UFC Fight Night 142: Junior Dos Santos vs. Tai Tuivasa

The UFC travels back to Adelaide, Australia, for the second time in its 25-year history this weekend.

UFC Fight Night 142 is the event of choice, and it will feature a fantastic heavyweight duel at the top of the card with Junior Dos Santos defending his spot against Tai Tuivasa.

Also on the card is several talented fighters from Australia and New Zealand.

The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 1, and will air on FOX and UFC Fight Pass.

Junior Dos Santos vs. Tai Tuivasa

Junior Dos Santos has returned, and he’s on the pathway to a shot at the UFC Heavyweight Championship. However, he’ll first need to move past Tui Tuivasa who has looked outstanding since arriving at the 265-pound division last year.

Best odds for Junior Dos Santos vs. Tai Tuivasa:

After returning from a suspension from USADA, Junior Dos Santos got right back on track with an impressive victory over Blagoy Ivanov in July this year. That win somehow continued Dos Santos’ unbelievable stretch of alternating wins and losses in his last nine fights. The Brazilian had not won consecutive fights since 2012 when he defeated Frank Mir via KO/TKO not long after defeating Cain Velasquez via KO/TKO in 64 seconds.

Dos Santos is a highly-skilled boxer and proven veteran of the heavyweight division and will undoubtedly be Tuivasa’s toughest test to date.

The 25-year-old Australian has been an excellent addition to the UFC’s heavyweight category and is now riding what is tied for the second-longest winning streak in the division. It’s difficult enough to win two fights in a row – as Dos Santos’ record suggests – but Tuivasa has managed to win three fights in the UFC and extend his undefeated streak to ten.

In his last fight, a heavyweight war with Andrei Arlovski, Tuivasa’s streak of nine first-round KO/TKO victories came to an end. The experienced Arlovski weathered all of Tuivasa’s best shots and managed to crash him some of his punches in return.

That fight proved that Tuivasa might not be able to walk through the top-tier fighters in the division in the same way he has done against others. Dos Santos is indeed a more polished boxer than Arlovski and will likely cause even more difficulty for the Australian for as long as this stays standing.

Whether by decision or inside the distance, we see Junior Dos Santos shutting down the rise of Tai Tuivasa this weekend.

Bet on Junior Dos Santos to win

Mauricio Rua vs. Tyson Pedro

An intriguing light heavyweight co-main event will see Mauricio “Shogun” Rua battle Tyson Pedro in a three-round fight.

Best odds for Mauricio Rua vs. Tyson Pedro:

Mauricio Rua needs to bounce back, and he’ll have a chance to do so against the relatively inconsistent Tyson Pedro. Rua had surprisingly managed to turn his career around recently until eventually being smashed by Anthony Smith in his last fight.

Pedro also needs a win after a disappointing effort against Ovince Saint Preux. The Australian managed to damage his opponent early in the fight but confusingly chose to shoot in for a takedown rather than keeping his distance and peppering Saint Preux with more heavy shots. He was eventually submitted and lost a fight that he arguably should have won.

There’s a lot to dislike about betting on Tyson Pedro considering his questionable decision making, but he should have a sizable advantage in this one against the aging heavyweight. Expect Pedro to run through him with ease.

Bet on Tyson Pedro to win

Mark Hunt vs. Justin Willis

Mark Hunt will make what is expected to be his final walk to the UFC’s octagon this weekend. He’ll be up against Justin Willis in yet another fight between the big boys of the promotion.

Best odds for Mark Hunt vs. Justin Willis:

Mark Hunt will be looking to return to form after suffering defeat in his most recent two bouts. After being out-grappled by Curtis Blaydes in Perth, Australia, he was then submitted by Aleksey Oleinik in Russia.

Hunt is best-known for his walk-off knockouts, strong chin, and ability to stand and trade with the best in the heavyweight division. Having stood toe-to-toe with some of the best ever to do it, the fans in Australia will be hoping to see another powerful knockout finish from Hunt.

As Hunt wraps up his career in the UFC, Willis is one who is looking to make a name for himself in a surprisingly competitive 265-pound division. Enjoying a seven-fight winning streak, Willis has now earned three victories in the UFC. Willis trains with an elite team at American Kickboxing Academy alongside the current division champion, Daniel Cormier, and is making major improvements every time we see him compete.

Like fans all over the world, we’d love to see Hunt get the job done but it’s an unlikely task against the fast-rising heavyweight contender. We believe Willis will outwork Hunt through three rounds to score a decision.

Bet on Justin Willis to win

Jake Matthews vs. Tony Martin

Australian talent Jake Matthews will look to keep moving through the division this weekend when he meets Tony Martin in Adelaide.

Best odds for Jake Matthews vs. Tony Martin:

Jake Matthews has been on a roll since moving up the welterweight division. Now 3-0 as a welterweight with wins over Bojan Velickvocic, Jingliang Li, and Shinsho Anzai, Matthews – much like other fighters who have made a move up a division in recent times – has rejuvenated his career after a two-fight losing streak. Matthews is a frequent competitor on the fight cards in Australia and won a Fight of the Night award for his efforts against “The Leech” in Perth in February.

Just like Matthews, Tony Martin has been outstanding in his new home at welterweight after moving up from the 155-pound division. With wins over Keita Nakamura and Ryan LaFlare, Martin is just a couple of big wins away from being a ranked competitor in the 170-pound category.

Tony Martin is a big ask for the Australian welterweight. With superb pressure, a devastating right hand, and excellent counter striking skills, we are expecting Martin to time Jake Matthews coming in and frequently land his shots. It might take Martin a while to get going, but once he does this fight should become a difficult one for Matthews.

Bet on Tony Martin to win

Jim Crute vs. Paul Craig

Fresh after a big win on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, Jim Crute will make his UFC debut against Paul Craig.

