JooSang Yoo vs Gaston Bolanos: UFC 326 Odds & Analysis

JooSang Yoo vs Gaston Bolanos Fight Analysis

Introduction

The featherweight clash between JooSang Yoo and Gaston Bolanos is set to kick off the early preliminary card of UFC 326 on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the iconic T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout is scheduled to begin at 22:00 UTC (5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT), ushering in a night of fireworks as two dynamic strikers look to silence the crowd and stake their claim in one of the most talent-rich divisions in mixed martial arts.

This matchup pits South Korean prospect JooSang Yoo (9-1-0) against Peruvian veteran Gaston Bolanos (8-5-0) in what promises to be a high-octane striking battle. Yoo, who made his UFC debut just this past June, enters as the clear favorite on the sportsbooks, with moneyline odds currently hovering around –285 on Bovada and –275 on BetOnline.ag. The 31-year-old freestyle specialist has stamped his authority on the featherweight division with four first-round finishes and an average fight time of just 2:55, underscoring his relentless pace and precision output. With a 59% significant strike accuracy and a sturdy 56% defense rate, Yoo’s approach is predicated on overwhelming volume and pinpoint timing, often leaving his opponents little room to mount a comeback.

On the other side of the Octagon stands Gaston Bolanos, the +210 underdog on BetOnline.ag, who boasts six knockout victories and a perfect 100% takedown accuracy mark on his resume. A late bloomer in the UFC, Bolanos has proven his finishing prowess in the bantamweight division, delivering five first-round stoppages in his career. Despite a mixed record (8-5), the 32-year-old striker carries legitimate power in both hands and has shown considerable durability, absorbing significant strikes at a defense rate of 51%. His southpaw stance and unorthodox angles present a stylistic puzzle for a fighter like Yoo, who will need to navigate Bolanos’s heavy leather and counter-punching threats.

As the underdog, Bolanos has everything to gain and nothing to lose, while Yoo must avoid any early pitfalls that could derail his rapid ascent. The contrasting styles—Yoo’s frenetic volume versus Bolanos’s one-punch power—set the stage for a classic striker’s duel. Whether it unfolds as a strategic chess match or devolves into a wild brawl, this opening preliminary bout carries significant implications: a dominant performance from Yoo cements his status as a contender, whereas a Bolanos upset would send shockwaves through the division and reward any bettors who backed the +210 line.

Stay tuned as we break down the key statistics, fighting styles, recent form, and strategic angles that will determine the outcome of this pivotal featherweight showdown at UFC 326.

Live odds

Live and historic odds as well as more fighter statistics and insights for JooSang Yoo vs Gaston Bolanos can be found on the fighter matchup page. All the fighter matchups and live odds for Holloway vs Oliveira 2 can be found on the Holloway vs Oliveira 2 event page.

Matchup and Individual Profiles

JooSang Yoo Profile

Age: 31
Country: South Korea
Fighting Style: Freestyle striker
Overall Record: 9-1-0 (4 KOs, 1 Submission)
UFC Record: 1-1-0

Recent Form

• Oct. 4, 2025: Loss to Daniel Santos via KO/TKO (Round 2, 0:21)
• June 7, 2025: Win over Jeka Saragih via KO/TKO (Round 1, 0:28)
• UFC Debut: June 7, 2025 – 28-second first-round knockout

Although Yoo has just two UFC outings, his electrifying debut and decisive win over Saragih showcased his explosive power and finishing instinct. His only setback came against veteran Daniel Santos, but the quick turnaround and competitive showing have done little to dampen his ascent.

Strengths

• High Output & Accuracy: 59% significant strike accuracy, landing strikes in bunches.
• Finishing Instinct: Four first-round finishes; average fight time just 2:55.
• Solid Defense: 56% significant strike defense, adept at slipping and countering.

Weaknesses

• Takedown Game: 0% takedown accuracy – virtually no wrestling offense to keep opponents grounded.
• Defensive Wrestling: 50% takedown defense suggests vulnerability if pressured by a grappler.
• Power Susceptibility: Knocked out by Santos in under 30 seconds; needs to navigate heavy hitters cautiously.

