Pereira vs. Prochazka 2: Rematch Mania Grips UFC 303 – Dive into Online UFC Betting!

 

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While the hype surrounding Conor McGregor’s return was undeniable, UFC 303 takes center stage on June 29th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with a captivating Light Heavyweight Championship rematch!

The current champion, Alex Pereira, a true fighting force, is set to defend his title against the formidable challenger, Jiří Procházka.

This highly anticipated clash promises an explosive encounter, and for MMA fans with a keen eye for strategy, a prime opportunity to leverage their knowledge with online UFC betting.

Early Look & Online UFC Betting Preview | MyBookie MMA Betting Preview for Main Fight Card

UFC 303: Pereira vs. Procházka 2
Saturday, June 29th at 6:00 pm ET | ESPN2/ESPN+
T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada

Early Look at UFC 303

Before diving into specific wagers, let’s dissect the fascinating backstory of this rematch.

Their first encounter was an instant classic, with Pereira emerging victorious via TKO in the second round. Now, with a deeper understanding of each other’s styles, the stakes are even higher.

By analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and the evolution of their fight game, you can approach online UFC betting for Pereira vs. Procházka 2 with a strategic edge and potentially place a winning wager.

UFC 303 was supposed to be Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon.

One of the most popular mixed martial artists in the sport’s history, McGregor was going to take on Michael Chandler in the main event at UFC 303.

Jamahal Hill was also going to fight at UFC 303. Both came up with injuries. McGregor’s made the headlines, but Hill also injured himself during training.

The new main event pits Alex Periera against Jiri Prochazka in a rematch of a fight that went to Pereira.

Check out more info on the upcoming UFC 303 event happening at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on June 29.

McGregor versus Chandler May Never Happen

Neither Chandler nor McGregor seem capable of beating the best in the lightweight division.

For sure, neither would have a chance against the champ, Islam Makhachev, one of the best pound for pound mixed martial artists on the planet.

But that was the point. Although Chandler and McGregor aren’t close to a fighter like Makhachev, they are close to each other.

So fight fans were clamoring to see Conor and MC get it on because we knew it was going to be a fantastic, action-packed throw down.

Because of McGregor’s injury, the fight may never happen.

Conor has bounced back from injuries before, but with each passing year, heck, each passing month, McGregor’s ability to train himself to a competitive level becomes more difficult.

We shall see what happens. But Chandler versus McGregor could be one of those pipe dream fights that never materializes.

Plenty of Opportunity for UFC Bettors to Make Money in the Early Prelim and Prelim Sights

Don’t just pay attention to the main events.

Like in most UFC promotions, the prelim and early prelim fights offer excellent value.

Cub Swanson versus Andre Fili and Charles Jourdain against Andre Fili should be fantastic bouts.

Joe Pyfer against Andre Barriault is another terrific matchup while Michelle Waterson-Gomez versus Gillian Robertson on the early prelim part of the card should be competitive.

Pay attention to the early prelims and prelims and put some money in your pocket before turning to the main card fights.

Garry vs Page Could Be the Best Main Card Opening Fight in UFC History

Dana White is a master of matching up UFC fighters. So, often, the opening main card fight is an exceptionally competitive bout.

Still, Ian Machado Garry versus Michael Page might be the best opening main card fight in UFC history.

The early betting favors Garry at -135.

Page offers +115. Garry is 14-0. Page is 22-2. Page has won 4-of-5 and is 13-1 via TKO/KO. Garry is 7-0 via TKO/KO.

Of all the main card events, Garry versus Page promises to be the most competitive and exciting.

Co-main Event Between Ortega versus Lopes is Going to Be Epic

UFC handicappers have yet to make a final decision on which fighter to choose between Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes.

Ortega is the underdog at +115 while Lopes is the -135 favorite.

The odds can change because Ortega beat Yair Rodriguez in a rematch in his last.

Brian suffered a knockout loss in the first fight against Rodriguez.

The fact he changed tactics to get the victory suggests Ortega brings the right strategy to his bout against Lopes.

Lopes has physical advantages. He’s also 10-2 via TKO./KO and 12-0 via submissions.

The co-main event should produce as much drama as the main event at UFC 303.

Pereira versus Prochazka favors Pereira

Money has begun to land on Alex Pereira to retain his championship strap.

Pereira is now a -170 favorite over Jiri Prochazka.

