The opening betting lines are in for a pair of UFC title fights scheduled to go down in March.
The folks at Best Fight Odds have released their betting odds for the UFC Welterweight Championship rematch between Tyron …
https://youtu.be/gMf9jCUyG_k
The opening betting lines are in for a pair of UFC title fights scheduled to go down in March.
The folks at Best Fight Odds have released their betting odds for the UFC Welterweight Championship rematch between Tyron Woodley and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and the highly-anticipated interim UFC Lightweight Title bout pitting undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov against Tony Ferguson.
Scheduled as the main event and co-main event for the UFC 209 pay-per-view on March 4th, the two title fights — according to the oddsmakers — are very even matchups.
Best Fight Odds have the challenger, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, a slight favorite over reigning champion and the man who narrowly defeated him in his last fight, Tyron Woodley.
The website has “Wonderboy” opening at -115, while Woodley opened as a slight underdog at +105. What this means is a $115 bet on Thompson would earn you $100 profit if he wins. On the flip-side, a $100 bet on Woodley would bank you $105 if he were to win.
For the interim UFC Lightweight Title bout, the odds are a lot closer than many might have expected. Best Fight Odds have Khabib Nurmagomedov opened at -172, while Ferguson, the betting underdog, opened at +158.
UFC 209: Woodley vs. Thompson 2 goes down live on Saturday, March 4th from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, airing live on pay-per-view. Join us here at MMANews.com on 3/4 for live round-by-round results coverage of the event.
Former UFC lightweight title challenger and current No. 5-ranked welterweight Donald Cerrone has been on quite the tear since making the jump up to 170-pounds, having amassed a four-fight win streak against some hefty competition. Cowboy most recently comes off of a crushing third round knockout victory over ‘The Immortal’ Matt Brown in the co-main
Former UFC lightweight title challenger and current No. 5-ranked welterweight Donald Cerrone has been on quite the tear since making the jump up to 170-pounds, having amassed a four-fight win streak against some hefty competition.
Cowboy most recently comes off of a crushing third round knockout victory over ‘The Immortal’ Matt Brown in the co-main event of UFC 206, making quite the statement and propelling himself into the title contention conversation. In typical Cerrone-like fashion the JacksonWink product wanted to make a quick turnaround back into the Octagon, and will now take on Jorge Masvidal in the co-main event of UFC on FOX 23 next week (Saturday, January 28, 2017).
Recently Cerrone spoke to FOX Sports to discuss the current state of the 170-pound division, and would love to compete on the same card as Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson in their welterweight title bout at UFC 209:
“I just care about keep on fighting. I know they’ve got the (Tyron) Woodley-(Stephen) Thompson fight coming in March. I wouldn’t mind getting a No. 1 contender fight in March also maybe on the same card and then fight the winner of those two,” Cerrone told FOX Sports.
“Just more about keep on fighting. I don’t want to sit and wait. I just like to stay busy.”
Currently above Cerrone in the welterweight rankings sit former champion Robbie Lawler and No. 3-ranked Demian Maia, who both interest Cowboy for a potential throw-down inside the Octagon for a title eliminator. The name that seemed to light a fire under Cerrone, however, was the Brazilian jiu jitsu specialist Maia who is content to wait for his shot at the 170-pound title after having racked up an impressive six-fight win streak.
Being known as a fighter who doesn’t like to take much time off, Maia’s decision to wait for the winner of Woodley and Thompson for his shot at the welterweight throne seems to have rubbed Cerrone the wrong way:
“Whoever, if I could fight in March. I know the title fight, they’re going to be fighting in March so we’ll have to get a No. 1 contender,” Cerrone said. “Hopefully, Demian Maia will (expletive) want to pull the trigger and not just keep waiting or Robbie (Lawler).
“Whoever’s above us. I don’t even care. I don’t (expletive) give a (expletive).”
Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
As for a fight with Lawler, Cowboy had already agreed to fight ‘Ruthless’ at UFC 205 in New York, but the former champion decided to withdraw from the bout due to health concerns. Now that Lawler has had a bit more time to recover from his knockout loss to Woodley back in July, Cerrone says he’d gladly accept a bout with him again:
“I said (expletive) yeah, bring that (expletive) on. That name don’t scare me none. I love Robbie but (expletive) come on.”
Cerrone says if he can secure the welterweight title in his next two fights, he’ll gladly defend the strap three times before year’s end, but we’ll have to see how things play out for the UFC veteran:
“Let’s do it,” Cerrone said. “If I could get six fights in 2017, my coaches would be happy, I’ll be happy and we’ll get a title fight and defend that (expletive) three times, I’ll be good to go!”
“If I could, I would,” Cerrone said without hesitation.”
Cerrone will meet Masvidal in the co-main event of UFC on FOX 23 from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado next weekend (Saturday, January 28, 2017).
UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley and No. 1-ranked Stephen Thompson put on one of the best 170-pound title bouts in recent memory, when they collided in the co-main event of UFC 205 this past November at Madison Square Garden. When all was said and done in New York City, however, no clear winner given after
UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley and No. 1-ranked Stephen Thompson put on one of the best 170-pound title bouts in recent memory, when they collided in the co-main event of UFC 205 this past November at Madison Square Garden.
When all was said and done in New York City, however, no clear winner given after the bout, as the judges ruled the contest a majority draw decision. Now ‘The Chosen One’ and ‘Wonderboy’ will collide once more to determine who the true king of the UFC’s welterweight division is, and it’ll all go down in the main event of UFC 209 this March.
Recently Woodley has stated that he feels he’s been treated harshly by fans and the UFC due to his skin color, something that Thompson tells MMA Junkie just doesn’t make sense given the success of other African-American fighters in the promotion:
“Jon Jones, one of the biggest stars in the UFC at the time,” Thompson said. “Anderson Silva. … He’s the GOAT. I’m looking at these fighters, and to me, (they) haven’t been treated any differently.
“But I haven’t seen (Woodley’s) side. I haven’t been around him, and haven’t seen what’s going on with the UFC. But who doesn’t know Tyron?”
‘Wonderboy’ would go on to urge Woodley not to focus on anything other than their fight in March, as he wants to fight the very best version of the champ when they step into the Octagon in Las Vegas:
“I’m looking at Tyron saying, ‘Focus on the fight. Just focus on the fight. Don’t worry about all this other stuff until after,’” he said. “Because I want to fight the best Tyron Woodley.”
Woodley and Thompson will meet in the main event of UFC 209 live on pay-per-view (PPV) for the UFC welterweight title, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, March 4, 2017.
Stephen Thompson will get his title rematch with champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 209. The event will be held inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 4.
“The Chosen One” caused quite a stir when he…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBVwshq3Amc
Stephen Thompson will get his title rematch with champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 209. The event will be held inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 4.
“The Chosen One” caused quite a stir when he said he was the “worst-treated” champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He also claimed if his skin was a different complexion, he’d be better received by the fans.
“Wonderboy” spoke with the media (via MMAWeekly.com) and appeared confused over Woodley’s comments:
“You know what, I don’t get it and I just don’t see it. I’m not seeing any issues and I’m not seeing his part of it. I mean everybody knows who Tyron is man. I know there’s some things that he has turned down that the UFC tried to get him to do. I think he’s an exciting fighter. I know he brought up Demetrious Johnson and I just don’t think Demetrious has a draw as some of these other fighters do.”
One of the things that irked Woodley was Thompson coming out with the American flag during his UFC 205 entrance. Thompson explained that bringing the flag out is a sign of respect for a special group of people.
“The reason I walked out with the flag is I support our wounded vets. I want to let him know and the fans know why I walked out with the flag and I know he brought it up. I support our wounded vets and they had actually did a motorcycle ride for hundreds of miles to get there. They had the flag and they just wanted me to walk out with it.”
The co-main event of UFC 209 will feature an interim lightweight title bout between undefeated Sambo master Khabib Nurmagomedov and “El Cucuy” Tony Ferguson. Also on the card will be a heavyweight tilt between Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt.
