UFC Rio Predictions – Vitor Petrino vs Thomas Petersen Preview, Predictions And MMA Betting Odds
The UFC Rio prelims are serving up heavyweight violence this Saturday. Vitor Petrino vs Thomas Petersen promises to deliver action while the Brazilian crowd roars. Both fighters love to finish fights, which means someone’s probably getting hurt. Petrino recently moved up from light heavyweight and looked fantastic in his debut at 265 pounds.
Petrino’s transition to this weight class raised eyebrows, but he answered questions with a slick submission win. Petersen, meanwhile, has been grinding away in the UFC with mixed results since 2024. He’s shown flashes of brilliance but hasn’t quite put it all together consistently. This matchup gives both men a chance to make a statement. The oddsmakers heavily favor Petrino, but heavyweight fights rarely go according to plan.
Vitor Petrino vs Thomas Petersen Preview
Vitor Petrino brings a 12-2 record, standing 6’2″ with a 77 inch reach. He lands 2.72 significant strikes per minute with 45% accuracy, which isn’t elite but gets the job done. His takedown game is impressive at 3.25 attempts per 15 minutes with 58% accuracy. Petrino’s takedown defense sits at 71%, showing he can stuff most attempts. What really stands out is his well-rounded finishing ability with seven knockouts and two submissions on his record. The cardio question remains his biggest concern, especially after some late-round struggles in previous fights.
Thomas Petersen enters at 10-3 standing 6’1″ with a 74 inch reach. He lands 3.74 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy of 59%. Petersen’s wrestling numbers average 4.42 takedowns per 15 minutes with 66% accuracy. His takedown defense is a perfect 100 percent in the UFC so far. His submission average of 0.6 per fight shows he’s more focused on ground-and-pound than hunting finishes.
Vitor Petrino vs Thomas Petersen MMA Betting Odds
The bookmakers are showing serious confidence in the Brazilian favorite here. According to FanDuel, Vitor Petrino opens at -295 on the moneyline. Meanwhile, Thomas Petersen sits at +240 as a substantial underdog. These odds make sense given Petrino’s recent form, but heavyweight chaos can make favorites look silly in seconds.
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The odds for the fight going the distance have also come out. The odds for the fight seeing the judges scorecards stand at +182. The probability of the fight ending before the final bell is higher and the odds (-240) reflect that.
Vitor Petrino vs Thomas Petersen Predictions And Picks
This matchup features an interesting clash of styles that could swing either direction. Petrino has the submission skills to threaten Petersen if he gets top position. But Petersen’s perfect takedown defense means Petrino might struggle to get him down. That forces Petrino to win on the feet, which isn’t his strongest area against a volume striker.
Petersen’s game plan should be straightforward: keep it standing and pour on combinations. His striking accuracy and output give him real advantages in prolonged exchanges. The question is whether Petrino’s power can catch Petersen coming in. One big shot changes everything at heavyweight, regardless of stats or game plans. Petrino’s athleticism at this weight class gives him explosive moments that could end the fight instantly.
If we bet on the fight, we are going with Vitor Petrino to win by unanimous decision.
(All odds taken from FanDuel. Bet on the most up-to-date MMA odds, lines, and spreads with FanDuel Sportsbook)
(Image Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck – Imagn Images)
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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!
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