Best odds for Jim Crute vs. Paul Craig:

Jim Crute is a new breed of Australian fighter coming from the Oceanic region. With excellent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills and polished striking, Crute has been a feared competitor in the Australian regional circuit. Although expected to steamroll his opponent on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, it took Crute a little while to get going. Once he shifted into gears, however, he used his powerful striking to overwhelm his opponent and earn the victory.

Craig is now 2-2 in the UFC after a last-second triangle choke victory against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Fight Night 127. That win helped him recover from a disappointing two-fight losing streak against Tyson Pedro and Khalil Rountree. Craig is especially crafty on the mat and has earned all of his last six victories by way of submission. However, that’s an unclear path to victory for him in this fight considering Crute’s ability as a grappler.

Crute is equally dangerous while standing and on the mat. A knockdown might earn himself the chance to secure a top position where he’ll rain down heavy shots on Craig for as long as the referee allows it to last.

Bet on Jim Crute to win

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UFC Fight Night 142 fight card

UFC Fight Night 142 begins on UFC Fight Pass from 7:00 pm ET (11:00 pm GMT) on Saturday, December 1.

FS1 Main Card (10:00 pm ET / 2:00 am GMT)

  • Junior Dos Santos vs. Tai Tuivasa
  • Mauricio Rua vs. Tyson Pedro
  • Mark Hunt vs. Justin Willis
  • Jake Matthews vs. Tony Martin
  • Jim Crute vs. Paul Craig

UFC Fight Pass Early Prelims (7:00 pm ET / 11:00 pm GMT)

  • Suman Mokhtarian vs. Sodiq Yusuff
  • Yushin Okami vs. Aleksei Kunchenko
  • Wilson Reis vs. Ben Nguyen
  • Mizuto Hirota vs. Christos Giagos
  • Elias Garcia vs. Kai Kara-France
  • Keita Nakamura vs. Salim Touahri

UFC TUF 28 Finale: Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Kamaru Usman

UFC TUF 28 Finale Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Kamaru Usman

The first of two brilliant UFC events this weekend is the TUF 28 Finale in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This event will wrap up what has been yet another exciting season of The Ultimate Fighter. The event will also feature many intriguing bouts from a variety of weight classes in the UFC.

Headlining the action is an outstanding main event that will see Rafael Dos Anjos battle with Kamaru Usman in a significant welterweight fight.

The TUF 28 Finale begins on Friday, November 30, and we’re here to break down all of the main card and bring you the best odds and bets for this event.

Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Kamaru Usman

Rafael Dos Anjos and Kamaru Usman find themselves just outside the range of a welterweight title shot. A win here will help one fighter earn another big-name fight while the other might be forced to work their way back up the rankings yet again.

Best odds for Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Kamaru Usman:

Dos Anjos vs. Usman is everything a fight fan could want.

A former UFC lightweight champion, Dos Anjos has looked terrific since moving up to welterweight. Managing a winning streak of three, Dos Anjos scored notable wins over Tarec Saffiedine, Neil Magny and then Robbie Lawler. Those performances were more than enough to grant him a fight for the UFC Interim Welterweight Championship earlier this year.

However, Dos Anjos would experience his first defeat since his days at lightweight and ended up falling short to Colby Covington in a five-round affair. Dos Anjos was tested by Covington’s extreme pressure and grappling-focused gameplan.

Many believe he could be in for a similar experience against Kamaru Usman this weekend.

Undefeated in his last 12 fights, Usman has lived up to his name by becoming a nightmare for the UFC’s welterweight division. He’s now in the best position of his mixed martial arts career and a win Dos Anjos might be all that stands between him and a title shot.

Let’s not write off Rafael Dos Anjos’ chances just yet. Covington brought an extreme level of intensity to the cage against Dos Anjos and overwhelmed him with pressure and forward movement.

Can Usman bring this level of pace and pressure? Maybe not at the same level that Covington did.

Yes, Usman will most likely have his moments in the grappling exchanges by pinning Dos Anjos to the mat for periods and pushing him against the cage, but we also need to consider that “RDA” will have more time in this contest to do the things that make him so dangerous. From a distance, we can only expect Dos Anjos to piece up Usman.

Will it be enough? At these odds, it makes for a terrific bet.

Bet on Rafael Dos Anjos to win

Pedro Munhoz vs. Bryan Caraway

Also on the main card is a bantamweight matchup between Pedro Munhoz and Bryan Caraway.

Best odds for Pedro Munhoz vs. Bryan Caraway:

With three losses already in the UFC, it’s easy to forget that Pedro Munhoz is a rare talent in the bantamweight division. He only recently had his four-fight winning streak snapped by a split decision loss to John Dodson. That defeat was his second split decision loss in the UFC, with another coming against highly-rated Jimmie Rivera earlier in his career. The other defeat? One to Raphael Assuncao, as well. Munhoz has time and time again proved that he is only just under the top-tier of fighters in the division and bounced back in a big way with a win over Brett Johns at UFC 227.

He’ll be up against Bryan Caraway, a fighter who is difficult to evaluate at times. On some nights, he can hang in there with the best of them, and he managed to earn a split decision victory over Aljamain Sterling just two fights ago. However, then he lost a split decision at UFC 222 against Cody Stamann and lost all momentum in his climb through the ranks. This feels like a must-win for Caraway.

Ultimately, this is a fight in which Pedro Munzho should shine. Expect a unanimous decision victory.

Bet on Pedro Munhoz to win

Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Darren Stewart

After an impressive first-round finish on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, Edmen Shabazyan now finds himself in the UFC for the first time.

He’ll be up against Darren Stewart this weekend.

Best odds for Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Darren Stewart:

Undefeated as a professional, Shahbazyan has accumulated an impressive seven-fight winning streak to start his career. Mainly competing in the CXF promotion, Shahbazyan has scored five of his first six wins over fighters with an even or losing record. However, when he met his biggest match to date in the name of Antonio Jones at the Contender Series, Shahbazyan proved that he belongs with the best in the world by scoring an outstanding ground and pound KO/TKO win after just 40 seconds.

