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UFC 278: Harry Hunsucker vs Tyson Pedro Picks, Predictions, Odds

Tyson Pedro vs Harry Hunsucker
August 20, 2022 10:10 pm EDT
The Line: Harry Hunsucker +500 / Tyson Pedro -800
(Get latest betting odds)

Tyson Pedro and Harry Hunsucker fight Saturday in UFC 278 at the Vivint Arena. Pedro enters this fight with a 8-3 record and is winning 63 percent of his fights by submission. Hunsucker enters this fight with a 7-5 record and is winning 57 percent of his fights by submission.

Pedro has split his last 6 fights and is coming off an April win over Ike Villanueva. Pedro is averaging 2.89 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 64 percent. Pedro is averaging 0.66 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 25 percent. Pedro is coming off a knockout win at UFC Fight Night 205 where he landed 22 total strikes. Kangaroo Paws is now 4-3 under the UFC banner, and all 8 of his victories have been victories. Pedro is a balanced fighter with black belts in Japanese Jiujitsu, Kempo and BJJ. Pedro also has a boxing background and throws everything hard. Pedro will mix in a kick out of nowhere, and he’s terrific at stuffing takedowns. Bottom line is, Pedro is going to force his opponent to fight his fight. An athletic big man, all 8 of Pedro’s victories have been decided in the first round. This will be Pedro’s first career fight in Utah.

Hunsucker has split his last 6 fights and is coming off a December loss to Justin Tafa. Hunsucker is averaging 3.83 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 52 percent. Hunsucker is averaging 0.00 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 0 percent. Hunsucker is coming off a knockout loss at UFC Fight Night 199, and he’s now been knocked out in all 3 of his UFC fights and all 5 of his career losses. Hunsucker is a big guy who wastes no time looking for the finish, as he throws power shots early and often. A wild approach with a pressure style, Hunsucker has a goal in mind, and it’s helped produce 3 knockouts. The concern is Hunsucker leaves a lot to be desired defensively, his wrestling isn’t great and his cardio has yet to be tested with all of his fights ending in the first round. Hunsucker is still a bit of a mystery at this point in his career. This will be Hunsucker’s first career fight in Utah.

It’s a bit weird seeing this fight on the main card of a PPV event, as Hunsucker has done nothing up to this point to deserve such a look. Hunsucker can land a big shot, but his wild style leaves himself exposed, and it’s not a surprise he’s been knocked out in all of his losses. Pedro is far and away more polished, has a 100 percent finish rate and can dictate wherever this fight goes. I have a hard time seeing Hunsucker hanging around in this bout very long.

Give me Pedro to finish this fight.

Randy Chambers's Free Pick: Tyson Pedro Inside Distance

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Randy Chambers

Randy has covered sports betting since 2014 and writes about everything from NFL to WNBA. Follow Randy Chambers on Twitter.

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