In the first bout, Pereira looked like he was a dead man walking. But a well timed right cross and then elbows led to a stoppage.

Jiri appeared capable of continuing to fight. Still, it is what it is.

Expect Prochazka to use different tactics in this bout. Pereira is the -170 favorite.

So right now, the value is on Prochazka at +140.

If the odds hold, Prochazka might be one of the best overlay opportunities in a UFC bout that we’ve seen in a while.

Witness history in the making as Pereira and Procházka collide once more!

Don’t miss out on the chance to elevate your fight night experience and potentially turn your MMA knowledge into a win.

Sign up for an account today and explore our comprehensive UFC betting page.

We provide in-depth fighter profiles, expert analysis, up-to-date odds, and a variety of wagering options for every fight on the UFC 303 card.

Place your bets and see if your fight IQ translates into a winning bet on this epic rematch!

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?

Online UFC Vegas Lines
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Bouts

 

 

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After a quiet couple of weeks, mixed martial arts returns with a strong UFC 199 pay-per-view card from the Forum (former home of the Los Angeles Lakers) in Inglewood, Calif., on Saturday night. It’s headlined by a bout between middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and contender Michael Bisping in a rematch. Oddsmakers aren’t confident this will be all that close as Rockhold is -1100 on sports betting lines with Bisping at +700. The over/under for how many rounds it lasts is just 1.5, with the under at -115.

An Inside Analysis on the UFC 199 Rockhold vs. Bisping 2 Fight Betting Preview

This was to be a much better matchup between Rockhold and former champion Chris Weidman. But Weidman had to pull out two weeks ago with a neck injury. Weidman said that he did not want to pull out of the fight, but he found out that he has a “large extrusion herniation” in his neck and will need surgery. Weidman said that he initially thought that an epidural would alleviate his symptoms and allow him to fight, but the injection did not solve the problem.

So Bisping stepped in on short notice and that rarely works out well. UFC president Dana White admitted that the fighter who was first in line to replace Weidman was Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, who looked stellar in beating Vitor Belfort at UFC 198 in his native Brazil. But White said that Souza suffered a torn meniscus during the fight.

Bisping (28-7) is a 37-year-old from England. He was last in the Octagon on Feb. 27 and upset all-time great Anderson Silva in a unanimous decision in London. All three judges scored the fight for Bisping, 48-47. Silva (33-7), who was fighting for the first time since January 2015 due to a one-year drug suspension, stated he felt he won the fight. Some agreed with him. It was Bisping’s third straight win.

Rockhold (15-2), a 31-year-old American, has won five straight since a defeat to Vitor Belfort on July 2012. Rockhold last fought in December of last year and beat Weidman by fourth-round TKO. Rockhold left Weidman bloodied and bruised as he ripped away his UFC middleweight title in dramatic fashion. After a close first round, the challenger gained the upper hand in the second and was within seconds of winning in the third. The fight was allowed to continue but Rockhold kept his composure to finish the job and inflict a first career defeat on his opponent. Rockhold came into the UFC as the former Strikeforce champion but lost to Belfort in his debut with the promotion.

Bisping’s last loss was to Rockhold at UFC Fight Night 55 in November 2014 in Australia, with Rockhold taking the victory by second-round submission (guillotine choke). Rockhold dominated “The Ultimate Fighter 3” winner, as he walked down Bisping and ravaged his body and arms with a steady diet of heavy kicks during a one-sided first round. In the second, Rockhold wobbled and dropped the Brit with a head kick and followed with a quick volley of standing-to-ground punches before jumping on the guillotine. Bisping, who had never before been submitted, conceded defeat 57 seconds into Round 2.

Expert Betting Prediction

Take Rockhold on betting odds, but I’d go over that round total. He’ll finish by submission in Round 3 this time.

 

 

Previous Betting News

The UFC 199 card at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., on Saturday is headlined by a middleweight title fight between champion Luke Rockhold and Michael Bisping, but most believe that will be a mismatch and that Rockhold will beat Bisping easily for a second time. That said, there are some good undercard fights, led by bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz against Urijah Faber. Cruz is a -650 favorite on betting lines with Faber at +475. The over/under for rounds is 4.5, with the over a -225 favorite in sports betting odds. It’s the third meeting between the two.