Darren “The Dentist” Stewart is an underrated beast fighting out of London, England. With power in his hands and a chin to go with it, Stewart has overturned a three-fight losing streak at the start of his time with the UFC to go on and score two big KO/TKO wins over the likes of Eric Spicely and Charles Byrd.

Shahbazyan is going to come out with a very aggressive approach from the very first seconds of the fight. With seven first-round wins to his name, the 20-year-old has not yet seen a second round. He and Stewart will likely exchange heavy shots in the pocket, and it’s only a matter of time before one man goes down.

The public seems to be buying into the hype of the youngster with him coming in as a favorite. We’re going to lean the other way, though, and back Darren Stewart to come out on top.

Bet on Darren Stewart to win

Ji Yeon Kim vs. Antonina Shevchenko

Ji Yeon Kim steps in to replace Ashlee Evans-Smith against Antonina Shevchenko in the very first fight of TUF 28 Finale main card.

Best odds for Ji Yeon Kim vs. Antonina Shevchenko:

Antonina Shevchenko has finally made it to the UFC to join her sister, Valentina Shevchenko, after an outstanding victory at Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. This Shevchenko sister made her MMA debut all the way back in 2003 but took an extended break from the sport to focus on her career as a striker.

That’s where she’ll be most dangerous in the UFC. An experienced Muay Thai fighter, just like Valentina, Antonina will likely get the better of most of her opponents in the UFC.

Ji Yeon Kim steps into the cage this weekend on a two-fight winning streak in the UFC, having bounced back from an earlier defeat in her promotional debut. Both of her wins came via the way of split decision against Justine Kish and Melinda Fabian.

Looking to play spoiler to Shevchenko’s UFC arrival will be Kim, 29, a South Korean fighter who has won two-straight under the UFC banner.

While Shevchenko might come up short against experienced grapplers in the future, Ji Yeon Kim is more likely to stand in front of her and strike. That could be a recipe for disaster, and that’s enough reason for us to take Antonina Shevchenko in this fight.

Bet on Antonina Shevchenko to win

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The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale fight card

The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale begins on UFC Fight Pass from 7:00 pm ET (11:00 pm GMT) on Friday, November 30.

FS1 Main Card (10:00 pm ET / 2:00 am GMT)

  • Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Kamaru Usman
  • TBD vs. TBD
  • TBD vs. TBD
  • Pedro Munhoz vs. Bryan Caraway
  • Darren Stewart vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
  • Ji Yeon Kim vs. Antonina Shevchenko

UFC Fight Pass Early Prelims (7:00 pm ET / 11:00 pm GMT)

  • Rick Glenn vs. Kevin Aguilar
  • Joseph Benavidez vs. Alex Perez
  • Roosevelt Roberts vs. Darrell Horcher
  • Tim Means vs. Ricky Rainey
  • Raoni Barcelos Chris Gutierrez

UFC Fight Night 141: Curtis Blaydes vs. Francis Ngannou

Curtis Blaydes vs. Francis Ngannou

It’s all happening this weekend in Beijing, China.

The UFC is set to host another thrilling event for the Chinese fans after first visiting Shanghai in November last year. UFC Fight Night 141 will be headlined a big-time heavyweight rematch between Curtis Blaydes and Francis Ngannou.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, November 24, in China and the main card will air live on UFC Fight Pass at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Also on the card is a stack of Chinese talent including breakout star Song Yadong and the proven Li Jingliang who will both feature on the main card.

As always, we’re here to research the best odds and bring you all of the best bets for UFC Fight Night 141.

Let’s get started.

Curtis Blaydes vs. Francis Ngannou

It’s amazing how quickly things change in mixed martial arts.

Just two years ago, Francis Ngannou scored a decisive victory against Curtis Blaydes before surging up the rankings and earning himself a UFC Heavyweight Championship bout against Stipe Miocic.

After failing in his title challenge, Ngannou then lost to Derrick Lewis in what was considered one of the most boring fights in UFC history at UFC 226.

And for Curtis Blaydes, his only career defeat came on that day against Ngannou. He has since managed to win five more bouts – including big wins over Alistair Overeem, Mark Hunt, and Alexey Oleynik – to move into a prime position in the heavyweight rankings. With a win here, he’ll likely be challenging for the UFC Heavyweight Championship sooner than later.

Best odds for Curtis Blaydes vs. Francis Ngannou:

Francis Ngannou is on a seemingly endless downward spiral, and Curtis Blaydes is trending nothing but upward – so it’d make sense to bet on Blaydes here, right?

Well, there’s a lot more to it than that; mainly because the bookmakers have released Ngannou as a considerable underdog. That’s a whole lot of value for a guy who previously beat his opponent.

So, what do we need to understand before UFC Fight Night 141?

Curtis Blaydes has improved a lot, but there are still several ways in which he hasn’t shown much improvement at all. For example, despite his improved feinting, movement, and offensive toolset, Blaydes still gets tagged far too often. That’s not a desired trait to have in the heavyweight division by any means. When Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem landed hard shots on Blaydes, he continued keeping on and eventually worked his way to victory despite the initial dangers.

Moreover, where is Francis Ngannou at mentally? Sure, he’s a phenom with explosive power and athleticism, but that can only carry a fighter so far in 2018. Against Derrick Lewis, Ngannou looked like a shadow of his former self and admitted to feeling the lingering effect of fear that carried over from his beating from Stipe Miocic in January.

Despite likely landing his shots on Blaydes at times, we can only expect that Blaydes will continue to walk forward and secure his takedowns. It should be enough to win him a convincing decision if he doesn’t find a way to end it earlier.

Take Blaydes in what should be one of the most intriguing matchups in recent heavyweight memory.

