Author: MMA Betting

UFC Heavyweight Bout:  Junior Dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic

Odds:  ( -365 Dos Santos / +275 Miocic )

Betting Pick:  JDS

Bet on this fight at Bovada

This Saturday night UFC on Fox 13 comes to us live from Phoenix, AZ. The main card features Junior Dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic whom are among the favorites to be fighting for the UFC Heavyweight Championship in the near future. Miicic is coming off a three-match win streak not having lost since 2012. His last fight back in May lasted a whole thirty-five seconds ending in a TKO (Punches). Dos Santos is stepping back into the octagon for the first time since his lose to Velasquez back in 2013. Dos Santos hasn’t looked like the same fighter ever since losing to Velasquez for the first time back in their second bout. I guess we’ll see if anything has changed. Both of these fighters are here to prove they should be the next to contend for the belt. Let’s break down each of the fights and pick a winner…

Junior Dos Santos 16-3 #2 Contender

Junior Dos Santos is a bad man. The amount of power that some behind the fastest hands in the heavyweight division are just scary. The amount of fights Dos Santos has won from the middle of the cage are second to none, and I don’t see him trying to take this fight anywhere differently. If you want to know how to beat him, ask Velasquez. Force him towards the cage and make him fight from his back. That’s another problem though, his 76% takedown avoidance makes it quite difficult to expose his weaknesses. Dos Santos will wear you down with his powerful jabs and combinations and won’t even let you breathe in-between. Another reason why you can force Dos Santos towards the cage, his feet. He’ll move you around before you can even think about moving him. He’ll move in-and-out, land significant blows then finish you off. My advice for Junior Dos Santos would be to not fix what isn’t broken. Miocic has a substantial wrestling background and will shoot a double when he sees you blink. If Dos Santos can keep this fight on his feet and make Miocic one-dimensional, this one will be over quickly.

Stipe Miocic 12-1 #4 Contender

Stipe Miocic has been fighting out of his mind lately. His last fight back on May 31st lasted only 35 seconds and ended by TKO. Miocic has a substantial wrestling background and has no problems against the cage or being on his back and keeping control of the fight. Both of these fights has very similar skill-sets when it comes to being in the center of the cage. Both has fast hands and like to move around to disrupt the others timing. the slight difference in how they move is that Miocic likes to circle rather than making lineral attacks. If Miocic can circle Dos Santos and disrupt his movement and throw off his timing, shoot a quick double, he can take control of this fight. This entire fight will not be fought on their feet and Miocic needs to take serious advantage of that. The more time Miocic can Dos Santos struggle trying to get up, the more tired Dos Santos will become making his combinations much less powerful. Also, don’t think that Miocic trying to take shots will wear him out either. With his wrestling back, his conditioning is topnotch. My advice for Miocic would be to take shots, a lot of them. Keep making Dos Santos work to get up, and let him. Your hands are nearly as powerful and you can last much longer. Stick to your fight-plan, circle, jab, shoot, and repeat.

This is going to be one hell of a fight. Both of these fights have very similar skill sets and tendencies inside of the octagon. Dos Santos will obviously want to keep this match on his feet for as long as possible, blocking shoots taken by Miocic trying not to waste too much energy. Miocic will be taking shots on Dos Santos, many of them. He’ll want to utilize his wrestling background to wear Dos Santos until possibly knocking him out. I guess the big question is whether the momentum by Miocic can subdue to drive for Dos Santos to have that one last shot at Velasquez. If you ask me, I think Dos Santos is just too much for Miocic to handle. Dos Santos will be refining his already phenomenal take-down defense and be preparing for the circular movement of Miocic. Dos Santos will get another shot as Velasquez, assuming Velasquez can get healthy.

Prediction: Junior Dos Santos by second round T/KO.