Taking a Look at the UFC 199 Undercard Betting Odds Preview

Cruz, a 30-year-old American, improved to 21-1 with a split decision win over T.J. Dillashaw at UFC Fight Night 81 in January. In just his second appearance in four years due to injuries, Cruz reclaimed the UFC’s 135-pound championship. The victory reunited Cruz with a belt he was stripped of in early 2014 due to injuries. None of the three judges gave the same scores — two gave the bout to Cruz by scores of 49-46 and 48-47, and the third had it for Dillashaw at 48-47. According to Fightmetric, the two fighters landed a virtually identical number of punches. Dillashaw had a slight edge, 144 to 136, but Cruz was credited with three takedowns. Dillashaw is ticked off he’s not getting another shot before Faber does.

Faber (33-8), a 37-year-old American, beat Frankie Seanz by unanimous decision in December at UFC 194. The tough battle went to the judges’ scorecards with Faber taking the decision by scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27. The win got Faber back on the winning track following a loss to Frankie Edgar at UFC Fight Night 66 while Saenz had his seven-fight winning streak snapped with the loss.

Faber and Cruz have split two meetings. They last fought at UFC 132 in July 2011 and Cruz won by unanimous decision. They also fought in the old WEC organization in March 2007 and Faber won by first-round submission.

Another good-looking fight is a matchup between featherweight contenders Max Holloway and Ricardo Lamas, with Holloway a slight favorite on betting lines. The 24-year-old Holloway (15-3) has won eight straight fights since a unanimous decision loss to Conor McGregor in August 2013. Holloway is noted for his active schedule, having fought four times apiece in 2012, 2014, and 2015. Last year, his biggest win to date was a submission of Cub Swanson at UFC on FOX 15.

A former featherweight title challenger, Lamas (15-4) enters the matchup having won three of his last four in the Octagon. Most recently, “The Bully” took a three-round verdict over Diego Sanchez at UFC Fight Night in Monterrey, Mexico in November. The 33-year-old Lamas challenged for Jose Aldo’s belt in early 2014, losing by unanimous decision.

Finally, Dan Henderson takes on Hector Lombard in a middleweight bout. Henderson (31-14), the former two-weight class PRIDE champion, has lost three of his last four fights, most recently a KO loss to Vitor Belfort in Brazil. Lombard (34-5-1), a former Bellator middleweight champ, makes his return to the division. He comes off a loss to Neil Magny in March.

Expert Betting Prediction

I like Cruz on betting lines along with Holloway and Lombard.

 

 

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It should be a very wild scene at the 42,000-seat Arena da Baixada, a soccer stadium, this weekend as UFC 198 is staged there in Curitiba, Brazil, and it’s a card headlined by some of the top Brazilian fighters ever. The main event is a heavyweight bout between native son Fabricio Werdum and top challenge Stipe Miocic. But there are also some intriguing undercard matchups, none more so than former pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva and Uriah Hall. Silva is a -130 favorite on MMA odds with Hall at +110.

An In Depth Analysis on UFC 198 Undercard Odds & Picks

Some believe Silva (33-7-1) is the greatest MMA fighter ever. The longest reigning champion in UFC history, “The Spider” ruled the middleweight division from 2006 to 2013 before losing his crown to Chris Weidman. Now looking to return to the win column after a close decision loss to Michael Bisping in a Fight of the Night battle in February, the 40-year-old will fight in his hometown of Curitiba for the first time since 2002 against New York’s Hall.

All three judges scored the Silva-Bisping fight for Bisping, 48-47. Bisping, who first targeted Silva when he dropped from the 205-pound weight class to 185 in 2008, bowed to Silva after the results were read. Silva holds the UFC record for consecutive title defenses with 10. Silva, who was fighting for the first time since January 2015 due to a one-year drug suspension, stated in his native Portuguese he felt he won the fight. Right on the buzzer of the third round, Anderson appeared to land a knee that dropped Bisping. Anderson, believing he had won, scaled the cage in victory as the crowd went crazy. After much confusion, it became apparent the fight hadn’t been stopped and that it was only the end of the round.

Silva, 41, does not have an official win since October 2012. Once the longtime middleweight king, Silva is 0-3 in his last four fights, with one no-contest. UFC 198 will mark his first appearance in Brazil since his last win against Stephan Bonnar more than three years ago.