UFC 209 goes down on March 4 in Las Vegas, and has steadily built up with talent in recent weeks. Featuring a highly anticipated welterweight title rematch, the card also showcases the top lightweight contenders. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson collide for the interim lightweight belt in the UFC 209 co-main event. Following an uncertain
UFC 209 goes down on March 4 in Las Vegas, and has steadily built up with talent in recent weeks. Featuring a highly anticipated welterweight title rematch, the card also showcases the top lightweight contenders. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson collide for the interim lightweight belt in the UFC 209 co-main event. Following an uncertain period where Ferguson experienced contract issues, the fight we’ve wanted for a long time was finally made official. Since the champion Conor McGregor is absent, the junior belt is made available.
Both Ferguson and Nurmagomedov’s current form is impeccable. Between them they are unbeaten in 17 UFC contests, ‘The Eagle’ has not lost a single fight during his entire career.
Media Scrum
During an eventful UFC 209 media scrum, Nurmagomedov and ‘El Cucuy’ both had a common subject to discuss. Conor McGregor was the hot topic, and here’s what the UFC 209 co-main event stars had to say:
Khabib:
“After I win the belt from Conor McGregor, the UFC will probably try to give him a rematch. I will say no, bye bye, time for me to fight some real contenders. McGregor did not fight the top lightweights. He lost to Diaz, who is top 10 or 15, then he had a very close rematch. Then he beat Eddie Alvarez, he is what, 2-2 in the UFC? He didn’t fight Khabib, Tony, Barboza, Chiesa or any top lightweights. If he goes to welterweight or boxing, I don’t care.”
Check out the UFC 209 staredowns from MMAWeekly.com, followed by ‘El Cucuy’s’ damning statement on McGregor:
Ferguson’s Two Cents
“I have nine fights in a row win streak. Khabib has eight fights in a row. This is the first time you guys are ever gonna see this inside the octagon. This is for an interim title. It should be for the real shit. Am I a little pissed about it? Yeah. Is Conor gonna defend his belt, that little bitch? Probably not. He’s gonna run. Go ahead. Go run, try to box. You’ll get your ass kicked too. And when you’re ready to come back, they’re gonna strip your belt and at 155, I’m gonna be holding it and you’re gonna be like, ‘Oh I want my belt back’ and this and that. I don’t give a shit. The fight, the real fight, is between Conor? No. Conor, sorry buddy. The fight’s between Khabib and Ferguson.”
“I think the fans are great, the fans are human, and they can choose. It has nothing to do with sports If someone doesn’t like a person because of their skin color, it doesn’t matter of you fight or deliver mail; they are going to have that opinion.” said Woodley.
“Fans are opinionated, expressively, because we are the only professional sport to give them that access. These people already have these opinions in their mind – they might be positive, might be negative”.
“T-Wood” also sounds off on “key board warriors”, and how he makes inflammatory statements “on purpose” to further his career. The champ attempts to explain his opinions, and why he is adamant at sticking by them. Woodley certainly caused a stir with his comments this week, even going as far as to imply that Conor McGregor enjoys preferential treatment due to his skin color.
You can watch the full clip courtesy of MMA Mania below:
https://youtu.be/HTtUQmWre5U
Tyron Woodley took part in media relations on Thursday to promote UFC 209, and grasped the opportunity to clarify comments made in previous days.
“I think the fans are great, the fans are human, and they can choose. It has nothing to do with sports If someone doesn’t like a person because of their skin color, it doesn’t matter of you fight or deliver mail; they are going to have that opinion.” said Woodley.
“Fans are opinionated, expressively, because we are the only professional sport to give them that access. These people already have these opinions in their mind – they might be positive, might be negative”.
“T-Wood” also sounds off on “key board warriors”, and how he makes inflammatory statements “on purpose” to further his career. The champ attempts to explain his opinions, and why he is adamant at sticking by them. Woodley certainly caused a stir with his comments this week, even going as far as to imply that Conor McGregor enjoys preferential treatment due to his skin color.
You can watch the full clip courtesy of MMA Mania below:
