Light heavyweights Johnny Walker and Jamahal Hill will look to impress UFC brass with their flashy power as the new main event of UFC Vegas 48 on February 19 from inside the UFC's APEX Center in Las Vegas.
The original main event of UFC Vegas 48 was Rafael dos Anjos vs. Rafael Fiziev, but Fiziev's visa issues forced the fight to be moved. Insert Walker vs. Hill.
Making his pro debut in 2013, Walker joined the UFC in 2018 via Dana White's Contender Series. He is 5-3 with the promotion, but 1-3 in his last four fights. Walker last fought in October, losing to Thiago Santos via unanimous decision.
Another Contender Series alum, Hill made his pro debut in 2017. Joining the Contender Series in 2019, Hill is 4-1 with one no-contest in the UFC. The no-contest came from a win against Klidson Abreu getting overturned after Hill tested positive for marijuana. Hill beat Jimmy Crute via KO in December. That win added another impressive name to his resume, joining Ovince Saint Preux.
MORE: UFC Vegas 48: Johnny Walker vs. Jamahal Hill fight date, time, price, odds & location
Sporting News is breaking down the fight and providing some insight into the betting of the matchup.
UFC Vegas 48 odds for Johnny Walker vs. Jamahal Hill
According to the FanDuel Sportsbook, Walker is the +205 underdog, meaning that a wager of $100 will result in a $205 payout. Hill is the -265 favorite, meaning a wager of $265 will result in a $100 profit.
Sports Interaction has Hill as the -240 favorite and Walker as the +175 underdog.
Johnny Walker vs. Jamahal Hill prop bets
- Hill via KO/TKO: -130
- Hill via submission: +3400
- Hill via decision: +460
- Walker via KO/TKO: +340
- Walker via submission: +2000
- Walker via decision: +460
Johnny Walker vs. Jamahal Hill prediction
It is fair to say that Hill’s stats could be a bit inflated due to his lack of time in the octagon. He has landed 7.45 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy rate of 51%. Walker, the “veteran” of the two, has landed 3.42 significant strikes per minute and has a 59% striking accuracy mark.
In his UFC career (eight fights), Walker has landed 204 shots. In six bouts with the UFC, Hill has landed 281 shots, with 101 of them coming against Darko Stosic in 2020. Three of the bouts Hill has won (not counting the no-contest) have been via some form of knockout. Walker has won all but one of his fights in the UFC via knockout. Against heavy-hitters, Walker has struggled. Hill’s striking is not something to mess around with.
Walker does have an advantage when it comes to fighting on the ground. He has a takedown defense of 62% and a submission average of 0.7. While Walker has faced more wrestlers than Hill, Hill’s resume against the likes of OSP is impressive. Walker has been much more patient with his game, but his recent struggles have shown he might need to use everything in his arsenal to leave Las Vegas with a win.
The way these two fight, it would not be surprising if it does not go all the way. A bet of it going the distance almost seems irrelevant. It is all about the explosive nature of both fighters, and something has to give. Hill's momentum may continue against Walker, who is at a bit of a crossroads early on in his career.
As far as the winner is concerned, the dynamic Walker has a lot on his plate. Hill, the up-and-coming fighter, has momentum, and the fear of being knocked by him in any fight is always dangerous. Can Walker avoid getting hit, or is the result inevitable?
Expect Hill to come out swinging.