Bet on Curtis Blaydes to win: -210 (Bovada)

Alistair Overeem vs. Sergey Pavlovich

Sergey Pavlovich’s first fight in the UFC will be a tough one.

Moving on from his time at Fight Nights Global, where he was the heavyweight champion, Pavlovich will now test his abilities with the best in the UFC. He’ll be facing Alistair Overeem in a fight that could boost him right up the rankings with a win.

Overeem, who will be stepping into the cage after two knockout defeats to Curtis Blaydes and Francis Ngannou is desperately in need of a victory. To bounce back, Overeem has made a move to Team Elevation, where he is now training with the aforementioned Curtis Blaydes. It’s now time to see whether this move will help Overeem reclaim the past form that saw him win both the Strikeforce and DREAM titles.

Best odds for Alistair Overeem vs. Sergey Pavlovich:

There’s no reason to write Alistair Overeem off just yet, but this seems like an arduous task for the heavyweight veteran. Sergey Pavlovich is a big and strong opponent and almost exactly the type that has caused problems for Overeem recently.

The most significant talking point heading into this matchup is that Overeem’s chin isn’t as sturdy as it needs to be when facing a powerful opponent like Pavlovich. It might just take a couple of solid punches for Overeem to go crashing into the mat.

However, if we’re speaking about this fight from a technical standpoint, and not of a size, strength and power perspective, Pavlovich is seemingly miles behind Overeem.

Pavlovich parries wide and flinches at almost any offensive movement from his opponent. We’re expecting Overeem to feint and keep Pavlovich reacting before eventually crushing him with some heavy shots.

Bet on Alistair Overeem to win: +116 (Pinnacle)

Song Yadong vs. Vince Morales

Vince Morales steps into the stacked UFC bantamweight division and will take on Song Yadong in his first-ever fight with the UFC.

Song Yadong is one of China’s many rising mixed martial arts talents. While they might not have the high levels of popularity in the United States or elsewhere in the world just yet, the UFC is doing their best to give these guys and girls the spotlight they deserve.

Undefeated in his last five fights, the 20-year-old from China will be looking to continue his climb through the bantamweight division by scoring yet another stoppage victory in the UFC.

Vince Morales replaces Frankie Saenz in this main card matchup. Now 8-2 as a professional mixed martial artist, Morales recently missed his chance to enter the UFC when he was defeated Domingo Pilarte during Dana White’s Contender Series earlier this year.

Best odds for Song Yadong vs. Vince Morales:

Even on short notice, Vince Morales seems like excellent value at first glance. In the lead-up to this fight, he has spoken time and time again about how he is entirely aware that he will be considered an underdog in this fight but that he is ready to shock the world and come home with an upset victory.

Morales is a fast-paced, high-volume striker who might always be in contention for one of the UFC’s $50,000 bonuses for Performance of the Night or Fight of the Night as long as he stays standing. He’s exciting and explosive and is an excellent addition to the UFC’s roster.

But Song Yadong could already be on another level.

A natural fight finisher, Yadong has managed to stop each of his two opponents in the UFC so far. He’s also considerably more well-rounded that Morales – who lacks the same takedown defense and grappling ability – and has more ways to win in Beijing.

The best and safest bet for this fight is to take Song Yadong to win.

Song Yadong to win: -350 (Bovada)

Li Jingliang vs. David Zawada

After Elizeu Zaleski withdrew from his bout with Li Jingliang due to injury, David Zawada stepped in to fill the spot.

David Zawada had his five-fight winning streak snapped by Danny Roberts at UFC Fight Night 134, where he made his debut with the promotion. He’ll be hoping to avoid defeat in his first two bouts with the UFC when he enters the cage in Beijing this weekend.

Li Jingliang has somewhat of a cult following in the UFC. The Chinese fighter has won five of his last six bouts and returned to form against Daichi Abe at UFC Fight Night 132 by winning a unanimous decision. That victory moved him back into the winning column after Jake Matthews defeated him at UFC 221.

Best odds for Li Jingliang vs. David Zawada:

The hype around Li Jingliang has slowed down a little since losing to Jake Matthews not that long ago. It was never blown out of proportion, but many were confusing Jingliang’s excitement factor with supreme fighting skills and abilities. He’s very powerful for the division, but there are many opportunities for an opponent to exploit.

David Zawada might be the type of opponent to do so. He’s relatively explosive, fights with a fast-pace and is always coming forward. Zawada somehow manages to throw everything with power all while staying relatively sound defensively. Although he lost his UFC debut to Danny Roberts, he was incredibly close to securing a D’Arce choke in the third round and looked the part throughout the entire fight.

This should be a well-matched, even fight. We’ll be taking the underdog, David Zawada to score the victory.

Bet on David Zawada to win: +127 (Pinnacle)

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UFC Fight Night 141 fight card

UFC Fight Night 141 begins on UFC Fight Pass from 3:00 am ET (7:00 am GMT) on Sunday, November 25.

UFC Fight Pass Main Card (6:30 am ET / 10:30 am GMT)

  • Curtis Blaydes vs. Francis Ngannou
  • Alistair Overeem vs. Sergey Pavlovich
  • Song Yadong vs. Vince Morales
  • Li Jingliang vs. David Zawada

UFC Fight Pass Prelims (3:30 am ET / 7:00 am GMT)

  • Song Kenan vs. Alex Morono
  • Hu Yaozong vs. Rashad Coulter
  • Wu Yanan vs. Lauren Mueller
  • Weili Zhang vs. Jessica Aguilar
  • Yan Xiaonan vs. Syuri Kondo

UFC Fight Night 140: Neil Magny vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio

UFC Fight Night 140: Neil Magny vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio

The UFC heads to Buenos Aires, Argentina, this weekend for a UFC Fight Night event headlined by Neil Magny and Santiago Ponzinibbio.

