The UFC is back to its globetrotting ways this weekend, taking UFC 275 all the way to Singapore for an event with two title fights and no shortage of compelling match-ups. At the very top of the card we have 42-year-old light heavyweight champion and all-around nice guy Glover Teixeira (+170) making his first attempt at a title defense against 29-year-old Jiri Prochazka (-200), a man whose fighting style is as uniquely compelling as his haircut.

The conventional wisdom of unarmed combat tells us that the edge in this fight should go to the younger, faster, more athletic challenger. If he can keep the fight out in open space, where his dynamic striking style works best, the exuberance of youth ought to be too much for Teixeira’s meat-and-potatoes striking game. Teixeira knows that as well as anyone, though. He’s a crafty old dog with a great ground game, and he keeps finding ways to beat younger, sharper opponents who seem like they should eat him up.

Glover Teixeira punching Anthony Smith during a ground and pound assault. Pic: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

If you can talk yourself into believing that he’ll do it again here, Teixeira might be worth a small underdog bet, but don’t go crazy with it, especially because there are much more attractive bets available.

For more value, look to the other title fight at UFC 275, where dominant 125-pound champ Valentina Shevchenko (-630) puts her belt up for grabs against Taila Santos (+450). Is Santos a threat to pull off a major upset here? Not really. She’s a good fighter and a talented athlete, but she's likely in over her head way too soon in her career. She doesn’t have the big fight experience or the all-around game to suggest that she can really hang with Shevchenko, who is at the peak of her powers. Santos has never fought anyone this good, or even been in a fight of this magnitude. She’s also never gone five rounds before. All of that is business as usual to Shevchenko.

But you won’t get rich betting the 6-1 line on Shevchenko to win, so picking the winning method is the way to go here. And, wouldn’t you know it, there’s a juicy +130 line on Shevchenko via KO/TKO/DQ/Submission. Basically, as long as Shevchenko gets Santos out of there inside the distance, you win.

Valentina Shevchenko lands a hit against Lauren Murphy during UFC 266 at T-Mobile Arena. Pic: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Why the slight underdog odds on that one? Maybe because Santos has never been finished (though, again, she’s never fought anyone even remotely like the champ). Or maybe it’s because oddsmakers think dominant champs, the longer they reign, only grow more risk-averse and less compelled to finish fights.

That may be true for others, but Shevchenko has finished her last two opponents and put away four of six since becoming champ in 2018. Even late in a fight, as with her fourth-round TKO of Lauren Murphy in her last title defense, Shevchenko is still looking for the finish whether she has to or not. That makes this as good a line as you’re going to get, and on the closest thing to a lock this fight card has.

Shevchenko vs Santos odds: Shevchenko (-630), Santos (+450)

The UFC 275 card is action packed with top class fights. Here's a full rundown of the action.

Main card

• Glover Teixeira vs Jiří Procházka

• Valentina Shevchenko vs Taila Santos

• Zhang Weili vs Joanna Jędrzejczyk 2

• Rogério Bontorin vs Manel Kape

• Jack Della Maddalena vs Ramazan Emeev

Preliminary Card

• Jacob Malkoun vs Brendan Allen

• Seung Woo Choi vs Joshua Culibao

• Steve Garcia vs Hayisaer Maheshate

• Jake Matthews vs André Fialho

• Kang Kyung-ho vs Danaa Batgerel

• Liang Na vs Silvana Gómez Juárez

• Ramona Pascual vs Joselyne Edwards

A limited number of UFC 275 tickets still available. Here's where to get them.

UFC bets explained

To win fight

This is the most straightforward bet you will find at UFC betting sites. Which of the fighters do you think will emerge victorious from the Octagon? Simply make your choice after studying the form and the odds available and place a wager in line with your judgment.

Method of victory

There are several ways in which a UFC bout can end, including knockout, technical knockout, submission or a points verdict. You will find UFC betting odds on each of those outcomes – select the method in which you think the fight will end and place your stake accordingly.

Round betting

Standard UFC fights consist of three five-minute rounds. In championship bouts, there are five. If you choose to predict in which round the fight will finish – regardless of who you think the winner will be – you will be able to find UFC odds for that result.

Israel Adesanya attempts a kick on Jared Cannonier (blue gloves) in a bout during UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

When will fight end

This is similar to round betting, except that this market includes the option for the fight to go the full distance and be decided on points. When you have assessed the UFC betting odds on the various outcomes and made your selection, you will be able to back your choice.

Method and round combination

A slightly more complicated wager, in that you have to predict two things. How will the fight end, and at what stage? You will find UFC betting lines that include all the various combinations and it will provide an extra interest as the action unfolds.

Total rounds

If you think you know how long a bout will last, this offers you an over/under option. The sportsbook will set a number of rounds; if you believe the fight will last more than that, you go “over” and if you think it will be over more quickly, the “under” is for you.

Alexander Volkanovski (red gloves) and Max Holloway (blue gloves) fight in a bout during UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena. Pic: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Fight to go the distance

UFC betting sites will offer you a simple yes/no option. Will the fight last the full number of rounds? The sportsbook will present odds on each of the two outcomes and you decide – using your knowledge of the fighters involved – which to wager on.

Method of victory double chance

When you believe a fighter will prevail, but really can’t decide how they will do so, this is for you. Instead of having to back a single method of victory, you will be able to choose UFC odds covering two ways in which your pick will win, doubling your chance of a return.