Anthony Pettis vs. Stevie Ray: 2022 PFL 7 Odds, Prediction

The main card of Friday night’s PFL 7 event from New York City’s Madison Square Garden features Anthony Pettis facing Stevie Ray in the semifinals of the lightweight playoffs. The former UFC fighters met in the regular season, with Ray winning by second-round submission back in late June. The winner of this fight moves on to fight for the division title and a $1 million payday.

Ray is a -135 favourite to win on the MMA odds, while Pettis is a +105 underdog.

Anthony Pettis -130
Stevie Ray +100

Anthony Pettis PFL 7 Odds

Pettis has compiled a 25-13 record in a professional career that dates back to 2007. A former WEC lightweight champion, Pettis also had a distinguished UFC career fighting in the welterweight, lightweight and featherweight divisions. He won the UFC lightweight championship at UFC 164 in 2013, managing one successful title defence before losing the belt to Rafael dos Santos in March 2015.

“Showtime” finished his UFC career with an 11-8 record in the promotion, recording wins over notable fighters such as Donald Cerrone, Charles Oliveira, Michael Chiesa and Stephen Thompson. Pettis is the only fighter to hold a knockout win over Thompson. He has a spotty record since joining the PFL last year, however, dropping thee of four fights. His lone win was a first-round submission victory over Myles Price last May. Across his full career, the 35-year-old American has 11 wins by KO/TKO, eight by submission and six by decision.

Pettis holds a three-inch reach advantage over Ray, although the two fighters are level at leg reach. Ironically, Pettis actually initiated the position that allowed Ray to secure a body triangle submission victory in the first fight. The key to the rematch for Pettis will be patience. He rushed a takedown attempt in the first fight and left himself vulnerable, which he will likely have learned from.

Stevie Ray PFL 7 Odds

Ray’s professional MMA debut came in 2010 in his native Scotland. He holds a 24-10 career record that includes stints in the UFC, BAMMA and Cage Warriors. Ray was a lightweight champion in Cage Warriors and the BAMMA British lightweight champion.

“Braveheart” fought 11 times in the UFC between 2015 and 2019, recording seven victories. Notable victories includes wins over Joe Lauzon, Michael Johnson and of course the Pettis victory in June. Ray has fought twice in the PFL and won once. He has nine career victories via decision, nine via submission and six via KO/TKO.

Ray managed to win the first fight against Pettis by locking a body triangle in the second round. There’s not much to change for Ray as far as strategy goes. The 32-year-old will likely try to land a heavy shot to knock Pettis down and create an opening for a submission. There is no reason Ray shouldn’t stick to the same game plan on Friday.