Hall (12-6) has been compared to Silva since his explosion onto the MMA scene with one of the greatest head kick KOs in history during The Ultimate Fighter season 17. “Primetime” stopped Gegard Mousasi in dynamic fashion at UFC Fight Night 75, and many believed that was the victory that might vault the young middleweight to the top of the division. But Hall stumbled last time out against No. 6-ranked Robert Whittaker, halting a two-fight winning/knockout streak.

Also on the card is another middleweight bout between Vitor Belfort and Jacare Souza. Belfort is +260 on MMA odds and Souza is -320. Belfort (25-11) is coming off a first-round knockout of Dan Henderson in November. The 38-year-old came up short in a UFC title bid against Chris Weidman last May. Souza (22-4) is coming off a split-decision loss to Yoel Romero at UFC 194. A former Strikeforce titleholder, Souza had won eight in a row prior to the loss.

Lastly, Cris Cyborg (15-1) makes her highly anticipated UFC debut against Leslie Smith (8-6-1). Widely considered the best pound-for-pound women’s fighter on the planet, Cyborg is one of the most destructive forces in the history of MMA. Cyborg has put together nine straight KO victories and has finished 13 of her 15 career wins by KO. She’ll take on Smith in her hometown of Curitiba. If Cyborg wins, a mega-fight against Ronda Rousey could be next. Cyborg is a -1700 favorite over Smith.

Expert Betting Predictions

I like all the favorites here. Silva is past his prime but he will be charged up fighting in front of his hometown fans.

 

 

Previous Betting News

It’s a terrific UFC 198 card from Curitiba, Brazil, this weekend that will take place at Arena da Baixada, a 42,000-seat soccer stadium. The headline bout is a heavyweight title fight between champion Fabricio Werdum and contender Stipe Miocic. Werdum is a -145 favorite on MMA betting odds to keep the belt with Miocic at +125 and the over/under set at 2.5 rounds.

A Closer Look at the UFC 198 Miocic vs Werdum Betting Pick

Werdum was supposed to defend the belt on Feb. 6 against former champion Cain Velasquez, but he had to pull out due to a back injury. Miocic stepped up and was ready to fight on short notice against Werdum. But then Werdum had to withdraw due to back and foot injuries.

A Cleveland native, Miocic is 8-2 in UFC with five knockouts. He is 14-2 overall with 10 knockouts. Miocic last fought Jan. 2 at UFC 195, beating Andrei Arlovski by first-round TKO. With two short right hands, Miocic put Arlovski down, then a more follow-up punches put him away at the 0:54 mark of the first round. Miocic’s first right hand landed to the left ear of Arlovski, wobbling his legs and nearly dropping him. The second right put him on the floor, and from there it was only a matter of sealing the deal.

The win was Miocic’s second in a row since losing a unanimous decision to Junior dos Santos in December 2014. Arlovski had a six-fight win streak snapped and lost for the first time since his return to the UFC. Miocic demanded a heavyweight title shot after the fight. Thanks to Velasquez, things worked out for him.

Werdum (20-5-1) is on a six-fight winning streak. He beat Velasquez at UFC 188 last June by third-round submission. That was considered an upset. It was Velasquez’s first appearance since October 2013 due to a knee injury. With the win, Werdum unified the UFC’s heavyweight titles and became the promotion’s undisputed champion. He had claimed an interim title by knocking out Mark Hunt at UFC 180.

The victory against Velasquez was almost exactly five years after Werdum earned a stunning upset against all-time heavyweight great Fedor Emelianenko under the Strikeforce banner in 2010. Both Emelianenko and Velasquez were widely considered the best heavyweights in the world at the time of their respective losses.

In his current UFC run, Werdum has showed his improved striking. He went toe-to-toe with Hunt and Velasquez on the feet after many wondered if he could hang with two of the top strikers in the division. Needless to say, Werdum will have the crowd heavily on his side as he’s Brazilian.

Miocic’s team is confident that he is a problematic stylistic matchup for Werdum. Miocic’s coach Marcus Marinelli doesn’t take the fight with the champ lightly, but he still believes his man has the edge.

“I have a lot of respect for Fabricio Werdum,” he says. “But I think Stipe’s style matches up very well with him, especially on his feet.”

But Werdum trainer Rafael Cordeiro disagrees: “Stipe has good boxing but, that’s it. I think Fabricio has more skills. Fabricio has Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu. His wrestling is good.”

It’s been the emergence of a crisp striking game to complement a world-class Brazilian jiu jitsu acumen that has propelled Werdum to the top of the ranks. With both Werdum and Miocic owning wins over Hunt, Arlovski, and Roy Nelson, there’s a lot of footage and style matchups to compare. But Werdum has faced a higher level of competition during his 14 years in pro MMA overall.

Expert Betting Prediction

Werdum hangs onto the belt with a second-round submission.

 

 

Previous Betting News

Okay mixed martial arts betting enthusiasts, if you’re looking to increase your annual betting bankroll or get back in the black after a rough start to your MMA betting campaign, then you’re going to get three great chances to do just that! Thanks to the bettor-friendly management at MyBookie.ag and this expert UFC 198 betting breakdown, you’re going to get some expert insight into a trio of bouts that all have the look of ‘near lock’ outcomes. Okay, with that said, let’s get started.

UFC 198 Werdum vs. Miocic Main Card Fights Betting Preview

When: Saturday, May 14 at 7:00 PM ET
Where: Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil

Demian Maia vs. Matt Brown

UFC 198 Odds: Demian Maia -280 Matt Brown +220

Demian Maia (22-6) enters this fight on a four-bout winning streak that includes a unanimous decision win over Gunnar Nelson at UFC 194 in December. Maia has won 45 percent of his fights via submission while winning nine bouts via decision and three by way of knockout. Maia has also been on the wrong end of five decision losses and one KO defeat. Maia is averaging 1.87 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 44.2 percent while also averaging 2.95 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 31.3 percent. More importantly, Maia has been rock solid over his last four bouts after losing two straight and three of six bouts overall between January 2012 and February of 2014. Maia is one of the elite grapplers in the welterweight class and one of the best takedown defenders in any weight class. This bout marks Maia’s ninth fight in his homeland of Brazil.

Matt Brown (22-13) enters this fight coming off an impressive first round submission (guillotine choke) win over Tim Means at UFC 189 in July. Brown has shown plenty of KO power in winning 59 percent of his fights by way of knockout. Brown averages 3.84 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 54.2 percent while also averaging 1.83 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 48.9 percent. The bad news is that Brown lost each of his previous two bouts via unanimous decision prior to his last fight and has been on the wrong end of a whopping nine submission losses and four submission losses in his career.

Demian Maia may be 38-years-old, but he’s the clear-cut pick to win this bout against 35-year-old Matt Brown. Matt Brown is undoubtedly a powerful striker as his five knockouts in his last eight fights suggest, but he won’t be able to get past Demian Maia’s stellar defense, nor will he be able to overcome the hometown crowd that will be rooting for Maia as he makes his first career fight in Brazil. I’m going with Maia for the second round submission win!

The Pick: Demian Maia via second round submission

Corey Anderson vs Mauricio Rua

UFC 198 Odds: Corey Anderson -225, Mauricio Rua +175

Make no mistake bout it MMA betting buffs, this bout has the chance to be the most exciting on the entire UFC 198 card. Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua (23-10) enters this fight coming off a solid unanimous decision win over Antônio Rogério Nogueira at UFC 190 in August. The win snapped a two-fight losing streak but Rua has lost four of his last six fights and six of his last 10 bouts overall. With an insane 19 knockout wins in his 23 career victories, Rua has won a whopping 83 percent of his fights via KO. Rua is averaging 3.6 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 51.2 percent while also averaging 2.26 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 47.7 percent. Still, Rua is clearly no longer the elite fighter he one was. The good news is that the native Brazilian will be fighting in front of his home crowd in this bout.

26-year-old Corey Anderson enters this fight on a three-fight winning streak that includes a unanimous decision win over Tom Lawlor at UFC 196 in March. Anderson has won 56 percent of his fights by way of decision and is averaging 5.03 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 45 percent. Anderson is also averaging 3.98 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 47.6 percent. Anderson has suffered one KO (punches) loss in his career and will appear in his fourth fight since last September in this bout. This will be Anderson’s second career fight in Brazil and second outside the United States so he’s no stranger to South America.

I always liked Shogun Rua, but he’s going down in this bout and going down hard! Corey Anderson is younger, stronger and faster t this stage of his career and will take Rua out via a unanimous decision.

