UFC 334: Gane vs. Hokit opens its main card at Madison Square Garden with a flyweight showcase between undefeated knockout artist Bilal Hasan and veteran Luis Gurule. Check out our UFC 334 odds series for our Hasan-Gurule prediction and pick.
Bilal Hasan (10-0, 1 NC) has taken the flyweight division by storm since earning his UFC contract with a 45-second TKO of Mridul Saikia on the Contender Series in August. Just 18 days later, the former CFFC champion knocked out unbeaten Nilson Rojas in the second round at UFC Shanghai as he comes into his fight this weekend against Luis Gurule.
Luis Gurule (11-4) enters this matchup needing a win after going 1-4 across his first five UFC appearances. Although the former Fury FC champion defeated Daniel Barez by unanimous decision, he was recently submitted in the first round by Rei Tsuruya and outpointed by Alden Coria as he comes into his fight this weekend against Bilal Hasan.
UFC 334 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings
UFC 334 Odds: Bilal Hasan-Luis Gurule Odds
Bilal Hasan: -1050
Luis Gurule: +675
Over 1.5 rounds: +130
Under 1.5 rounds: -166
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Why Bilal Hasan Will Win
Bilal Hasan is the biggest betting favorite on the entire UFC 334 card for good reason, as he holds massive advantages in speed, reach, youth and finishing power. With eight of his 10 professional victories coming by knockout, “The IndoNinja” possesses rare one-shot stopping power for the 125-pound division.
Training alongside Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson, Hasan combines dynamic taekwondo kicks, lethal body shots and laser-accurate straight punches. He boasts a two-inch height advantage and a six-inch reach edge over Luis Gurule, which will allow him to snipe the shorter fighter from the outside at will.
Gurule is a stationary, flat-footed brawler who relies on durability and grit, yet he was previously knocked out by Ode Osbourne and submitted quickly by Rei Tsuruya. Against a fast, explosive finisher like Hasan, plodding forward with a 64-inch reach is going to result in taking clean shots to the chin and liver.
Hasan has finished nine of his 10 wins inside the distance, including eight inside the first two rounds. Expect Hasan to control the center of the Octagon immediately, rip brutal kicks to Gurule's midsection and put him away early with a straight right hand.
Why Luis Gurule Will Win
Luis Gurule is playing with house money as a massive seven-to-one underdog, and his best path to pulling off a monumental upset lies in his veteran grit and suffocating wrestling pressure. While Bilal Hasan has looked sensational on the regional scene and in his UFC debut, he is still only 25 years old and making a massive jump to a pay-per-view main card at Madison Square Garden.
Gurule proved in his 30-27 unanimous decision sweep over Daniel Barez that when he commits to a high-pace, grinding gameplan, he can break aggressive strikers over 15 minutes. He cannot afford to stand at kicking range where Hasan's six-inch reach advantage and taekwondo arsenal will pick him apart.
Instead, Gurule needs to keep his guard high, march through the fire and immediately crowd Hasan against the fence to make this an ugly, phone-booth dogfight. Hasan has only gone to a three-round decision once in his career, meaning his gas tank in a grueling, clinch-heavy battle remains largely untested at the UFC level.
Article Continues BelowIf Gurule survives the opening five minutes, chains takedowns together and drags Hasan into deep waters, he could shock the world.
Final Hasan-Gurule Prediction & Pick
Bilal Hasan is the clear pick to remain undefeated and deliver a viral highlight to kick off the UFC 334 main card. From a stylistic and athletic standpoint, this matchup is designed to showcase Hasan's elite striking speed and devastating knockout power on a massive stage.
Luis Gurule is tough and will undoubtedly try to press forward to turn this into a gritty brawl, just as he did in his victory over Daniel Barez. However, giving up six inches of reach and seven years of youth against a dynamic sniper like Hasan leaves Gurule with almost no margin for error on the feet.
Hasan's ability to attack the body with front kicks and hooks before coming upstairs with a piston-like straight right hand will overwhelm Gurule's defensive shell early. We saw Ode Osbourne stop Gurule with strikes in the second round, and Hasan hits even harder while moving at a much faster clip.
Look for Hasan to stuff any desperate level changes from Gurule, pick his shots with surgical precision and score a emphatic first-round or early second-round knockout.
Final Bilal Hasan-Luis Gurule Prediction & Pick: Bilal Hasan (-1050), UNDER 1.5 rounds (-166)