Winner of Esparza/Penne vs. Winner of Namajunas/Markos

The second-to-last episode of the UFC Ultimate Fighter will feature two semi-final matches that will determine who will fight in the finale on December 12th, in Las Vegas, NV. The two matches we’ll witness this Wednesday will be Carla Esparza vs. Jessica Penne and Rose Namajuna vs. Randa Markos. If you’ve been able to follow the Ultimate Fighter this season, these are clearly the four best fighters. Here is how I see the rest of that season going down…

First lets talk about Carla Esparza. She is clearly the odds on favorite to win the Ultimate Fighter. Carla can feet from her feet and control the match from the mat if needed as well. Her last match that was aired just last week, showed how technically sound she is when fighting an opponent who was clearly stronger than she was. My only worry that I have for Carla is her conditioning. I understand these are all professional athletes, but in her last match when she knew that to win she needed to take the match to the match, she was gassed. Her shots were being rejected, and when she would catch a leg, she just wasn’t strong enough to finish most of them. Obviously since we’re still talking about her, she won, but Carla showed some weaknesses and a blueprint to takedown the favorite. I like her odds, but it is not going to be easy.

Jessica Penne can just plain scrap. Jessica has some seriously quick hand and it has shown in each of her fights so far this season. If she is going to have any chance against Carla Esparza, she better have Carlas’ previous match on constant replay. Jessica is going to need to make Carla work for every shot she takes. Jessica needs to do whatever she can to stay on her feet and gas Carla when she tries to take her down. After Jessica is able to spot Carla has the same look on her face as she did in her last fight, Jessica needs to use her hands to stock up on as many points as she can earn. If Jessica can stick to the blueprint that has been given to her, she has a chance to make it to the finals.

Randa Markos might be the toughest girl on the show. Each time she steps into the octagon, she has a chance to win. After her opening round win against Tecia Torres, she has been a force to be reckoned with. Randa might not be as technically sound as some of the other fighters but she might be the most dangerous fighter from the ground in the Ultimate Fighter. Her technical skills from the ground go back to her fights before her time on the Ultimate Fighter, winning a majority of her fights by submission, with many by armbar. The fighter style of her opponent Rose is what is going to make this fighter unlike any we have seen so far this season. Randa seems stronger than Rose and I believe she’ll want to control this fight from the ground to reduce the risk of begin struck with Rose’s crazy kicks and long arms. Although Rose has been known to submit many of her opponent, Randa should be able to use her strength to over-power Rose and land a submission to finish it. If Randa is to win this fight, the match-up with her against either of the two fights in the first semi-final match will be just as good.

Rose Namajunas has shown that if you can channel your pure emotions into aggression, you can become a champion. Rose has the body and skill set to become the Ultimate Fighter Champion. In her last match Rose showed that she can win a fighter from anywhere in the octagon. Every fight Rose comes out like a bull and places her opponents on their heels for the rest of the round. Her long arms and legs make for technical fighters to get in close to land any significant combinations. If Rose does decide to take the fight to the ground, she can contort her body if she feels in danger and normally end up on top. Rose used a kamora to end her last fight but Rose was clearly winning if it went to decision. If Rose is to make it to the finals, she is a serious threat to anyone. I like her chances to win her next fight against Randa Markos, and I sure haven’t counted her out of being crowned the overall champion.

Mr prediction for the final match is Carla Esparza vs. Rose Namajunas. Both of these fighters have shown they’re clearly the two best in the house. If this match is to happen, I see Rose coming out the winner. Rose clearly doesn’t have the ground skills as Carla but I think she’ll be able to keep her space and make her work for it. Rose will be able to land serious blows before Carla is able to take her down and win any points that may be left. These next three matches should be the best yet and I personally can’t wait for them.

Bovada.Iv Odds

• Esparza         (+150)
  
• Namajunas   (-185)

Betonline.com Odds

• Esparza         (+150)
• Namajunas   (-175)
  

Sportsinteraction.com Odds

• Esparza        (+158)
• Namajunas  (-175)
  

Jeremy Stephens vs. Charles Oliveira

Bovada.Iv Odds

• Stephens  (-125)
• Oliveira    (-105)

Betonline.com Odds

• Stephens  (-110)
• Oliveira    (-110)

Sportsinteraction.com Odds

• Stephens  (-125)
• Oliveira    (-105)

K.J. Noons vs. Daron Cruickshank

Bovada.Iv Odds

• Noons               (+160)
• Cruickshank   (-200)

Betonline.com Odds

• Noons              (+165)
• Cruickshank  (-190)

Yancy Medeiros vs. Joe Proctor

Bovada.Iv Odds

• Medeiros  (-260)
• Proctor      (+200) 

Betonline.com Odds

• Medeiros  (-240)
• Proctor      (+205)

