UFC Winnipeg Betting Picks: Best Bets for April 18th Card

The UFC returns north of the U.S. border this weekend, and for the first time in 8.5 years, the Octagon has touched down in Winnipeg at the Canada Life Centre.

UFC Winnipeg on April 18 marks the UFC’s first visit to the capital of Manitoba since December 2017, a card headlined by Robbie Lawler and Rafael dos Anjos. Prior to that, the only time the UFC had held a card in the city was UFC 161, topped by Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson.

This weekend’s main event features a welterweight clash between former title challenger Gilbert Burns and rising contender Mike Malott. Burns may be in a must-win situation here, having lost four in a row. He’s just 3-6 since he unsuccessfully challenged then-champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 258. Malott is 13-2-1 as a fighter and is 6-1 since entering the UFC from Dana White’s Contender Series. Malott defeated Kevin Holland at UFC Vancouver this past October.

The co-main event will be a bantamweight battle between Kyler Phillips and Charles Jourdain. Phillips has lost two straight, coming into this bout off a loss to Vinicius Oliveira at UFC 318. “Air” Jourdain has won two in a row and four of his last six, most recently submitting Davey Grant at UFC Vancouver.

The rest of the UFC Vancouver main card features Mandel Nallo vs. Jai Herbert, Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Karine Silva, Thiago Moises vs. Gauge Young, and Dennis Buzujka vs. Marcio Barbosa.

JASMINE JASUDAVICIUS VS KARINE SILVA

Jasmine Jasudavicius is a fighter whose rise I’ve enjoyed watching. She probably would have been fighting for a title or title shot in her next fight had it not been for getting caught by a brutal knee from Manon Fiorot in Vancouver. A loss to Silva could damage her desire to be a top contender in the division, but a win could be the rebound she exactly needs. Silva started her UFC tenure 4-0 but has now lost two of her last three. Both are respected grapplers, and Silva has recently done work with the Fighting Nerds. Jasudavicius, however, has shown a top control and pressure that can give Silva trouble. Not to mention, Jasmine Jasudavicius will have a size and power advantage in this matchup. Maybe it won’t be the most dominating performance, but it should be a strong win for Jasudavicius here nonetheless.

BET: Jasudavicius via decision (FanDuel: -135)

DENNIS BUZUKJA VS MARCIO BARBOSA

Dennis Buzukja fights for the first time since August 2024, having served as a suspension. His UFC tenure has not been a good one aside from his lone win – a highlight finish of Connor Matthews. Meanwhile, this will be Barbosa’s UFC debut after earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. His last nine consecutive wins have all been first-round finishes. If Buzukja can take Barbosa’s strikes, if he can stifle Barbosa’s offense, if he can take the fight to the ground – and if he can drag the fight longer – things can go in Buzukja’s favor. Barbosa’s wild, power-filled fighting style, however, gives a feeling this one won’t be a long fight.

BET: UNDER 1.5 rounds (BetMGM: -140)

JJ ALDRICH VS JAMEY-LYN HORTH

JJ Aldrich may not be everyone’s cup of tea as a fighter, but she’s won three of her last four and has been in there with the likes of Andrea Lee, Erin Blanchfield, Veronica Hardy, and Ariane Lipski. Horth is 4-2 in the UFC, with losses to Hardy and Miranda Maverick, but she’s looked good in her last two fights. This should be a technical striking battle, but Horth’s upside and her range might give Aldrich trouble here. And if this one should go to the ground, even more trouble for Aldrich.

BET: Horth via decision (FanDuel: +100)