UFC 297 Odds, Prediction: Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana

The loss to Tabitha Ricci at UFC Jacksonville denied Robertson, a 29-year-old Niagara Falls native, her first three-fight win streak in UFC action. Viana returns to action in pursuit of her fourth win in six appearances after suffering a second-round submission loss to Iasmin Lucindo last summer at UFC Vegas 78 that marked her second defeat by tap-out over her past six fights.

Robertson holds a clear edge on the UFC 297 odds as a -275 favourite in Saturday’s prelim matchup at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, while Viana lags as a +220 underdog in her bid to avoid consecutive defeats for the first time in almost five years.

Gillian Robertson UFC 297 Odds

An accomplished grappler, who earned a submission win over former UFC champion Rose Namajunas at Fury Pro Grappling 6 just 13 months ago, Robertson had her hands full against Ricci, who executed three takedowns while also throwing 100 strikes in their recent battle in Jacksonville. Indeed, Robertson’s struggles against Ricci mark somewhat of a setback considering how dominant on the mat she has been at times during her current 3-2 run. “The Savage” has seen each of her recent three victories come by tap-out and currently ranks fifth among all active UFC fighters with seven submission victories to her credit. However, Robertson can take some comfort in Viana’s similar struggles against Ricci in their date at UFC Vegas 55, which ended in a unanimous decision loss for the Brazilian after getting taken down five times.

Polyana Viana UFC 297 Odds

Perhaps most famous for subduing a would-be armed robber on the streets of Brazil with a flurry of punches and a rear naked choke, Viana has far more mixed results in the octagon. Viana’s loss to newcomer Lucindo, “Dama de Ferro” dropped her to 3-5 in her past eight fights, ending a spectacular run of six straight first-round finishes, all by decision. With the exception of run-ins with aspiring street criminals and a speedy KO win over Jinh Yu Frey, Viana has demonstrated middling punching power. In fact, the best hope that the 31-year-old has will be to beat Robertson at her own game, grappling on the mat.

UFC 297 Prediction: Robertson vs. Viana

To the disappointment of fight fans hoping for a toe-to-toe battle between these ladies, this fight has all the makings of a grappling clinic. Level changes should be expected early and often. However, the edge must be given to Robertson. In addition to enjoying the support of the hometown crowd, Robertson enjoys a far greater ability to deliver and absorb strikes. Holder of the record for the most submission wins in UFC women’s history, with seven, expect “The Savage” to wear down Viana with the ground-and-pound before padding her record with a late-round tap out.

Prediction: Robertson (-275)