UFC Featherweight bout: Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles
Odds: (-275 Faber /+215 Bowles )
Betting Pick: Bowles
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The semi-main event is a big showdown between former WEC champions, as former Featherweight champ “The California Kid” Urijah Faber will take on ex-Bantamweight king Brian Bowles. This is a big match up between two of the top figures in the 135 pound title picture, and the winner will be putting himself in a great position for another crack at Dominick Cruz’s belt. Both of these guys are versatile, dynamic fighters with skills on their feet and on the ground, so this should be an exciting and competitive bout,especially with so much on the line.
Brian Bowles is one of the most dangerous Bantamweight fighters in the world, with his only professional loss coming to current divisional king Dominick “The Dominator” Cruz. Bowles is an extremely complete fighter with heavy hands, great technical boxing, solid take downs, and dangerous submissions. He is fast, athletic, and versatile, which makes him difficult to defend against and makes him adept at exploiting any mistake. Most importantly, Bowles is a prolific finisher, having only gone the distance once. He can finish fights from any position at anytime, and he has spectacular technique so he doesn’t give his opponents many openings.
“The California Kid” Urijah Faber, the former WEC Featherweight champion, is in a similar position to Bowles. He is clearly one of the top Bantamweights in the world, but he has already lost to the champion. This is an important fight for him, because you know that he wants a rubber match with Cruz and another shot at becoming a two-division titlist. Faber is a great fighter with an extremely complete game. He has fast, crisp boxing with decent power, solid wrestling, and great submissions.
This is a very compelling match up between two legitimate title contenders. These guys have similar skill sets and similar fighting styles, and both guys are very aggressive, so this should be an exciting fight. Ultimately I think Bowles is a pretty attractive upset pick here. I think he has more punching power than Faber and better jiu-jitsu as well. This is going to be a close fight, and I think Bowles’ offensive tools are going to stifle Faber enough that Bowles can outpoint him for the decision win.
Prediction: Brian Bowles via Decision.
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