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UFC 279: Macy Chiasson vs Irene Aldana Picks, Predictions, Odds

Irene Aldana vs Macy Chiasson
September 10, 2022 10:35 pm EDT
The Line: Macy Chiasson +140 / Irene Aldana -160
(Get latest betting odds)

Irene Aldana and Macy Chiasson fight Saturday in UFC 279 at the T-Mobile Arena. Aldana enters this fight with a 13-6 record and has won 54 percent of her fights by knockout. Chiasson enters this fight with a 8-2 record and has won 50 percent of her fights by decision.

Aldana has won 6 of her last 8 fights and is coming off a July (2021) win over Yana Kunitskaya. Aldana is averaging 5.61 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 39 percent. Aldana is averaging 0.22 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 50 percent. Aldana is coming off a knockout win at UFC 264 where she landed 37 total strikes and 56 percent of her significant strikes. Aldana is now 6-4 under the UFC banner and will fight for the first time in over a year after two scheduled bouts were canceled. Aldana comes from a boxing background and her work rate is unmatched, as she walks down her opponent with constant combinations and isn’t afraid to trade in the pocket. Aldana puts together clean combinations with overhands, uppercuts and has a vicious ground and pound. Aldana also mixes in hard knees in the clinch, and while she hasn’t shown much ground game in the UFC, she does have 3 submission victories in her career, two coming via rear-naked choke. Seven of Aldana’s 19 fights have gone the distance. This will be Aldana’s fifth career fight in Nevada.

Chiasson has won 4 of her last 6 fights and is coming off a May win over Norma Dumont. Chiasson is averaging 3.70 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 45 percent. Chiasson is averaging 1.95 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 33 percent. Chiasson is coming off a decision win at UFC 274 where she landed 131 total strikes and produced 6 takedowns. Chiasson is now 6-2 under the UFC banner, and 4 of her last 5 fights have gone the distance. Chiasson is still a work in progress, as she’s 31 years old, but started MMA late and has only been a pro for 5 years. Chiasson is a bulldog in the octagon, as she delivers hard and accurate strikes both on the feet and on the canvas. Chiasson is a lengthy fighter at 5’11” with a 72-inch reach and has legit pop behind her strikes. Chiasson controls the canvas well and had 2 careers submission victories. Chiasson has seen 5 of her 10 bouts go the distance. This will be Chiasson’s fifth career fight in Nevada.

This line is rather surprising if we’re being honest. Yes, Aldana probably has the better resume and has proven herself on a bigger stage, but you can argue Chiasson is the better, more balanced fighter. While Aldana is the aggressor on the feet, Chiasson is the more accurate striker, and she’s shown far more on the canvas. Chiasson also has a 4-inch reach advantage and is the bigger fighter overall. This is probably the closet fight on the main card, and I’m not sure the right fighter is favored.

Give me Chiasson and the plus money.

Randy Chambers's Free Pick: Macy Chiasson +140

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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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