UFC 250 best bets: Value with Formiga, Sterling-Sandhagen evenly matched

UFC 250 takes place Saturday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It will feature a women's featherweight title fight between champion Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer.

Here are two of the best bets for the pay-per-view event.

Sterling-Sandhagen goes the distance (-210)

No. 2 Aljamain Sterling and No. 4 Cory Sandhagen are set to compete in a pivotal bantamweight bout, with the winner possibly moving on to challenge for the title.

The fight should be competitive, and both athletes have a tendency to go three rounds, especially recently.

Sterling has won four bouts in a row, three of which went the distance. Before a submission of Cody Stamann in September 2018, he hadn't won via finish since 2015. Sandhagen, meanwhile, needed the judges in his last two bouts.

Based on past results, Sterling and Sandhagen can finish lesser opponents, but a stoppage isn't likely if they get a step up in competition. For instance, Sandhagen stopped Mario Bautista and Iuri Alcantara, but went three rounds against top contenders Raphael Assuncao and John Lineker. On paper, Sterling and Sandhagen are evenly matched, and they both could serve as each other's toughest test to date.

Additionally, Sandhagen's one professional loss was a decision, while Sterling's only stoppage defeat in three pro losses came against Marlon Moraes, one of the hardest hitters in the 135-pound division.

Stylistically, Sandhagen should have a slight advantage in the striking department. He has an awkward style and has been compared to ex-champ Dominick Cruz, who's had some of the best footwork in the sport. On the ground, Sterling is a bit more well-versed, but not enough that I believe he can pull off a submission.

Ultimately, Sterling and Sandhagen are both skilled enough to stay out of any fight-ending situations, which will result in a close affair that goes the distance.

Jussier Formiga (+115) vs. Alex Perez

Although Formiga has been underrated his entire career, make no mistake about it: He's one of the best flyweights in UFC history. The prime of his career just happened to overlap with the six-year title reign of Demetrious Johnson, one of the greatest fighters of all time.

The Brazilian has a lot more Octagon experience than Perez and he's fought a much higher level of competition. Formiga has beaten many top flyweights, including Deiveson Figueiredo, Sergio Pettis, and Wilson Reis. He's essentially only lost to the best, including Joseph Benavidez and Henry Cejudo.

Perez is 5-1 in the UFC and is considered a rising fighter in the division, but he's still unproven. He hasn't beaten anyone in the top 10, and his first fight against a ranked foe resulted in a devastating first-round defeat to Benavidez.

Perez, ranked No. 9 at flyweight, is seemingly favored because he's won two fights in a row and No. 4 Formiga has dropped two straight. It's true that Formiga's best days are probably behind him, but I don't think the 35-year-old is washed up.

Stylistically, this is a good matchup for Formiga, one of the best grapplers in the UFC, because Perez likes to fight on the mat. Perez will have to beat Formiga - who's also a respectable striker - in the striking department if he wants to win.

The 28-year-old has solid power for a flyweight, but that'll only matter if he connects. Formiga has a slight reach advantage and is usually good at controlling range on the feet. Realistically, he'll look to get Perez to the mat, and that's where Formiga will do his best work. I like the Brazilian to outwork Perez en route to a unanimous decision victory.

Here are the full odds for UFC 250 on June 6:

Main card

Amanda Nunes (-600) vs. Felicia Spencer (+450)
Cody Garbrandt (-140) vs. Raphael Assuncao (+120)
Aljamain Sterling (-115) vs. Cory Sandhagen (-105)
Neil Magny (-135) vs. Anthony Rocco Martin (+115)
Sean O'Malley (-500) vs. Eddie Wineland (+400)

Preliminary card

Chase Hooper (-190) vs. Alex Caceres (+165)
Ian Heinisch (-135) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (+115)
Cody Stamann (-250) vs. Brian Kelleher (+210)
Charles Byrd (-175) vs. Maki Pitolo (+155)

Early preliminary card

Alex Perez (-135) vs. Jussier Formiga (+115)
Alonzo Menifield (-225) vs. Devin Clark (+185)
Herbert Burns (-225) vs. Evan Dunham (+185)