Lesnar vs Hunt UFC 200 Betting Lines and Prediction
Posted by Jordan Walterss on Tuesday,July 5, 2016 4:21, EDT in
One of the most famous and feared heavyweight champions in UFC history returns to the Octagon supposedly for just one fight as Brock Lesnar takes on Mark Hunt on Saturday in the star-studded UFC 200 card in Las Vegas. Hunt is a -170 favorite on betting odds with Lesnar at +140. The over/under total rounds are 1.5, with the under a -245 favorite.
Here’s Our Look at the UFC 200 Odds on Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt
Lesnar’s return from wrestling to MMA was supposed to be a huge surprise in early June as the organization really wanted a lot of buzz with this being the 200th card in UFC history. But a UFC reporter was able to break the story before the UFC could release it. In March 2015, Lesnar said that he was “closing the door on MMA.” But money talks. This will be just a one-fight deal and in fact Lesnar would return to the WWE for that organization’s SummerSlam on Aug. 21.
Brock Lesnar (5-3), who is now 38, is a former NCAA Division I wrestling champion. He made a successful transition from professional wrestling to mixed martial arts in 2007. Lesnar won the heavyweight belt at UFC 91 against Randy Couture (Nov. 15, 2008), defended it twice, then lost it at UFC 121 against Cain Velasquez (Oct. 23, 2010). Lesnar is one of five heavyweights in UFC history to defend the heavyweight belt twice. No one has done it more than twice.
This will mark his first fight in the Octagon since December 2011. He was beaten at UFC 141 by Alistair Overeem then and then retired. Overeem stopped him with one vicious kick to the body at 2:26 of the first round in their heavyweight bout. It certainly didn’t help that Lesnar missed a lot of UFC time while dealing with bouts of a lower-intestinal ailment that nearly killed him. The accumulation of pain and rehabilitation finally undid Lesnar, whose famed strength and stubbornness couldn’t overcome diverticulitis.
Lesnar hasn’t yet closed the door on fighting another fight or going back to the UFC on a more regular basis after his WWE contract is up.
“I’m a grappler at heart. [Hunt] is a heavy hitter,” Lesnar said. “I think that’s what the people want to see. The UFC ultimately culminated because we’re going to put guys with opposing disciplines against each other. I think I match up very well. If Mark ends up on the ground, the fight’s over.”
Hunt (12-10-1) is a 42-year-old from New Zealand. He is coming off a first-round knockout over former heavyweight champion Frank Mir in March and is known as one of the UFC’s hardest hitters. A New Zealand native, Hunt has nine knockout wins in his MMA career and fought for the interim championship in November 2014.
Hunt has publicly questioned the UFC’s decision to waive its policy that fighters coming out of retirement need to give drug testers four months’ notice. Lesnar admitted he was surprised that UFC president Dana White was able to maneuver so quickly and book the fight for UFC 200, as Lesnar originally expected his return to happen in New York this November at UFC 202.
“I’ve been dealing with that my entire life,” Lesnar said when the topic of PEDs came up. “I’m a white boy and I’m jacked, deal with it.”
Expert Betting Prediction
Hunt is a power puncher who has knocked out some of the biggest names in the UFC’s heavyweight division. Lesnar’s time has passed. Hunt wins in Round 2 by KO on betting odds.