The Pick: Corey Anderson via unanimous decision

Cristiane Justino vs Leslie Smith

UFC 198 Odds Cristiane Justino -1200, Leslie Smith +700

While 30-year-old Cris Cyborg (15-1) will make her UFC debut in this bout, there’s no denying that she’s been one of the best female MMA fighters on the planet for years now! Cyborg basically destroyed the competition in both, Strikeforce and Invicta and has won five straight fights while winning 87 percent of her fights via knockout. Cyborg is coming off a commanding first round KO (punches) win over Daria Ibragimova at Invicta FC 15 in January. Cyborg averages 7.29 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 47.9 percent while also averaging 1.53 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 66.6 percent. This bout marks Cyborg’s sixth fight in her home country of Brazil.

Leslie Smith (8-6-1) enters this fight coming off a unanimous decision win over Rin Nakai at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir in March. Unfortunately, she has compiled an underwhelming 4-4 record over her last eight bouts. Smith averages 5.27 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 35.2 percent while also averaging zero takedowns with an accuracy percentage of zero percent.

Look, there’s no sense in beating around the bush with this pick. Cris Cyborg is going to annihilate Leslie Smith in this bout! I like Cyborg to finish off her opponent via a first round KO that comes via punches!

The Pick: Cris Cyborg via first round KO

 

 

Previous Betting News

UFC 198 may not get the world-wide media attention that a Connor McGregor card draws, but make no mistake about it…the power-packed UFC 198 card has the chance to be one of the most entertaining UFC cards in recent memory. You see, you’re going to have a trio of excellent chances to cash in on Saturday night when the Spider, Vitor and Werdum all take to the octagon for their respective UFC 198 fights. Now, let’s get down to the business of picking the best UFC betting lines winners.

UFC 198 Main Card Odds Preview and Predictions

Anderson Silva vs Uriah Hall

UFC 198 OddsAnderson Silva -130, Uriah Hall Even

Analysis: 41-year-old Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva (33-7-1) enters this fight coming off a heartbreaking unanimous decision loss against Michael Bisping in the headline bout of a UFC Fight Night card in February. Silva has won 20 bouts via KO (67.0 %) knockout with six wins coming by way of submission and another seven via decision. Unfortunately, Silva has split his last six fights due to advancing age and a forced one-year absence because of a failed drug test. Silva averages 3.19 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 63.9 percent while also averaging 0.59 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 77.7.

31-year-old Uriah Hall (13-6) will look to get back in the win column after suffering a unanimous decision loss against Robert Whittaker at UFC 193 in November. Hall has shown plenty of punching power in winning 77 percent of his fights by knockout. Unfortunately, Hall has gone just 2-2 over his last four bouts. Hall averages 3.18 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 53 percent while also averaging 1.15 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 41.1 percent.

Fight Analysis: Uriah Hall may be the younger fighter in this pairing, but for me, he’s certainly not the better MMA fighter. Hall has been inconsistent throughout his career ad will face an Anderson Silva that is semi-desperate to put his name back into the mix of legitimate title contenders after ruling the middleweight division for almost a decade. Five of Hall’s six career losses have come by way of decision and I believe that’s exactly what’s going to happen in this bout as Silva uses his vast array of skills to overwhelm and then subdue the lesser experienced Uriah Hall.

I know Anderson Silva isn’t the same elite fighter that he once was, but lest anyone forget, this guy was the best fighter on the planet for years and possesses a myriad skill set that few fighters of any age can match. Silva wins in front of his hometown fans via unanimous decision, if not via submission.

The Pick: Anderson Silva via unanimous decision

Ronaldo Souza vs. Vitor Belfort

UFC 198 Odds: Ronaldo Souza -305, Vitor Belfort +235

36-year-old Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza (22-4) had his eight-fight winning streak snapped in his split-decision loss against Yoel Romero at UFC 194 in December. Souza averages 2.19 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 43.4 percent while also averaging 3.49 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 45 percent. Souza has recorded 16 of his 22 career wins via submission and ruled the Strikeforce middleweight division for years before joining the UFC in 2013. This bout marks Souza’s 10th time fighting in his home country of Brazil.

