Kicking off December with a bang, the UFC makes its return to Texas with its UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan card, also known as UFC on ESPN 52. In the main event of the evening, a lightweight bout between Beneil Dariush and Arrman Tsarukyan is expected to take place as both aim to rise up the lightweight ranks. Meanwhile, the big fight of the night also concerns the lightweight division, as Dan Hooker squares off with Jalin Turner. Regarding your UFC on ESPN 52 betting, the latter fighter is a replacement for Bobby Green who had to withdraw from this fight due to a broken arm.
In this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each of these fighters, a predicted winner, and also more notes about UFC on ESPN 52 betting.
| UFC on ESPN 52 Main Event Bouts | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneil Dariush vs. Arman Tsarukyan | Tsarukyan | -265 | -265 | -265 |
| Jalin Turner vs. Bobby Green | Green | +185 | +185 | +185 |
Fighter Spotlight: Beneil Dariush
An excellent fighter in the UFC lightweight division, Dariush has tangled with some of the sport’s finest and held his own. With a career mark of 22-5, this will be his first bout since taking on Charles Oliveira at UFC 289. While he came up short against the Brazilian, he lost via a first-round TKO, he had been riding a hot streak to that point, winning eight bouts in a row. With a diverse spread of victories in his career (five knockouts, eight submission wins, and nine decisions), Dariush is ready for a rebound performance against Tsarukyan.
Fighter Spotlight: Arman Tsarukyan
Tsarukyan enters this fight coming off back-to-back wins, including a TKO win over Joaquim Silva in June of this year. The Armenian fighter has a career record of 20-3 and has eight knockout wins along with five submission victories. He is recognized as a top ten fighter in the UFC lightweight rankings and has notched four Fight of the Night/Performance of the Night outings in his career. Moreover, his last loss against Mateusz Gamrot was a very close contest as 15 of 22 MMA media outlets scored the bout in favor of Tsarukyan.
Prediction: While Dariush is coming off a loss, he still has one of the best resumes in the division, but the up-and-coming Tsarukyan will not be his rebound win.
Fighter Spotlight: Jalin Turner
Known as “the Tarantula,” Turner is aiming to right the ship against Green as he is coming off back-to-back losses. However, both of these contests were split decision defeats where Turner came up short in securing the win. At UFC 290 in July, Turner locked horns with Dan Hooker in a back-and-forth bout where the former fought as a catchweight since he was two pounds over the limit. Regardless, he features sensational striking power as evidenced by his nine career knockout wins.
Fighter Spotlight: Bobby Green
One of the longest-tenured fighters in the UFC, Green holds a number of different records in the promotion. At 37 years old, he holds the records for the most significant strikes in UFC Lightweight division history (1644) and also the most total strikes landed in division history with 1870. A former CIF all-state wrestler, he is coming off back-to-back wins over Grant Dawson and Tony Ferguson to bring his career record to 31-14-1. With 11 knockout wins, he still has a ton of power in his repertoire.
Prediction: While Turner does have the age advantage over Green, the veteran has shown throughout his career he can take on all comers. Pick Green to win here.
Once you are all dialed in regarding the latest gaming news and notes from the world of UFC, make sure to tap into the swath of resources and information available to you at SBS. Of course, for all of your UFC on ESPN 52 bets and beyond, check out our UFC betting sites guide which covers all the latest betting markets from the sport and is a great resource to have bookmarked. Conversely, for the best UFC on ESPN 52 bets, our best bonus betting sites rundown has your back with a catalog of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers. Finally, for all your UFC on ESPN 52 picks and more, the best betting apps breakdown has you covered with all you need to know about mobile betting and staying on top of the action.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
Read Chris's ProfileAsk Chris about this guide:
