
Grasso’s smothering style will eat up the clock
Oddly enough, Grasso is a slight favorite here even though she was trending downward for some time. After going 8-0 to start her UFC run, she’s traded a win for a loss dating back to 2016, going 4-3 in that stretch.
Grasso is a busy striker with average power. While she throws punches in bunches and has excellent conditioning, she’s only scored four stoppage wins. Her striking is more geared towards scoring and less towards doing damage.
Barber is the bigger puncher, but if she gets outworked on the inside, any hampered mobility will prevent her from giving chase.
Barber’s strength will earn her the victory
When it comes down to it, Barber should be recovered enough to resume her career at precisely the level she left off at. Grasso hasn’t won back-to-back fights in four years, and she’s getting the benefit of the doubt by oddsmakers due to her activity.
Barber brings more to the table in terms of power and technique, so should they exchange, she’ll almost certainly get the better of it. She also might be able to exploit Grasso’s awful takedown defense.
While not at 100%, Barber shouldn’t have much trouble landing on Grasso, and her physical style will stand out against Grasso’s activity. She’ll score a few takedowns along the way, and successfully score the minor upset by way of decision.
UFC 258 pick: Barber
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