Khaos Williams vs. Carlston Harris Odds
Here's everything you need to know about the Khaos Williams vs. Carlston Harris odds at UFC Vegas 92 on Saturday, May 18 – our expert UFC prediction and pick.
The co-main event in Las Vegas on Saturday night features a welterweight showdown between Khaos Williams (aka Kalinn Williams) and Carlston Harris.
Williams, who stormed onto the scene with two quick knockouts in 2020, will be looking to get some consistency going after struggling to stay active in recent years.
Standing in the Williams' way is the native of Guyana in Harris.
A lot of Harris' success has largely gone under the radar, but the 36-year-old has lost only to Shavkat Rakhmonov in the UFC and is currently riding a two-fight winning streak.
Tale of the Tape
| Williams | Harris | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 14-3 | 19-5 |
| Avg. Fight Time | 10:17 | 7:18 |
| Height | 6'0" | 6'0" |
| Weight (pounds) | 170 lbs. | 169.5 lbs. |
| Reach (inches) | 77" | 76" |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Date of birth | 3/30/1994 | 7/9/1987 |
| Sig Strikes Per Min | 5.77 | 2.93 |
| SS Accuracy | 39% | 49% |
| SS Absorbed Per Min | 5.33 | 2.44 |
| SS Defense | 42% | 53% |
| Take Down Avg | 0.00 | 2.05 |
| TD Acc | 0% | 29% |
| TD Def | 80% | 55% |
| Submission Avg | 0.0 | 0.8 |
Although it's tempting to reduce this fight to a striker vs. grappler framework given the context at hand, both men carry a potential for fireworks on the feet.
Known as "The Oxfighter," Williams has no issues when it comes to digging his heels into the mat and standing his ground.
Traditionally preferring to counter, Williams will patiently lay in wait while looking for opportunities to emphatically return in combination.
Williams may not have the cleanest technique when he's swinging, but the 30-year-old possesses unquestionable power that can turn the trajectory of a fight on a dime.
Despite being primarily stereotyped as a brawler, Williams started his MMA journey with Brazilian jiu-jitsu and keeps some underrated submissions from the front headlock in his back pocket.
But considering that Harris specializes in front-choke transitions, I suspect that counter-wrestling will need to be priority No. 1 for Williams.
A black belt in luta livre and a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Harris has proven to be a menace if he's allowed to get sticky from his favored body-lock position.
Whether Harris is snatching up opportunistic submissions against superior wrestlers or is dominating positions to bank rounds, the 13-year pro appears to be comfortable and competent in most scenarios.
When operating on the feet, Harris demonstrates some deceptively effective striking despite the awkward optics he emits.
Even when stung, Harris does well at maintaining his composure and looking to counter (often hurting his opposition in return).
Not only does Harris have deceivingly heavy hands, but he's also made marked improvements to his jab and lead hand – something that should serve him well in this fight.
Williams vs. Harris Pick
Despite the oddsmakers opening the Brazilian as a slight favorite, public money has flipped the line in favor of the American, listing Williams -141 and Harris +114 as of this writing.
I can understand the allure of an explosive fighter like Williams in this spot, especially considering the fact that both of Harris' stoppage losses come in the first round.
However, aside from the fact that both of said losses came to legitimate prospects, Harris could prove to be a difficult matchup from a stylistic perspective if Williams fails to hurt or finish his foe early.
Not only does Harris appear to have the better cardio between the two, but I believe that Williams' propensity to clinch when uncomfortable (as well as follow hurt fighters to the floor) could cost him against a grapple-heavy fighter.
And on the rare occasion when Williams has been taken down, he seems to favor underhook getups, which feed right into the front-choke counters of Harris.
Add in the fact that this fight will be taking place in the smaller octagon, and I'll stick with the better submission fighter given the favorable fighting terrain.
It's always "pick a side and ride" at prices like these, but I'll gladly take a shot at the deserved favorite if you're going to give me a plus-money price tag.
The Pick: Carlston Harris (+114 at BetRivers)