Magny, who is ranked #8 in the welterweight division, will defend his spot from the rising Ponzinibbio (rank #10).

There are also several more interesting battles on the main card, including Ricardo Lamas vs. Darren Elkins, the return of Cynthia Calvillo, and Khalil Rountree’s next fight after stopping Gokhan Saki.

UFC Fight Night 140 will take place at the Estadio Mary Terán de Weisson on November 17, 2018.

We’ve done all the research and analysis for you before this event begins.

Here are our best bets.

Neil Magny vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio

Neil Magny vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio would be a great co-main event in 2018.

Unfortunately, for the sake of the fans in Argentina, it’s the main event of UFC Fight Night 140.

Magny enters this main event on an impressive two-fight winning streak, the first since early 2016. In December 2017 he scored a unanimous decision victory over Carlos Condit after entering the fight as a slight underdog. He then backed it up with a convincing win over Craig White at UFC Fight Night 130 in May this year.

Ponzinibbio is on quite a roll right now. Undefeated since June 2016, the Argentinian has now won six consecutive fights and dismantled tough competition such as Gunnar Nelson and Mike Perry along the way.

Many feel that Ponzinibbio is destined for a top-5 spot in the UFC’s official welterweight rankings.

Best odds for Neil Magny vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio:

At first, these odds seem a little wide.

Magny is a proven competitor with wins over Kelvin Gastelum, Johny Hendricks, and Condit in the last couple of years. However, there’s a fair argument to be made that he caught Hendricks and Condit in their worse years. Those two, along with a win over short-notice replacement opponent White, make up for all of Condit’s most recent three victories.

But let’s not take too much away from Magny. He’s dangerous wherever the fight ends up and is particularly good at bodying around opponents inside the clinch while landing vicious knees and other strikes.

Ponzinibbio is a dangerous guy who is always ready to unload the tremendous power in his hands. With his arms out wide and circling left to right, Ponzinibbio eventually waits for his chance to commence a powerful combination of wild punches.

This style has worked for him time and time again, even against opponents with a similar style to Magny.

Ponzinibbio is a deserving favorite, but the line seems a little too wide. Even more generous is the odds for Magny to win inside the distance. We’ll be counting on the underdog bet to come through big.

Bet on Neil Magny to win inside the distance: +650 (Bovada)

Ricardo Lamas vs. Darren Elkins

Believe it or not, Darren Elkins’ impressive six-fight winning streak came to an end.

He’ll be looking to redeem himself and get back in the winning column immediately against Ricardo Lamas in Argentina.

Best odds for Ricardo Lamas vs. Darren Elkins

Through his 25-fight career, Ricardo Lamas has never dropped two fights in a row until now. Josh Emmett starched lamas in December 2017 in what was viewed as a considerable upset at the time. In his next outing, he was matched against the tough Mirsad Bektic and dropped a split decision. While many might consider Lamas to be way past the days that saw him climb to a title shot against Jose Aldo in 2014, that’s not necessarily true.

Darren “The Damage” Elkins lives up to his name, but it’s mostly because he’s on the receiving end of the damage. Fans will recall Elkins being beaten up by Bektic for two rounds before eventually scoring a third-round finish in what was an epic comeback victory. It all came to an end, though, when Alex Volkanovski crushed Elkins with overwhelming pressure and grappling dominance at UFC Fight Night 133.

Elkins is the better fighter by a wide margin, and we expect him to secure a victory inside the distance.

Bet on Ricardo Lamas to win -223 (Pinnacle)

Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. Johnny Walker

Fresh after scoring the biggest knockout of his career, Khalil Rountree finds himself in a strange matchup against UFC newcomer, Johnny Walker.

Best odds for Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. Johnny Walker:

After capturing the attention of fans during The Ultimate Fighter 23, Rountree earned himself a spot in the UFC. However, he suffered defeat in his first two fights inside the UFC’s Octagon – against Andrew Sanchez and Tyson Pedro – and was in desperate need of turning things around. Well, he has.

Now, Rountree is on a remarkable three-fight winning streak that is capped off by a stunning first-round knockout of Gokhan Saki back at UFC 226. With heavy hands and decent boxing technique, Rountree is a problem on the feet.

Johnny Walker now enters the UFC after impressing on Dana White’s Contender Series 2018. With a three-round unanimous decision over Luis Henrique da Silva, Walker is the latest of light heavyweight fighters to join the ranks and will do so with a six-fight winning streak behind him.

Walker is a huge dude with surprisingly decent clinch technique, devastating elbows, and serviceable ground game. He’ll be a fascinating test for Rountree, but we see nothing other than Rountree getting the finish in the first round.

Bet on Khalil Rountree to win by KO/TKO: -130 at (Bovada)

Cezar Ferreira vs. Ian Heinisch

Ian Heinsich will be making his UFC debut this weekend on short notice.

He’ll be up against Cezar Ferreira, a six-year veteran of the UFC who is currently riding a two-fight winning streak.

Best odds for Cezar Ferreira vs. Ian Heinisch

Ian Heinisch impressed on Dana White’s Contender Series and was one of four victorious fighters to earn a call-up to the UFC that day earlier this year. The 30-year-old smashed Justin Sumter with devastating elbows from top position to secure the finish. That win marked his third in a row and came just one fight after claiming the LFA interim middleweight championship in May this year.

Cezar Ferreira has won five of his last six bouts and most recently locked in an arm-triangle choke finish against Karl Roberson in May. Ferreira’s last defeat was February last year when he lost to the surprisingly tricky Elias Theodorou in a three-round bout.

Ferreira is a deserving betting favorite in this contest. Heinisch has shown a tendency just to storm forward and throw a devastating overhand right. If it lands, Ferreira might go out. However, that’s a big if. Take the favorite.

Bet on Cezar Ferreira to win: -150 (Bovada)

Guido Cannetti vs. Marlon Vera

Guido Cannetti and Marlon Vera will both be attempting to extend their winning streak to two this weekend at UFC Fight Night 140.

