UFC Fight Night 116 odds: Latest Vegas lines and betting guide for ‘Rockhold vs Branch’

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Strikeforce, and World Series of Fighting (WSOF) belts adorn the trophy cases of Luke Rockhold and David Branch, who headline UFC Fight Night 116 in Pittsburgh, Pa., this Saturday evening (Sept. 16, 2017). Earlier in the night, Thiago Alves attempts to halt the rise of Mike Perry and Hector Lombard looks for a much-needed win against the surging Anthony Smith.

All but one fight is free on FOX Sports 1. Want to pay for the other one? Here’s how.

What Went Wrong at UFC 215?

Gavin Tucker’s cardio and takedown defense completely failed him, Sara McMann had the fight in the bag before blowing it, Rafael dos Anjos exceeded my expectations by a mile, and, well, we can argue whether Valentina Shevchenko deserved the “L.” Let’s just move on …

UFC Fight Night 116 Odds For The Undercard:

Olivier Aubin-Mercier (-130) vs. Tony Martin (+110)
Anthony Hamilton (-210) vs. Daniel Spitz (+175)
Krzysztof Jotko (-210) vs. Uriah Hall (+175)
Luke Sanders (-235) vs. Felipe Arantes (+195)
Gilbert Burns (-125) vs. Jason Saggo (+105)

Thoughts: I like the looks of Tony Martin and Krzysztof Jotko.

For the first four fights of his UFC career, Martin was a world-beater for five minutes and dead weight afterward. Recently, though, he’s managed to patch up his cardio and put together a solid striking offense to complement his overpowering top game and sheer size. He’s also got three inches of height and reach with which to keep Aubin-Mercier at bay. Now that he can finally wield his strength without falling apart, he’s a quality underdog pick.

Uriah Hall has lost three consecutive one-sided fights and is still ranked in UFC’s Top 15. I doubt that ranking survives loss number four. Jotko’s durability and wrestling prowess make him a toxic match up for the ever-inconsistent Hall, whose disparity between physical prowess and fight IQ is best measured in parsecs. Poland wins the day.

UFC Fight Night 116 Odds For The Main Card:

Luke Rockhold (-450) vs. David Branch (+360)
Mike Perry (-485) vs. Alex Reyes (+350)
Anthony Smith (-110) vs. Hector Lombard (-110)
Gregor Gillespie (-410) vs. Jason Gonzalez (+330)
Kamaru Usman (-650) vs. Sergio Moraes (+475)
Justin Ledet (-360) vs. Azunna Anyanwu (+300)

Thoughts: Oof … Justin Ledet is about the only one I see worth investing in.

Anyanwu is stepping in on just one week notice and was losing his “Contender Series” fight before landing the knockout blow. Ledet may be coming off a lengthy layoff because of a failed drug test, but he’s got a massive edge in speed and boxing technique. I fully expect him to run circles around Anyanwu.

UFC Fight Night 116 Best Bets:

  • Single bet — Tony Martin: Bet $20 to make $22
  • Parlay — Krzysztof Jotko and Justin Ledet: Bet $22 to make $19.46

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver live UFC Fight Night 116 results on Saturday, which is as good a place as any to talk about all the action inside the Octagon, as well as what you’ve got riding on the sportsbook.

Initial Investment For 2017: $200 (+$200 infusion)
Current Total: $42.86

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Strikeforce, and World Series of Fighting (WSOF) belts adorn the trophy cases of Luke Rockhold and David Branch, who headline UFC Fight Night 116 in Pittsburgh, Pa., this Saturday evening (Sept. 16, 2017). Earlier in the night, Thiago Alves attempts to halt the rise of Mike Perry and Hector Lombard looks for a much-needed win against the surging Anthony Smith.

All but one fight is free on FOX Sports 1. Want to pay for the other one? Here’s how.

What Went Wrong at UFC 215?


Gavin Tucker’s cardio and takedown defense completely failed him, Sara McMann had the fight in the bag before blowing it, Rafael dos Anjos exceeded my expectations by a mile, and, well, we can argue whether Valentina Shevchenko deserved the “L.” Let’s just move on …

UFC Fight Night 116 Odds For The Undercard:

Olivier Aubin-Mercier (-130) vs. Tony Martin (+110)
Anthony Hamilton (-210) vs. Daniel Spitz (+175)
Krzysztof Jotko (-210) vs. Uriah Hall (+175)
Luke Sanders (-235) vs. Felipe Arantes (+195)
Gilbert Burns (-125) vs. Jason Saggo (+105)

Thoughts: I like the looks of Tony Martin and Krzysztof Jotko.

For the first four fights of his UFC career, Martin was a world-beater for five minutes and dead weight afterward. Recently, though, he’s managed to patch up his cardio and put together a solid striking offense to complement his overpowering top game and sheer size. He’s also got three inches of height and reach with which to keep Aubin-Mercier at bay. Now that he can finally wield his strength without falling apart, he’s a quality underdog pick.

Uriah Hall has lost three consecutive one-sided fights and is still ranked in UFC’s Top 15. I doubt that ranking survives loss number four. Jotko’s durability and wrestling prowess make him a toxic match up for the ever-inconsistent Hall, whose disparity between physical prowess and fight IQ is best measured in parsecs. Poland wins the day.

UFC Fight Night 116 Odds For The Main Card:

Luke Rockhold (-450) vs. David Branch (+360)
Mike Perry (-485) vs. Alex Reyes (+350)
Anthony Smith (-110) vs. Hector Lombard (-110)
Gregor Gillespie (-410) vs. Jason Gonzalez (+330)
Kamaru Usman (-650) vs. Sergio Moraes (+475)
Justin Ledet (-360) vs. Azunna Anyanwu (+300)

Thoughts: Oof … Justin Ledet is about the only one I see worth investing in.

Anyanwu is stepping in on just one week notice and was losing his “Contender Series” fight before landing the knockout blow. Ledet may be coming off a lengthy layoff because of a failed drug test, but he’s got a massive edge in speed and boxing technique. I fully expect him to run circles around Anyanwu.

UFC Fight Night 116 Best Bets:

  • Single bet — Tony Martin: Bet $20 to make $22
  • Parlay — Krzysztof Jotko and Justin Ledet: Bet $22 to make $19.46

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver live UFC Fight Night 116 results on Saturday, which is as good a place as any to talk about all the action inside the Octagon, as well as what you’ve got riding on the sportsbook.

Initial Investment For 2017: $200 (+$200 infusion)
Current Total: $42.86