Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee prediction, odds, picks for UFC 309

UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic continues on the preliminaries with a fight in the bantamweight division between Jonathan Martinez and Marcus McGhee. Martinez is coming off the worst loss of his career against Jose Aldo at UFC 301, while McGhee has won five in a row and all three fights inside the Octagon. With that said, ctry our UFC odds series for our Martinez-McGhee prediction and pick.

Jonathan Martinez (19-5) finally got the big fight he’s been wanting after winning six in a row, but ultimately lost that fight to Jose Aldo, where he was just fired. Now Martinez will look to put that fight on the back burner when he takes on rising prospect Marcus McGhee this weekend at UFC 309.

Marcus McGhee (10-1) has made his presence known through his first three fights of his UFC career. He has finished all three of his opponents and has yet to see a third round as he finished Gaston Bolanos, JP Buys and Journey Newson all before the third round. Now McGhee will face his toughest test yet when he takes on Jonathan Martinez this weekend at Madison Square Garden.

Here is UFC 309 oddscourtesy of DraftKings.

UFC 309 Odds: Jonathan Martinez-Marcus McGhee Odds

Jonathan Martinez: +120

Marcus McGhee: -142

Over 2.5 rounds: -154

Under 2.5 rounds: +120

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Why Jonathan Martinez Will win

• Last Fight: (W) Jose Aldo – DEC
• Last 5: 4-1
• Finish: 11 (9 KO/TKO/2 SUB)

Jonathan Martinez is poised to secure a victory over Marcus McGhee at UFC 309. With a professional record of 19-5, Martinez has faced tougher competition, including a recent bout against José Aldo that taught him invaluable lessons despite the loss. His shot accuracy is 49% and he lands an average of 4.54 significant strikes per minute, which shows his ability to maintain offensive pressure. Martinez’s experience in high-stakes fights will play a crucial role in helping him manage the intensity of this fight against the up-and-coming McGhee.

Martinez’s training camp has undergone a positive transformation since moving back to Texas, where he has honed his skills at the Ohana Academy and his own MTZ Fight Club. This change has revamped his approach, allowing him to refine his game plan and adapt to different fighting styles. With a solid fighting defense and the ability to absorb only 3.87 significant strikes per minute, Martinez is well equipped to counter McGhee’s aggressive style. This combination of experience and strategic preparation places Jonathan Martinez as the favorite to emerge victorious this weekend at Madison Square Garden.

Why Marcus McGhee Will win

• Last Fight: (W) Gaston Bolanos – KO/TKO R2
• Last 5: 5-0
• Finish: 9 (8 KO/TKO/1 SUB)

Marcus McGhee is set to defeat Jonathan Martinez at UFC 309. With a professional record of 10-1, McGhee has quickly made a name for himself in the UFC and boasts an impressive 3-0 start with all finishes. His ability to maintain pressure and exploit openings has proven effective as he lands an average of 5.43 significant strikes per minute with a striking 51% accuracy. That offensive output will be crucial against Martinez, who may struggle to keep up with McGhee’s high-volume hitting.

Additionally, McGhee’s struggling defense is notable; he successfully defends 85% of the takedowns against him, which could neutralize Martinez’s attempts to take the fight to the ground. The experience McGhee gained from his previous fights has instilled confidence in his approach, allowing him to adjust mid-fight and exploit his opponent’s weaknesses. With his combination of speed, power and adaptability, Marcus McGhee is well positioned to secure a victory over Jonathan Martinez this weekend at Madison Square Garden.

Final Jonathan Martinez-Marcus McGhee Prediction & Pick

This fight will get things going before we head to the main card as these two bantamweights go head to head this weekend at UFC 309. Both Martinez and McGhee can steal the show, which is why the UFC has them as the featured matchup on the prelims for UFC 309. This fight should be a back and forth fight that will be won or lost by the slimmest of margins. McGhee has certainly exceeded all expectations in his UFC career, but this could be the fight where he finally meets his match.

Ultimately, while McGhee is very well-rounded and able to mix it up on the feet and on the mat, Martinez can stay at bay using his kicks, movement and quickness to pick McGhee off the outside for the latter part of this fight , which must strike out. McGhee to a unanimous decision victory to get back on track this weekend at MSG.

Final Jonathan Martinez-Marcus McGhee Prediction and Pick: Jonathan Martinez (+120), over 2.5 rounds (-154)