Best odds for Guido Cannetti vs. Marlon Vera

Guido Cannetti will step inside the cage for the third time this year after he was forced to sit out for over two years following a failed drug test by USADA.

Marlon Vera has since lost some momentum after his spectacular finishes over Brian Kelleher and Brad Pickett back in 2017. He most recently returned to form against Wuliji Buren at UFC 227.

Cannetti is a crafty kickboxer with lots of power in his strikes. There’s not much confidence on either side of this fight, so we’ll be backing the underdog to be victorious as a +EV play.

Bet on: +265 (Pinnacle)

Cynthia Calvillo vs. Poliana Botelho

Poliana Botelho will look to make it three in a row in the UFC against returning Cynthia Calvillo.

Best odds for Cynthia Calvillo vs. Poliana Botelho:

Since joining the UFC late last year, Botelho has managed big victories over Pearl Gonzalez and then Syuri Kondo. The Kondo victory was a stunning 33-second KO/TKO finish via a nasty body kick and punches.

Calvillo will be back in action for the first time since December 2017 after USADA suspended her for a violation. She looked to be a rising star in the division, with three-straight wins to her name, but most recently dropped a unanimous decision to Carla Esparza at UFC 219.

Botelho is ridiculously strong for this women’s division. Backed by good striking and a serviceable grappling game, Botelho makes for an excellent play at UFC Fight Night 140.

Bet on Poliana Botelho: -135 (Bovada)

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UFC Fight Night 140 fight card

UFC Fight Night 140 begins on UFC Fight Pass from 7:00 pm ET (11:00 pm GMT) on Saturday, November 17.

FS1 Main Card (10:00 pm ET / 2:00 am GMT)

  • Neil Magny vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
  • Ricardo Lamas vs. Darren Elkins
  • Khalil Rountree vs. Johnny Walker
  • Cezar Ferreira vs. Ian Heinisch
  • Guido Cannetti vs. Marlon Vera
  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Poliana Botelho

FS1 Prelims (8:00 pm ET / 12:00 am GMT)

  • Michel Prazeres vs. Bartosz Fabinski
  • Alexandre Pantoja vs. Ulka Sasaki
  • Humberto Bandenay vs. Austin Arnett
  • Laureano Staropoli vs. Hector Aldana

UFC Fight Pass Early Prelims (7:00 pm ET / 11:00 pm GMT)

  • Devin Powell vs. Jesus Pinedo
  • Nad Narimani vs. Andrson dos Santos

UFC Fight Night 139: “The Korean Zombie” vs. Yair Rodriguez

UFC Fight Night 139 “The Korean Zombie” vs. Yair Rodriguez

Happy anniversary!

The UFC is celebrating its 25th year of existence this weekend in Denver, Colorado, almost exactly 25 years after it all began in the same exact place.

Although it’s not a pay-per-view card, the UFC isn’t skimping out with this Fight Night event and have brought along many fan-favorite fighters to compete on the main card.

As always, we’re here to preview all of the action and bring you the best bets and odds.

Let’s go!

Chan Sung Jung vs. Yair Rodriguez

Chan Sung Jung, better known as “The Korean Zombie,” will make his long-awaited return to the cage for this main event. He hasn’t competed since defeating Dennis Bermudez with a powerful right uppercut in February 2017.

Yair Rodriguez hasn’t been active, either. Rodriguez had seemingly disappeared after being dominated by Frankie Edgar in May last year.

As a result, there are lots of questions to be asked of each fighter.

Best odds for Chan Sung Jung vs. Yair Rodriguez

Chan Sung Jung is unsurprisingly the betting favorite. With crisp boxing technique and relentless pressure and pace, “The Korean Zombie” can prove a handful for even the most skilled of featherweight fighters.

Those attributes are exactly what could cause trouble for his opponent this weekend.

Walking forward and always pushing his opponent backward, Jung is likely to overwhelm Rodriguez and disallow him from planting his feet and launching his explosive and creative kicking techniques. If he is constantly forced to move, shuffle, and reset, Rodriguez will have a challenging time playing his long-range striking game against Jung.

But if Jung is unable to pressure Rodriguez, expect Rodriguez’s taekwondo skills to take over in this bout. Rodriguez’s attacks are not just innovative, they’re reasonably powerful as well.

This fight isn’t expected to last the distance and we can see “The Korean Zombie” scoring a second or third round knockout finish of his opponent here in Denver.

Bet on Chan Sung Jung to win -140 at Bovada

Donald Cerrone vs. Mike Perry

Donald Cerrone vs. Mike Perry could very well be one of the best fights of the year.Cerrone and Perry are both known for putting on a show, and with a touch of bad blood behind the scenes thanks to Cerrone’s fallout with the Jackson Wink gym, it’s likely this one will be a ferocious battle.

Cerrone enters the cage having lost four of his last five fights, the worst stretch of his entire career.

Perry is now back in the winning column after seeing a bloody split decision in his favor against Paul Felder recently.

Best odds for Donald Cerrone vs. Mike Perry 

Mike Perry is the favorite as the public and bookmakers seem to think his power will be too overwhelming for the aging “Cowboy.”

That’s a fair take.

But an improved realization is that “Cowboy” has looked reasonable in his last two outings, against Yancy Medeiros and Leon Edwards, and isn’t as over the hill as he may seem at first glance.

Stylistically, Cerrone has all the advantages here as he should be able to piece up Perry with all kinds of strikes. Even then, his best advantage is on the mat. If he can get Perry to the ground and keep him there, it’s likely we’ll see a vintage submission from Cerrone.

He will need to be careful of Perry’s power, though.

Bet on Donald Cerrone: +175 at Bovada

Raquel Pennington vs. Germaine De Randamie

It’s a little strange when a fight between two of the top contenders in a division goes under the radar. That’s exactly what’s happening here with Raquel Pennington vs. Germaine De Randamie.

