UFC Fight Night 224: Molly McCann vs. Julija Stoliarenko Fight Prediction, Odds & Picks

Betting News has been covering UFC Fight Night 224 throughout the week as the top MMA fighters take over the O2 Arena in London, England on Saturday. Next up is the women’s flyweight co-main event between England’s Molly McCann and former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion Julija Stoliarenko.

"It's like the Irish fighting in Ireland when I fight here. It's a spectacle!" ☘️@MeatballMolly is expecting an explosive first round on Saturday against Julija Stoliarenko both inside and outside the cage. ? #UFCLondon pic.twitter.com/UhbOlJUtxf

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) July 19, 2023

This showdown is the perfect opportunity for both women to prove their worth. McCann has found success in the UFC but remains unranked in the flyweight division. Meanwhile, Saturday afternoon’s matchup marks Stoliarenko’s divisional debut, leaving time to tell how she fairs in her first 125-pound bout.

Betting News has put together a McCann vs. Stoliarenko preview, ranging from each fighter’s history to the latest betting odds (via BetOnline) and best bets for the UFC Fight Night 224 co-main event.

McCann vs Stoliarenko Tale of the Tape

Molly McCann — Julija Stoliarenko

• Record: 13-5 — 10-8-2
• Height: 5’4” — 5’7”
• Reach: 62” — 66”
• Weight: 125lbs — 125lbs
• Age: 33 — 30
• Fighting Stance: Orthodox — Orthodox
• Knockouts: 6 — 9

UFC Fight Night: McCann vs Stoliarenko Odds (as of Wednesday, July 19 at 10:17 p.m.)

Moneyline

• Molly McCann -190
• Julija Stoliarenko +165

Will the Fight Go the Distance?

• No -180
• Yes +150

Round Total

• Over 2.5 Rounds (+120)
• Under 2.5 Rounds (-150)

McCann vs Stoliarenko Fighter History

The oddsmakers have spoken and McCann is the favorite ahead of Saturday’s co-main event. BetOnline has her available at -190 moneyline odds, carrying an implied win probability of 65.5%.

McCann’s UFC career has been a mixture of up and downs over the last five years. She’s been streak thus far, going 6-4 across 10 fights. Her success has come in bursts, winning three straight fights on two separate occasions.

Although she isn’t a new face, McCann started gaining attention in 2022. She dominated the only two women she faced that year, knocking out both Luana Carolina and Hannah Goldy in a four-month span. Even more impressive is that McCann earned ‘performance of the night’ honors for both victories.

Unfortunately, McCann was most recently taken down a notch at UFC 281. She took on Erin Blanchfield at Madison Square Garden, but couldn’t make it out of the first round as she lost by submission.

The good news for McCann’s supporters is that her upcoming opponent hasn’t been doing too well. A former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters, Stoliarenko made her UFC return in 2020 after making a name for herself across Poland and Lithuania.

Much to her dismay, Stoliarenko’s run hasn’t gone as planned, going 1-4 in her first five fights. Her last outing took place in October when she suffered a first-round knockout loss at the hands of Chelsea Chandler in Las Vegas. Now, Stoliarenko aims to rebound in unprecedented territory as she makes her flyweight debut.

This fight is also a mixture of styles. Stoliarenko relies on grappling to get the job done. She averages 0.7 takedowns and 1.2 submissions per 15 minutes. Furthermore, nine of her 10 career wins came via submission.

Meanwhile, McCann is the clear-cut better striker. “Meatball” lands 5.72 significant strikes per minute (nearly three more than Stoliarenko) while boasting 50% striking accuracy with 63% defense. She’s a decent grappler, too, however, she’s yet to win by submission.

UFC Fight Night 224 Betting Trends and Markets for McCann vs Stoliarenko

As usual, BetOnline has a solid selection of McCann vs. Stoliarenko markets if you’re looking to bet on more than just the moneyline.

If you’re expecting a lengthy brawl at UFC Fight Night, you might be disappointed. BetOnline favors that this fight won’t go the distance (-180) while leaning towards the under (-180) on the 2.5-round total.

These odds aren’t too surprising, though. Each of McCann’s previous three fights ended in some form of finish while three of Stoliarenko’s last four bouts have failed to go the distance.

If there is a finish this weekend, McCann is favored to win by KO/TKO at +160 odds. Six of her 13 career wins were earned by some form of knockout, including her latest two at the UFC level. It’s also a promising bet considering that Stoliarenko has been knocked out four times.

Speaking of Stoliarenko, her likeliest method of victory is a submission win (+325). While the 30-year-old is a submission expert, she’s submitted an opponent just once in the last five years — a six-fight span.

If that doesn’t satisfy your value craving, there’s also the method plus round combo market. As far as that goes, McCann is favored to defeat Stoliarenko by first-round knockout at +450. For reference, three of her KO/TKO wins occurred in Round 1.

UFC Fight Night 224: McCann vs Stoliarenko Fight Prediction & Picks

I’m taking McCann to win this weekend. Not only does fighting in her home country provide a boost, but she has the distinct striking advantage over Stoliarenko. On top of that, Stoliarenko has proven that she can’t handle top-level MMA competition, whereas McCann at least holds six UFC victories under her belt. In other words, expect the favorite to return to the win column.

For the best bet, I recommend backing McCann winning by KO/TKO at +160 odds. She’s demonstrated a decent striking ability, having knocked out two of her last three opponents. Stoliarenko has been outhit in each of her UFC losses, which I expect to be the case with how willing McCann is to fire off shots. Throw in the fact that the underdog is debuting in a new division and I see McCann catching her off guard.

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UFC Fight Night 224 Event Details

When is UFC Fight Night 224?

UFC Fight Night 224 will take place on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

Where is UFC Fight Night 224?

UFC Fight Night 224 will take place at the O2 Arena in London, England.

What time does UFC Fight Night 224 start?

• UFC Fight Night 224 Preliminary Card Start Time: 12 p.m. ET
• Start Time of UFC Fight Night 224’s Main Card: 3 p.m. ET

How can I watch UFC Fight Night 224?

Both UFC Fight Night 224 main and preliminary cards can be viewed on ESPN+.

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