Get a detailed breakdown of the betting lines for UFC 220, which is set to hit TD Garden in Boston, Mass., this weekend (Sat., Jan. 20, 2018), including best bets, underdogs, favorites, and much more!
Big boys in Boston!
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight champions, Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier, will throw down with surging knockout artists this Saturday night (Jan. 20, 2018) in the main- and co-main attractions of UFC 220. Looking to thwart Miocic’s attempt on the Heavyweight title defense record is Francis Ngannou, while Cormier faces the brutally efficient Volkan Oezdemir.
Batting third is Shane Burgos vs. Calvin Kattar, which could decide a future Featherweight contender, and Gian Villante takes on Francimar Barroso at 205 pounds in another pay-per-view (PPV) main card bout.
Still got any Christmas cash left over? If not, here’s how to fix that.
What Went Wrong at UFC Fight Night 124?
In the fights I picked? Not a thing … at least among the ones that actually happened. The only thing that went wrong was that I didn’t pull the trigger on a pair of underdogs (Mads Burnell and Polo Reyes) that I had said would win, but wasn’t confident enough to put money on. I’d say this was a sign to have more confidence in my picks, but I know that things will go pear-shaped the moment I try to follow that advice. That’s just how things function.
UFC 220 Odds For The Undercard:
Brandon Davis (-115) vs. Kyle Bochniak (-105)
Abdul Razak Alhassan (-230) vs. Sabah Homasi (+190)
Alexandre Pantoja (-160) vs. Dustin Ortiz (+140)
Julio Arce (-155) vs. Dan Ige (+135)
Enrique Barzola (-230) vs. Matt Bessette (+190)
Maryna Moroz (-135) vs. Jamie Moyle (+115)
Islam Makhachev (-230) vs. Gleison Tibau (+190)
Thoughts: While an underdog on the PPV main card is the key to big bucks this time around, there are several guys worth looking at here. Specifically, Brandon Davis and Dustin Ortiz.
There is not a single member of the polled mixed martial arts (MMA) media who thinks that Kyle Bochniak deserved the win over Enrique Barzola. He’s a capable fighter, no doubt, but UFC demands more than “capable.” And while Davis isn’t the sort of grappler Bochniak has struggled with, his combination striking and insane durability are enough to make him worth the investment.
Dustin Ortiz is a guy I’d classify as “a headache.” He’s not going to challenge for a title, but he won’t roll over for anyone. Pantoja — though sharper on the feet and vaguely reminiscent of Ortiz-conqueror Jussier Formiga in his back-taking — has been ground down before. It’s not a certain thing, but Ortiz is game enough to lay a few bucks down.
UFC 220 Odds For The Main Card:
Francis Ngannou (-175) vs. Stipe Miocic (+165)
Daniel Cormier (-290) vs. Volkan Oezdemir (+260)
Shane Burgos (-125) vs. Calvin Kattar (+105)
Gian Villante (-170) vs. Francimar Barroso (+150)
Thomas Almeida (-120) vs. Rob Font (EVEN)
Thoughts: Stipe Miocic as an underdog is mind boggling to me. Yes, I get that Francis Ngannou is utterly terrifying, but think about this: Ngannou’s best two wins are over Alistair Overeem and Andrei Arlovski. After that, his only victory of note came over a green Curtis Blaydes. Miocic, meanwhile, has knockouts of Junior dos Santos and Fabricio Werdum on his belt alongside Overeem and Arlovski. He stood up to 25 minutes of dos Santos’ punches and has defused sluggers like Mark Hunt with ease. He’s more versatile than Ngannou, more proven and possesses possibly the division’s highest fight IQ. He’s going to win this with authority.
UFC 220 Best Bets:
- Single bet — Brandon Davis: Bet $57.50 to make $50
- Single bet — Dustin Ortiz: Bet $50 to make $70
Single bet — Stipe Miocic: Bet $100 to make $165
Don’t blink, Maniacs. You don’t want to miss a second.