Raquel Pennington will step in after being defeated by current champion Amanda Nunes in her recent quest for the bantamweight title. As such, the longest winning streak of her career (four fights) came to an end.

Germaine De Randamie is a different story. “GDR” won her last bout, which was a title fight against Holly Holm, and claimed the UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship. After declining to fight challenger Cris Cyborg, De Randamie was soon stripped of her title.

Best odds for Raquel Pennington vs. Germaine De Randamie

  • Raquel Pennington: +150 (Pinnacle)
  • Germaine De Randamie: -175 (Bovada)

Raquel Pennington might be getting too much love from the public and sportsbooks because her odds are lower than expected.

Pennington is certainly a tough fighter and presents a difficult challenge, particularly with her wrestling and body lock style takedowns, but she is relatively one-dimensional on the feet.

This is how Germaine De Randamie will steal this fight. “GDR” is superb while standing and has supreme kickboxing ability (an undefeated career as a kickboxer). If she keeps this fight at distance, which is likely, Germaine might easily pick apart Pennington in the same way that Amanda Nunes did for almost five rounds.

This isn’t the best of matchups for Pennington, to say the least.

Bet on Germaine De Randamie to win: -175 (Bovada)

Maycee Barber vs. Hannah Cifers

Maycee Barber and Hannah Cifers will both be making their UFC debut this weekend at UFC Fight Night 139.

But this is a fight that almost nobody is excited about.

That’s not to say there’s no reason to be excited, it’s just that these two ladies are not familiar faces to the casual (or even many hardcore) fans of the UFC.

Best odds for Maycee Barber vs. Hannah Cifers 

Maycee Barber will step into the cage after doing enough to impress Dana White and the UFC team on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series earlier this year. Barber picked up a late stoppage and earned a UFC contract for her efforts.

For her first fight with the promotion, the 20-year-old will be up against another newcomer in Hannah Cifers.

Cifers was apparently on the UFC’s radar already, even before she was called up to be a short notice replacement for Maia Stevenson in this bout. She has a Muay Thai background and is renowned for her punching power – something extremely hard to find in these female divisions.

If Cifers can manage to catch Barber with a right hand, it could be the end of the fight. We’re not usually the type to back a female by KO/TKO as the percentages are typically much lower, but this one is a decent pick because of Barber’s defensive lapses.

Bet on: Hannah Cifers to win by KO/TKO: +330 at Bovada

Michael Trizano vs. Luis Pena

Michael Trizano and Luis Pena will open up the UFC Fight Night 139 main card in a battle between two new additions to the UFC roster.

Pena and Trizano featured on a recent season of The Ultimate Fighter and both were victorious at the TUF 27 Finale event just a few months back. 

Best odds for Michael Trizano vs. Luis Pena

Both fighters will enter this fight undefeated but only one can leave with their perfect record intact.

Pena is a potential star in the making. Nicknamed “Violent Bob Ross,” Pena’s curly hair stands out nearly as much as his excellent striking form and technique and relatively well-rounded skillset. He’s also decent enough when the fight hits the mat, too, and scored a guillotine choke in his most recent fight.

Trizano is 7-0 and recently worked his way to a split decision over Joe Giannetti, another highly rated prospect to come out of that season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Bet on Luis Pena to win: -190 at Pinnacle

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UFC Fight Night 139 fight card

UFC Fight Night 139 begins on UFC Fight Pass from 6:30 pm ET (10:30 pm GMT) on Saturday, November 10.

Pay-per-view (10:00 pm ET / 2:00 am GMT)

  • Chan Sung Jung vs. Yair Rodriguez
  • Donald Cerrone vs. Mike Perry
  • Raquel Pennington vs. Germaine De Randamie
  • Joseph Benavidez vs. Ray Borg
  • Maycee Barber vs. Hannah Cifers
  • Michael Trizano vs. Luis Pena

FS1 Prelims (8:00 pm ET / 12:00 am GMT)

  • Ashley Yoder vs. Amanda Cooper
  • Chas Skelly vs. Bobby Moffett
  • Beneil Dariush vs. Thiago Moises
  • Devonte Smith vs. Julian Erosa

UFC Fight Pass Early Prelims (6:30 pm ET / 10:30 pm GMT)

  • Davi Ramos vs. John Gunther
  • Joseph Morales vs. Eric Shelton
  • Mark De La Rosa vs. Joby Sanchez

UFC 230: Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis

UFC 230: Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis

After months of scrambling to put together an exciting main event for the UFC’s return to pay-per-view at UFC 230, the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion landed on a UFC Heavyweight Championship bout between Daniel Cormier and Derrick Lewis.

This all came together under four weeks ago, a couple of days after Lewis impressed those watching the Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor fight card in Las Vegas.

UFC 230 will take place in the legendary Madison Square Garden on Saturday, November 3.

We’re here to bring you all of the best bets for this event.

Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis

Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis is a heavyweight title fight that absolutely no one could have predicted this time last year.

With Cormier doing work in the light heavyweight division and Lewis recovering from a defeat to Mark Hunt in New Zealand, both looked highly unlikely of competing at the top of the heavyweight division.

However, ultimately, that defeat to Hunt was Lewis’ only downfall in his last ten fights. With an impressive string of performances, he’s now more than earned his shot at the champion.

Moreover, Cormier never seemed likely to return to the 265-pound category that his teammate Cain Velasquez had previously reigned over. But “DC” stepped up and knocked out Stipe Miocic inside the first round to become the heavyweight champion. Even then, he wasn’t expected to return to the cage this soon.

Best odds for Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis

This fight holds everything for a fan of mixed martial arts. Although “DC” is expected to roll through the challenger with ease, there’s always the chance that Lewis lands his famed knockout blow and walks out of Madison Square Garden with the belt strapped over his shoulder.