Loser of Esparza/Penne vs. Loser of Namajunas/Markos

Bovada.Iv Odds

• Markos  (-120)
• Penne     (-110)

Felice Herrig vs.Lisa Ellis

Bovada.Iv Odds

• Herrig  (-350)
• Ellis      (+265)

Angela Magana vs. Tecia Torres

Bovada.Iv Odds

• Magana  (+400)
• Torres      (-600)

Joanne Calderwood vs. Seo Hee Ham

Bovada.Iv Odds

• Calderwood  (-550)
• Hee Ham       (+375)

Heather Jo Clark vs. Bec Rawlings

Bovada.Iv Odds

• Clark          (+160)
• Rawlings  (-200)

Alex Chambers vs. Aisling Daly

Bovada.Iv Odds

• Chambers  (+200)
• Daly            (-260)

Angela Hill vs. Emily Kagan

Bovada.Iv Odds

• Hill        (-175)
• Kagan   (+145)

Make sure to Check back with us closer to fight night as I will have updated TUF 20 Finale Odds plus Fight Predictions.  To add a little excitement on fight night, you can bet on these fights at Bovada.Iv Odds

UFC Lightweight Title Fight: Anthony Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez

Odds: ( -205 Pettis / +165 Melendez )

Betting Pick:  Pettis

Bet on this fight at Bovada

UFC 181 from the Mandalay Event Center in Las Vegas,NV is going to be one hell of a show. For the Co-Main Event we have the coaches from this seasons UFC Ultimate Fighter squaring off for the UFC Lightweight Championship. If you’ve watched the show at all this year, you have been able to tell these guys haven’t spent much time around each other, and this fight is the reason. Pets is going to do whatever he can to pick Melendez apart with his combinations and Melendez is going to be shooting for those legs to take this fight to the ground. UFC 181 is going to be a treat, lets take an in-depth look at both these fighters.

Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez 22-3

Let’s get straight to it, Melendez is going to want to take this fight straight to the ground. Lets be clear though, I’m not touting Melendez as having a ground game that’s second to none, but his chances of winning this fight significantly spike if he does. Here is the counter argument to that though, Melendez has proven to have a sturdy chin and he can take many of the punches Pettis is going throw, but utilizing the mat is going to be able to keep him there till the end. If Melendez is able to control this fight he just needs to stay as close to Pettis as he can at all times. Pets won’t allow the fight to be solely on the mat, so when that happens Melendez needs to get in close and take away the technical striking abilities Pettis has proven he has. Here’s my advice for Melendez, tire him out. Take Pettis to the ground, make him work, let him up and do it again. Stay close often and don’t let Pettis has the space he needs to utilize his skills. Melendez can win this fight, he’ll just need to stick to his fight plan and never waiver when pressure mounts.

Another “Showtime” Pettis 17-2 Champion

This guy is tough, I mean like really tough. Just ask the “Cowboy” or Henderson and they’ll tell you exactly what this guy is capable of. Pettis can pick apart any defense with his technically striking ability. Pettis is also wildly unpredictable. He’ll show us his skills from his feet in round one, and on the mat in round two. He’ll work you towards the center with his quick jabs and extremely quick footwork, then throw a one-two, and that’s it, fight over. Pettis is going to want to keep this fight on his feet though. Pettis doesn’t want to get caught wasting energy on the mat and end up fighting for his life in the fourth and fifth round. My advice for Pettis is to keep your space and move. Pettis is powerful but only when he sees his spots, which is what make him so dangerous. I see Pettis trying to end this one quick and put all of the trash talking to bed.

A Five-round slug fest is great for ratings but only good for a select amount of fighters, and Anthony Pettis isn’t one of them. I know he’s healthy but everyone has there limitations. Pettis will look to end this one before it begins. He doesn’t want to get caught in the fourth and fifth rounds with Melendez who has shown great final round stamina. If Pettis is able to keep his space in the early going and use those powerful technical skills we have all seen, Melendez won’t make it past the second round. I see Pettis coming out with serious aggression and ending this one in the second round. He’ll wear down the striking defense of Melendez in round one and two and finish him off in the third by an exciting TKO.

Prediction:  Anthony “Showtime” Pettis by Third Round T/KO.