Vitor Belfort (25-11) may be 39-years-old, but he sure didn’t look like it in his last bout! The veteran won Fight of the Night honors for his thrilling KO (head kick and punches) over Dan Henderson as the headline bout of a UFC Fight Night event in November. The win was Belfort’s second over Henderson and helped him boost his KO percentage to an impressive 72.0 percent (18 KO wins). Belfort has won six of his last eight fights and has only lost to elite fighters Chris Weidman and Jon ‘Bones’ Jones going all the way back to 2011. Belfort averages 1.58 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 47.7 percent while also averaging 1.23 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 60 percent. So what, he’s been linked to more than one failed drug test in his career, Belfort still finds ways to win!

The bottom line for me is that Vitor Belfort just doesn’t lose to anyone that’s not an elite fighter. Belfort has the huge edge in striking power and the ‘home octagon’ edge as he makes his seventh fight in his home country of Brazil. Souza is the bigger and younger fighter in this matchup, but I’m going with the veteran for the ‘upset’ win and big payday!

The Pick: Vitor Belfort via third round KO (punches)

Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic

UFC 198 Odds Fabricio Werdum -160, Stipe Miocic +130

38-year-old heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1) has won six straight fights and enters this title bout coming off a thrilling third round submission (guillotine choke) win over Cain Velasquez at UFC 188 in June. Werdum has recorded half of his 20 career wins via submission while also recording six KO wins. Werdum averages 3.29 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 50.8 percent while also averaging 1.8 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 32.5 percent. In his last half-dozen bouts, Werdum has won four via stoppage. Werdum hasn’t lost a fight in nearly five years and will make his fifth appearance in front of his home fans in Brazil.

33-year-old Stipe Miocic (14-2) has won two straight fights and five of his last six overall, including his stunning first round TKO (punches) win over Andrei Arlovski at UFC 195 in January. Miocic has won a whopping 71 percent of his fights by way of knockout and averages 4.87 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 49.6 percent. Miocic is also averaging 2.14 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 34 percent.

Fight Analysis: While there’s no doubt that Stipe Miocic is very talented and has a ton of potential despite being 33-years-olsd, I’ve got to go with the champ, Fabricio Werdum to retain his title. While there’s no doubt that Miocic has one-punch knockout power and could walk away the winner if he catches the champion with a flush shot, I believe the more likely scenario is that Fabricio Werdum uses his big edge in experience and versatility to beat his lesser experienced challenger.

Fabricio Werdum is an excellent stand-up striker, but he can also finish off opponents when he takes them down to the ground. I’m expecting Werdum to do just that before finishing off Stipe in the third round via submission!

The Pick: Fabricio Werdum via third round submission (guillotine choke)

 

 

Previous Betting News

UFC 197 is fast-approaching in the horizon, and while the clash between Holly Holm and Miesha Tate is witnessing increasing action in the MMA odds, it is the bout between Rafael dos Anjos and and Conor McGregor that is garnering most attention and interest. These two Super Fights have been officially slated to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on March 5th. As we continue to prepare for this mega event, let’s take a quick look at these fights and highlight what you can expect from them, including our free MMA betting picks for the two clashes.

How to Bet on MCGREGOR vs. DOS ANJOS Betting Odds

After dominating Chad Mendes earlier last year and then going on to beat featherweight champion Jose Aldo in December at UFC 194, McGregor will be attempt to become the first ever UFC fighter to hold two titles at once as he goes for lightweight gold. If he does succeed in winning this fight, it will no doubt cement McGregor’s name among the All-time greats in the UFC, if he isn’t one of them already.

Meanwhile, for dos Anjos, this fight will present him with a chance for a second title defense after he won the lightweight belt last March and then destroyed Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in December with an emphatic first-round knockout just 66 seconds into the opening round.

As always, changing weight class can always be tricky for fighters, and McGregor will be finding out about that the easy or hard way sooner rather than later. Even so, the outspoken larger-than-life fighter will have sufficient tools to survive the test. For starters, McGregor will be riding high on confidence after stopping Aldo, the sport’s best pound-for-pound fighter. Physically, McGregor will have some slight speed advantage, which should allow him to record some quick strikes both aerially and on the ground. His size and length will also cause trouble to his opponent.

But even with that skill-set, McGregor is guaranteed to have a hellish time against RDA, a beast that has can beat you up well on the ground, just in the same way he can scorch you with scathing attacks when on your feet. His last four fights are a sure proof of the danger he brings, having torn apart and dominated his lightweight opponents in meticulous fashion. In terms of his strengths, Dos Anjos boasts of devastating power striking, both outside and inside, along with good wrestling and excellent Brazilian jiu-jitsu—making him an all-rounded weapon. Added to the fact that Dos Anjos is slightly thicker, he should be able to absorb some punches rather easily, allowing him to go the distance in the fight, if need be.

