UFC 303 Odds, Prediction: Joe Pyfer vs. Marc-Andre Barriault

Marc-Andre Barriault’s split decision loss to Chris Curtis snapped a two-fight win streak and cost him an opportunity to establish a foothold on a spot on the UFC rankings. Joe Pyfer is also coming off a tough defeat, falling by unanimous decision in a five-round main event matchup with veteran Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 86 that put the brakes on an impressive five-fight win streak that earned him a pair of Performance of the Night bonuses.

Pyfer has emerged as a strong -300 favourite on the UFC 303 odds while Barriault lags as a +240 underdog, and the odds of this clash going a full three rounds are pegged at just +140.

Joe Pyfer UFC 303 Odds

Joe Pyfer had been enjoying an impressive UFC debut before running into Jack Hermansson in February. The former Ring of Combat middleweight champion earned a UFC contract with a second-round TKO win over Osman Diaz in his second appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, and followed up with first-round TKO wins over Alen Amedovski and Gerald Meerschaert in his first two UFC appearances, followed by an impressive second-round submission victory over Abdul Razak Alhassan at UFC Vegas 80. With that victory, “Bodybagz” proved his ability to do more than just engage in slugfests. Indeed, the 27-year-old has seen three of his 11 wins come by tap out, and has compiled five takedowns over his past five fights.

Marc-Andre Barriault UFC 303 Odds

Fight fans were treated to a brawl when Marc-Andre Barriault clashed with Chris Curtis in Toronto. The duo combined to throw over 500 total punches, Curtis holding a 140-122 edge in significant strikes landed. Slugfests have become common when “Powerbar” steps into the octagon, with the Gatineau, Quebec native landing an average of over 108 significant strikes over his past three fights. However, Barriault regularly gets into trouble when the action shifts to the mat. The 34-year-old has been taken down on 13 total occasions over his past seven fights, and while he has managed to eke out victories in two of the past three fights in which he was taken down, his ability to overcome an opponent’s control can only take him so far.

UFC 303 Prediction: Joe Pyfer vs Marc-Andre Barriault

Joe Pyfer discovered that the competition quickly stiffens for fighters enjoying impressive UFC debuts. However, Pyfer’s ability to go a full five rounds against a UFC veteran like Hermansson combined with his impressive level-changing ability should give him a clear edge against Barriault, who will likely need to land a fight-ending strike to have any chance against the rising star.

Prediction: Joe Pyfer by KO, TKO, or DQ