However, we’ll be siding with the champion, Daniel Cormier, who should wear down Lewis in the second and third round before eventually securing a finish.

Bet on Daniel Cormier to win in Round 3: +700 (Bovada)

Chris Weidman vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza

It’s not the co-main event that we were all excited for, but Chris Weidman vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza is still an excellent fight between two superb middleweight fighters.

Weidman will be attempting to make it two in a row as he looks to build from a victory against current title challenger Kelvin Gastelum in July last year.

Moreover, “Jacare” will be looking to create some momentum for the first time in a while after dropping two of his last three contests.

Best odds for Chris Weidman vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza

  • Chris Weidman: -185 (Bovada)
  • Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza: +160 (Pinnacle)

It’s no secret that “Jacare” is aging and doesn’t have the same athleticism and power that he once had. This was best displayed against Robert Whittaker in April last year when he struggled to secure a takedown and eventually was overrun by the current champion in round two. There’s also the fact that he’s quick to gas out and fatigue dramatically as the fight progresses.

But so does Chris Weidman. Despite three consecutive defeats to some of the division’s very best not that long ago, Weidman enters this one as a favorite for a good reason. His fast pace at the beginning of the fight combined with masterful wrestling should be enough to get him over the line against Souza.

Bet on Chris Weidman to win: -185 (Bovada)

David Branch vs. Jared Cannonier

As “Jacare” shifted up to the co-main event slot against Chris Weidman, David Branch was handed a new opponent.

Fortunately, Jared Cannonier – who was preparing for a fight in Argentina in two weeks – stepped in and replaced Souza in this high-level matchup.

Best odds for David Branch vs. Jared Cannonier

David Branch is criminally underrated, and he might always be until he wins a UFC championship.

With just one defeat (against Luke Rockhold) in his last 13 fights, Branch has enjoyed tremendous success in WSOF and a decent start to his UFC career. This opportunity against Cannonier is not one that will push him up the rankings, but it is one that can definitely earn him a shot at the top-tier of the middleweight division, especially if he does it in style.

Jared Cannonier will be looking to snap a two-fight losing streak when he makes the drop down to middleweight this weekend at UFC 230. Formerly competing as a light heavyweight and even competing at heavyweight for a little while, Cannonier is shredding weight for this fight and taking it on short notice.

That’s a tough situation for any fighter, let alone when you’re coming up against David Branch.

While the odds seem to be siding with Branch by decision, we’re going to lean on Branch to win inside the distance.

Bet on Total Rounds – Under 2.5: +110 at (Pinnacle)

Karl Roberson vs. Jack Marshman

With fights falling from the card left, right, and center, Karl Roberson and Jack Marshman have been called up to compete on UFC 230’s main card.

Best odds for Karl Roberson vs. Jack Marshman

Karl Roberson has been an exciting addition to the UFC’s roster since joining the promotion last year. His string of five first-round stoppages came to an end when he faced Cezar Ferreira in May this year when he was submitted in the first round. An excellent kickboxer, Roberson might want to keep this one standing and outwork the relatively one-dimensional Jack Marshman.

Marshman is almost solely focused on fighting with his hands. Bringing his boxing experience with him to the cage, Marshman is always capable of landing heavy and finishing the fight. While this has worked for him for the better part of his career, there will come a time and place when his boxing-focused approach will fail against the more well-rounded mixed martial artists.

This might not be it. Even in his most recent loss to Thiago Santos, he landed his heavy shots at times but was unable to secure the finish.

At these odds, it’s worth taking a punt on Marshman to secure a finish.

Bet on Jack Marshman: +245 (Pinnacle)

Derek Brunson vs. Israel Adesanya

One of the most highly anticipated fights of the night will get the main card started when Derek Brunson stands across from Israel Adesanya.

Best odds for Derek Brunson vs. Israel Adesanya

The hard-hitting Derek Brunson will be looking to return to form at UFC 230. Brunson has dropped three of his last five fights and most recently was starched by “Jacare” at UFC on FOX 27. That defeat snapped a two-fight winning streak that involved big KO/TKO wins against Daniel Kelly and Lyoto Machida that occurred just after a “robbery” defeat against Anderson Silva.

Israel Adesanya will be ready to shine and impress all of the fans watching the pay-per-view this weekend. His flashy striking style isn’t just for appearance; it’s equally as devastating. With superb accuracy, timing, and reflexes, Adesanya brilliantly controls the tempo of striking and navigates his pathway to victory while standing.

There’s a risk, of course, that he might get stuck underneath Brunson for minutes at a time and that’s certainly a dangerous proposition. Ultimately, though, we can see Adesanya cruising to a unanimous decision victory.

Fortunately, there are great odds for this prediction, too.

Bet on Israel Adesanya to win by decision: +300 (Bovada)

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UFC 230 fight card

UFC 230 begins on UFC Fight Pass from 6:15 pm ET (10:15 pm GMT) on Saturday, November 3.

Pay-per-view (10:00 pm ET / 2:00 am GMT)

  • Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis
  • Chris Weidman vs. Jacare Souza
  • David Branch vs. Jared Cannonier
  • Karl Roberson vs. Jack Marshman
  • Derek Brunson vs. Israel Adesanya

FS1 Prelims (8:00 pm ET / 12:00 am GMT)

  • Jason Knight vs. Jordan Rinaldi
  • Sijara Eubanks vs. Roxanne Modafferi
  • Julio Arce vs. Sheymon Moraes
  • Lyman Good vs. Ben Saunders

UFC Fight Pass Early Prelims (6:15 pm ET / 12:15 pm GMT)

  • Matt Frevola vs. Lando Vannata
  • Shane Burgos vs. Kurt Holobaugh
  • Brian Kelleher vs. Montel Jackson
  • Adam Wieczorek vs. Marcos Rogerio De Lima