UFC Fight Night: How To Bet Hermansson Vs. Strickland In Iowa

Two ranked middleweight contenders headline this Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in a main-card pairing that will help shake out the 185-lb division.

No. 6-ranked Jack Hermansson is slated to take on No. 7-ranked Sean Strickland at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Strickland (24-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC), known for his unfiltered and sometimes problematic thoughts and comments at press conferences and during interviews, is looking to continue his current five-fight win streak on Saturday night.

The middleweight fighter, who has beaten the likes of Uriah Hall, Krzysztof Jotko, Brendan Allen and Tom Breese has also fought in the welterweight division during his time in the UFC. In fact, one of his three losses came from current UFC Welterweight Champion and pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter Kamaru Usman. Strickland lost that fight by decision.

Hermansson (22-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) is looking for a way to the top of the division after being 2-2 in his last four fights. He is coming off a decision win against young prospect Edmen Shahbazyan last May. Hermansson also has notable wins over Kelvin Gastelum, Jacare Souza and Gerald Meerschaert.

UFC 271 will get a lot of attention on the eve of Super Bowl LVI, but sportsbooks in Iowa do offer odds for this weekend’s card.

UFC Fight Night Hermansson vs. Strickland odds

This middleweight bout will help decide the direction of the top-stacked division. Current champion Israel Adesanya is facing Robert Whittaker in a rematch later this month at UFC 271. Top middleweight contenders Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier are also meeting on that card.

The winner of those two matchups could very well be facing each other later this year in a title fight depending on how things shake out as Cannonier and Hermansson have already faced each other before.

How to watch UFC Fight Night

Where: UFC Apex, Las Vegas
When: Saturday, Feb. 5 Main Card at 6 p.m. Prelims at 3 p.m.
How: ESPN+

The winner of Hermansson and Strickland’s matchup could gain some serious leverage toward a title shot of their own in the next year with another win or two after Saturday night. It is also possible that the winner of this Saturday’s fight could face the winner of the Brunson/Cannonier bout later this year.

And let’s not forget that former title challengers Marvin Vettori and Paulo Costa are still in the mix and could be worthy matchups for almost any of the aforementioned guys after this month.

The matchup between Hermansson and Strickland is interesting stylistically. Strickland is a standup brawler with an infinite gas tank who typically doesn’t stop barreling forward and swinging from bell to bell, which has worked for him well over his last five fights including a lopsided decision over UFC veteran Uriah Hall.

However, Hermansson is strongest on the ground and is considered by many to be a submission specialist. The Swedish-Norwegian fighter will be looking for any opening or mistake on Strickland’s end to catch a limb or neck and finish the fight.

UFC Fight Night tale of the tape

Jack Hermansson

Age: 33
Height: 6’1’’
Weight: 185 lbs
Reach: 77.5 in
Last five fights
- Edmen Shahbazyan: W (Dec.)
- Marvin Vettori: L (Dec.)
- Kelvin Gastelum: W (Sub.)
- Jared Cannonier: L (TKO)
- Jacare Souza: W (Dec.)

Sean Strickland

Age: 30
Height: 6’1’’
Weight: 185 lbs
Reach: 76 in
Last five fights:
- Uriah Hall: W (Dec.)
- Krzysztof Jotko: W (Dec.)
- Brendan Allen: W (TKO)
- Jack Marshman: W (Dec.)
- Nordine Taleb: W (TKO)