Verdict and Prediction: While McGregor’s nice timing, long reach, great conditioning and striking power will be tough for his opponent to handle, along with his oft-annoying exuberance; Dos Anjos is a bigger man with a wider variety of weapons to use against Connor. With that, my early MMA pick is that Dos Anjos will emerge victorious. My Early Prediction: Dos Anjos wins by second round TKO.

How to Bet on HOLM vs. TATE Betting Lines

Following her earth-shaking victory over the then-unbeaten Ronda Rousey last November at UFC 193, women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm will be hoping to make her first title defense in a winning fashion. That is, however, easier said than done, as Holm will be going against an in-form Miesha Tate, who enters this fight riding a four-fight winning streak, including the win over Jessica Eye in her last fight in July 2015.

Tate doesn’t have the power and size of Holm (or Rousey), but she is very technically sound, particularly in coordinating her attacks in the stand-up striking department. In addition, Tate is also quite good with her take-down efficiency, along with an excellent ability to work high in the clinch or alternatively shift low for double-leg and single-legs. Added to the fact that Tate will come into this fight well-conditioned, there’s no doubt that she will be able to keep things close, if not deliver an unlikely upset. After all, nearly all of Holm’s fights have seen close results.

For Holm, her bulrush routine—which she often combines with a great sense of distance and strong counter-attacking skills—makes her arguably the toughest fighter to plan against in the division. Not to mention, she has very solid stand-up striking, something that we saw in her fight over Rousey. Then, of course, there is the fact that she is this big mammoth of a lady, so taking her down is never easy. Add her ability to absorb some punches without taking much damage, Tate will have to be on her blitzing-best if she is to upset the highly-confident champ.

Verdict and Prediction: Tate does her thing and makes this fight as competitive as possible, but Holm lands more strikes to walk away with a decision victory. My Early Prediction: Holm wins by Unanimous Decision.

 

 

Previous Betting News

No Daniel Cormier, no problem! That’s the mindset of former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones as he gets set to square off against Ovince St. Preux in their UFC 197 main card bout on Saturday. You see, due to a recent injury suffered by longtime Jones rival Daniel Cormier, their expected UFC odds showdown was scratched and St. Preux has now been offered up as sacrificial bait for Jones. Let’s find out why Jones’ return bout to the UFC looks like a cakewalk win for the former title holder.

UFC 197 Jones vs Saint Preux Betting Breakdown

Light Heavyweight Championship Odds Preview

Jon Jones: -550
Ovince Saint Preux: +425

Analysis: Jon Jones hasn’t been in the octagon in over a year, but I don’t think it’s going to matter very much, even though Ovince Saint Perux is a talented fighter – and powerful – puncher. Unfortunately for Perux, Jones is one of the world’s most elite athletes. Combine that with the fact that right now, he’s extremely focused on getting back to being the best in the business, and things look a bit bleak for Perux in my opinion. Outside of raw punching power, which he also possesses, Jones holds the edge in every mixed martial arts category.

Jones has an incredibly long reach that surpasses Perux’s 80-inch reach by four and a half inches. Not only that, but the well-rounded Jones features of variety of unusual striking techniques from spinning elbows to flying knees and spinning back kicks. Jones is also superior to every other fighter he’s faced in grappling and on the ground, so really, there’s no way that Ovince Saint Perux can win this bout unless he’s gets lucky and catches Jones with a vicious shot.

With Jones being as focused as he ever has been in his career, following some widely publicized run-ins with the law, I don’t see him getting lackadaisical at any point in this bout. Saint Perux has won three of his last four bots and possesses one of the most powerful left hands on the planet. However, Perux isn’t very fast with his hands nor does he have much stamina as evidenced by the fact that he has only been in one five-round fight in his career (a decision loss against Ryan Bader).

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Not only is Jon ‘Bones’ Jones arguably the best MMA Fighter of all-time but he’s also one of my top 10 athletes in the world today! A hungry Jones wins via third round TKO that comes via elbows and knees

The Pick: Jon Jones via third round TKO