Slated for later this month at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, UFC 278 features some dynamic action in the men’s division. Serving as the headliner of the evening, UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman will defend his title in a rematch against Leon Edwards. In another explosive contest scheduled for that night, Paulo Costa locks horns with rival Luke Rockhold in a chance to climb up in the middleweight division. For the best in UFC 278 betting, SBS has you set and ready to go with this preview.
For this preview, SBS will go over what to look for from each fighter in the top two bouts at UFC 278, who will be victorious and some more notes about UFC 278 betting.
| UFC 278 Main Event Bouts | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usman vs. Edwards | Usman | -335 | -335 | -335 |
| Costa vs. Rockhold | Costa | -265 | -265 | -265 |
Fighter Spotlight: Kamaru Usman (c)
The winner of the The Ultimate Fighter 21 tournament, the 21st century Nigerian Nightmare is one of the most feared competitors in all of the UFC. Recognized as the No.1 athlete in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, Usman has dominated since breaking into the UFC back in 2015. Since winning the welterweight in 2019, Usman has amazed audiences with five consecutive title defenses, including three wins by way of knockout or TKO. However, this title fight will have some extra appeal with the champion taking on a challenger from his past in Edwards. In Usman’s first fight after the Ultimate Fighter, he took on Edwards and was able to win a hard fought battle back in December of 2015.
Fighter Spotlight: Leon Edwards
Coming off perhaps the best win of his career at UFC 263 over Nate Diaz, Edwards is looking to shock the world with a victory over Usman in Salt Lake City. With a professional record of 19-3, along with one no contest, the 30 year old has earned his place as the No. 1 contender for the welterweight championship. With an ability to score consistent decision wins in his MMA career, Edwards has shown he can tangle with some of the sport’s best and hold his own. However, this will be his biggest challenge to date in his rematch with Usman.
Prediction: Though Edwards does pose a threat to Usman’s welterweight championship, this fight will be in favor of the champion Usman once again.
Fighter Spotlight: Paulo Costa
In the secondary main event of the evening, Costa will square off with Rockhold. A former middleweight title challenger, the Brazilian is looking to get his career back on track after back-to-back losses. Prior to his TKO defeat at the hands of Israel Adesanya at UFC 241, Costa had put together a perfect record of 13-0 in professional MMA action. This mark also includes a five fight winning streak in the UFC. While he has been unlucky in his last two bouts, Costa is still one of the most physically gifted fighters in the UFC.
What to look for from: Luke Rockhold
Opposing the 31-year old Brazilian will be former Strikeforce and UFC Middleweight Champion Rockhold. One of the most respected veterans in MMA fighting, the 37-year old is also coming off back-to-back defeats at UFC 221 and 239, respectively. This will also be Rockhold’s first professional fight in over three years after last squaring off against Jan Błachowicz at UFC 239. Regardless, the veteran still has put together emphatic wins against some of the biggest stars in the UFC like Michael Bisping, Lyoto Machida and Keith Jardine.
Prediction: Though Rockhold has already reached the mountain top of the middleweight division before, it is now Costa’s time to shine. Take the Brazilian to win in Salt Lake for your UFC 278 betting picks.
When you are done doing your homework on UFC 278, SBS has you covered with our amazing UFC betting sites guide. With this handy resource you can find the latest betting odds related to UFC events and even more information related to UFC 278 bets. In addition to that, you can also see the latest bonuses on this page and the SBS best bonus betting sites overview to get the most out of your UFC 278 picks. Finally, if you are looking to never miss out on the action then never fear as SBS has a great resource. That would be our best betting apps breakdown which gives you all the tips and tricks related to mobile betting.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones.
Read Chris's ProfileAsk Chris about this guide:
