MMA Preview – Casey O’Neill vs Ariane Lipski at UFC 296
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
CASEY O’NEILL VS ARIANE LIPSKI FACTS
When is UFC 296? Saturday 16th December, 2023 - 23:00 (UK)
Where is UFC 296? T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 296? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 296
What channel is UFC 296 on? TNT Sports Box Office (£19.99 – main card)
Where can I stream UFC 296? TNT Sports subscribers can stream the fight online via the TNT Sports website and Discovery+
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
CASEY O’NEILL VS ARIANE LIPSKI LOWDOWN
Casey O’Neill (9-1) is coming off the first loss of her career. She arrived to the UFC with five wins in the bank and started to build some hype after three impressive finishes and a split decision over Roxanne Modafferi (2022). She then met the flyweight gatekeeper Jennifer Maia at UFC 286 in London and got outclassed in a unanimous decision.
Ariane Lipski (16-8) is hoping to build a personal best win streak in the UFC as she is coming off two dubs. She got TKO’d by Priscila Cachoeira (2022) up at bantamweight and dropped back down to earn a unanimous decision over JJ Aldrich (2023) and split decision over Melissa Gatto (2023).
CASEY O’NEILL VS ARIANE LIPSKI PREDICTION
Both fighters hail from a Muay Thai background and are very aggressive which should create a very exciting stand-up battle. However, we expect O’Neill to wrestle and try and keep Lipski on her back and rain down the ground-and-pound.
Lipski has good jiu-jitsu and her wrestling continues to improve. She will make O’Neill work hard for the takedown and she also hits hard, so will be a threat when O’Neill closes the distance.
We are backing O’Neill to grind out a decision, but Lipski is the value bet as the underdog.
Prediction: O’Neill via Decision
Value bet: Lipski to win