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Gaston Bolanos Profile

Age: 32
Country: Peru
Fighting Style: Southpaw striker
Overall Record: 8-5-0 (6 KOs, 0 Submissions)
UFC Record: 2-2-0

Recent Form

• May 3, 2025: Loss to Quang Le via Submission (Round 2, 1:54)
• Nov. 9, 2024: Win over Cortavious Romious via Unanimous Decision (Round 3, 5:00)
• Jan. 13, 2024: Loss to Marcus McGhee via KO/TKO (Round 2, 3:29)
• Apr. 15, 2023: Win over Aaron Phillips via Unanimous Decision (Round 3, 5:00)

Bolanos has alternated wins and losses in his last four outings, demonstrating both finishing prowess and moments of susceptibility. His unanimous decision over Romious showed durability, but back-to-back stoppage losses highlight defensive lapses.

Strengths

• One-Punch Power: Six career knockouts; five first-round stoppages.
• Takedown Precision: 100% takedown accuracy—has capitalized on every attempt.
• Durability: Averaging 11:21 per fight, he can endure deep into later rounds when needed.

Weaknesses

• Striking Defense: 51% significant strike defense—vulnerable to volume strikers who press high pace.
• Ground Defense: 43% takedown defense, often succumbing to wrestling pressure despite perfect offensive takedowns.
• Submission Defense: Recent loss via choke indicates potential gaps in grappling exchanges.

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Matchup Outlook

This clash pits Yoo’s relentless volume and pinpoint striking against Bolanos’s one-shot power and southpaw angles. Yoo must avoid heavy counters and exploit his cardio advantage, while Bolanos will look to land early bombs and drag Yoo into grappling exchanges. The outcome hinges on whether Yoo can dictate distance with his superior striking defense or Bolanos can land a fight-ending shot in the opening frames.

Odds and Betting Trends

Current Betting Odds

As of the latest updates, JooSang Yoo enters this featherweight showdown as the clear favorite across sportsbooks, while Gaston Bolanos sits firmly in underdog territory.

• JooSang Yoo
  • Bovada: –285
  • BetOnline.ag: –275
  • DraftKings: –225

• Gaston Bolanos
  • BetOnline.ag: +210

Yoo’s shortest line (–285 at Bovada) implies heavy expectation for a victory, whereas Bolanos’s +210 at BetOnline.ag highlights the payout appeal for those backing an upset.

Best Sportsbook for Value

• If you’re backing Yoo, DraftKings at –225 offers the highest potential return among the favorites.
• If you believe in a shocker from Bolanos, BetOnline.ag’s +210 line is your top underdog price.

Line Movement and Historical Swings

A look at the line movement over the past week reveals significant shifts in bettors’ confidence:

JooSang Yoo (Favorite) – DraftKings History

• Feb 21, 05:09 UTC: –225
• (No prior DraftKings data)

JooSang Yoo – BetOnline.ag History

• Feb 13, 11:01 UTC: –211
• Feb 17, 23:50 UTC: –220
• Feb 18, 08:10 UTC: –240
• Feb 21, 03:14 UTC: –275

Yoo’s line has drifted from –211 to –275 over eight days, reflecting sharp money flowing in and growing public confidence.

Gaston Bolanos (Underdog) – BetOnline.ag History

• Feb 21, 22:01 UTC: +220
• Feb 22, 04:51 UTC: +205
• Feb 22, 07:10 UTC: +195
• Feb 23, 09:10 UTC: +210

Bolanos’s price shortened from +220 to +195, indicating early support for the underdog, before receding slightly back to +210 as bettors balanced action.

These swings suggest sharp bettors initially saw value on both sides, but the market eventually tilted more decisively toward Yoo.

Payout and Implied Probabilities

If you placed a $1,000 wager today:

• A winning bet on JooSang Yoo at –225 (DraftKings) returns $1,444 (including stake) and carries an implied win probability of roughly 69%.
• A winning bet on Gaston Bolanos at +210 (BetOnline.ag) returns $3,100 (including stake) and carries an implied win probability of roughly 32%.

These figures illustrate the risk/reward trade-off: backing the heavy favorite yields a modest return, whereas the underdog offers more than double your money.

Betting Angle

• Lean on Yoo if you believe his high-volume striking, superior defensive metrics (56% sig-strike defense) and proven finishing speed will overwhelm Bolanos before he can land a fight-changing shot.
• Target the underdog if you think Bolanos’s southpaw power and perfect takedown accuracy can catch Yoo out of rhythm, turning the tables early in the opening round.

Ultimately, the best sportsbook depends on your pick: DraftKings for maximal favorite value, BetOnline.ag for the most attractive underdog payout. Choose your angle and strike while the odds are in your favor.