Michal Oleksiejczuk vs Marc-Andre Barriault Odds
| Oleksiejczuk Odds | -485 |
| Barriault Odds | +370 |
| Over/Under | 1.5 (+130/-166) |
| Location | UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Bout Time | 9:15 p.m. ET |
| TV/Streaming | Paramount+ |
| UFC Vegas 113 odds as of Saturday and via DraftKings. Bet on UFC Vegas 113 with our DraftKings promo code. | |
Check out the Michal Oleksiejczuk vs Marc-Andre Barriault prediction for UFC Vegas 113 on Saturday, February 7, along with my betting preview and breakdown.
Michal Oleksiejczuk began his UFC career in 2017, yet is still squarely in his fighting prime at just 30 years of age. His opponent on Saturday is another veteran of the Octagon, Canada’s Marc-Andre Barriault. This will be Barriault’s 17th appearance in the UFC, and there's a growing sentiment surrounding the soon-to-be 36-year-old fighter that his best days are behind him. Oddsmakers see the writing on the wall that the careers of these two men are heading in opposite directions, with all signs pointing to a knockout victory for the favorite.
Here's my Oleksiejczuk vs Barriault pick and prediction.
Tale of the Tape
| Oleksiejczuk | Barriault | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 21-9 | 17-10 |
| Avg. Fight Time | 6:03 | 10:04 |
| Height | 6'0" | 6'1" |
| Weight (pounds) | 185 lbs. | 185 lbs. |
| Reach (inches) | 74" | 74" |
| Stance | Southpaw | Orthodox |
| Date of birth | 2/22/1995 | 2/18/1990 |
| Sig Strikes Per Min | 5.34 | 5.70 |
| SS Accuracy | 51% | 47% |
| SS Absorbed Per Min | 4.41 | 5.63 |
| SS Defense | 59% | 50% |
| Take Down Avg | 1.02 | 0.37 |
| TD Acc | 43% | 28% |
| TD Def | 52% | 68% |
| Submission Avg | 0 | 0.1 |
Barriault has lost four of his last five bouts, with his only victory coming against a fighter in Bruno Silva who had one foot out of the door on his way to retirement. If you are optimistic about Barriault’s chances to be competitive in his matchup with Oleksiejczuk, you will certainly point to his split decision loss just two years ago versus Chris Curtis.
Barriault did not even attempt a takedown in that match with Curtis, yet was barely edged out in the striking department as both fighters attempted more than 240 significant strikes. However, that fight may have taken its toll on the aging Canadian, as the two fights following that battle resulted in first-round knockout losses.
Any breakdown of this fight must include Barriault’s ability to wrestle, but I don't see it as a major factor in the result of this fight. Oleksiejczuk is still improving his craft and has not been taken down in a fight since his 2023 fight against the much more talented Caio Barralho. Even then, Barralho was just one of four on takedown attempts in the opening round. Ruling out a takedown by Barriault would be a mistake, but he is going to have to do much more than that to get his hand raised.
Closing the distance, making this fight ugly, and working predominantly in the clinch in his path to success. Oleksiejczuk is not comfortable fighting at a close distance, and his clinch-striking differential over the course of his career reflects that. With that said, this is still a relatively narrow path to victory for Barriault. Fatigue would have to play a huge factor for Barriault to grind his way to a decision victory.
Oleksiejczuk’s move to the Fighting Nerds team, where he trains with his former rival, Borrlaho, will pay dividends as his defensive skills continue to improve. His fast hands and powerful straight left can end the fight in an instant, and he will have plenty of chances to land with power whenever he can break free and keep this fight out in the open. If Oleksiejczuk can get this type of fight, it is only a matter of time before the damage follows.
Oleksiejczuk vs. Barriault Pick, Prediction
Oleksiejczuk has had an up-and-down career to this point, but his kickboxing prowess remains while he sharpens his other skills en route to rounding out his game. He is elusive enough and fighting with enough confidence at this point in his career to showcase the decided edge he has in this fight when it is playing out at distance.
His two previous victories have been impressive, but this is a step-up in competition considering the experience Barriault brings to the cage.
However, the matchmaking reveals a plan to bring Oleksiejczuk along slowly as he enters the contender ranks. Dispatching a veteran fighter with waning durability is the test here, and one I expect he passes at a high clip in this particular spot.
Considering Barriault does have the edge in cardio, I will target the first ten minutes of this fight and expect Oleksiejczuk to find an opening that leads to the KO/TKO victory. You can find this market under KO/TKO Round Combos on FanDuel.
John's Pick: Michael Oleksiejczuk to win by KO/TKO in Rounds 1 or 2 -150 (FanDuel)
