UFC Betting Odds
UFC makes its first trip to Mexico this weekend when UFC 180 is staged. Unfortunately a couple major injuries have watered down the card – Cain Velasquez has been forced out of action as well as Diego Sanchez.
The show must go on however – he is a breakdown of all of the fights on what looks to be a decent card.
UFC 180 Lines
UFC 180: Werdum vs. Hunt
Date: November 15, 2014
Time: 10pm ET/7pm PT
Location: Arena Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Broadcast: Pay-per-view, Fox Sports 1, UFC Fight Pass
UFC 180 Main Card (PPV, Start Time 10 p.m. ET):
Fabricio Werdum (18-5-1): -385
Mark Hunt (10-8-1): +320
The uber-tough Mark Hunt steps in for the injured Cain Velasquez this week to take on Fabricio Werdum for the interim Heavyweight title. Werdum is a worthy #1 contender – he has lost just once in his last eight fights – that came against Alistair Overeem back in 2011. Wins over Antonio Silva, Fedor Emilianenko, Roy Nelson, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Travis Browne have propelled him to the top of the division. Hunt has lost only once in his last seven fights – that coming against Junior dos Santos – no shame in that. Hunt is the only person in the UFC to stop Roy Nelson and he also knocked out Stephan Struve.
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Hunt will bring a strong kickboxing background into the fight – standing and striking is his only chance. He takes this fight on short notice – it’s obvious when you see his physique. Simply put, his cardio likely won’t quite need where it needs to be. Look for Hunt to swing for the fences early and hope that one connects before he is forced to get into the deeper rounds.
Werdum on the other hand has been training to fight in Mexico for some time now – he should be in good shape and ready to make another statement. Werdum is arguably the best Heavyweight grappler in the world but he has become very well rounded as his career has developed.
He can beat you anywhere a fight happens to go – as dangerous a guy not named Cain Velasquez as there is in the world.
Werdum is the overwhelming favorite for a reason – Hunt is out of shape and frankly not very well suited to deal with the skill set of a Fabricio Werdum.
That said Hunt will be throwing bombs early and has a real chance of catching Werdum. Hunt’s iron jaw should protect him against Werdum’s power and allow him to march forward without impunity.
I like Hunt to shock the world in this one and to KO another jiu-jitsu black belt – just like he did with Roy Nelson. Call me crazy but with nothing to lose, Hunt is my pick.
MMA Betting Pick: Mark Hunt +320
Jake Ellenberger (29-8-0): +200
Kelvin Gastelum (9-0-0): -235
Fighters heading in opposite direction meet in Welterweight action – Ellenberger has lost two straight while Gastelum has yet to lose in his career and looked good on his season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Ellenberger represents an enormous step up in competition for Gastelum – Ellenberger’s recent losses were to two of the best Welterweights in the land – Rory MacDonald and Robbie Lawler. Gastelum may have the wrestling edge and the momentum but I’m going with experience and desperation in this one.
In what is sure to be a great fight takes the surprising underdog to bounce back into the win column.
MMA Betting Pick: Jake Ellenberger +200
Dennis Bermudez (14-3-0): -168
Ricardo Lamas (14-3-0): +148
Dennis Bermudez will try for an eighth straight win Saturday when he takes on former title contender Ricardo Lamas on Saturday. Bermudez has been on a meteoric rise since the 14th season of The Ultimate fighter – his striking, his grappling and his ability to dictate where the fight will go has been impressive to say the least.
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Bermudez in simply better in every area of the fight game to be denied in this one!
MMA Betting Pick: Dennis Bermudez -168
Augusto Montano (13-1-0): -220
Chris Heatherly (8-2-0): +185
A rash of injuries has propelled this fight to the Main Card – Heatherly has one win in the UFC and Montano will be making his debut with the organization. Montano has finished his opponents in all 13 wins by KO or submission while Heatherly didn’t show anything at all in his only fight inside the Octagon.
Montano seems to have an edge in every aspect of this fight – take the favorite.
MMA Betting Pick: Augusto Montano -220
Edgar Garcia (16-8-0): -194
Hector Urbina (16-8-1): +169
Welterweights kick of the Main Card Saturday when Edgar Garcia, winner of seven of his last eight fights since being cut from the UFC takes on former TUF contestant Hector Urbina who hopes to add to his 13 career finishes. Urbina will certainly be the aggressor here against Garcia’s very good all around game.
Garcia will enter as the better conditioned fighter with a better set of skills. These guys likely won’t make it back to this huge stage again (on a Main Card) – each will be out to put on a show and to make a name for themselves. Garcia has been here before – I like him to be patient and to prevail over a typically wild Urbina in this one.
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MMA Betting Pick: Edgar Garcia -194
UFC 180 “Prelims” Under Card (FOX Sports 1, Start Time 8 p.m. ET):
Yair Rodriguez (3-1): vs. Leonardo Morales (4-0):
MMA Betting Pick: Yair Rodriguez
Alejandro Perez (14-5): +210 vs. Jose Quinonez (3-1): -250
MMA Betting Pick: Jose Quinonez
Jessica Eye (10-2): -260 vs. Leslie Smith (7-5-1): +220
MMA Betting Pick: Jessica Eye
Gabriel Beinitez (16-5-0): vs. Humberto Brown (4-4-0):
MMA Betting Pick: Gabriel Beinitez
UFC 180 “Prelims” Under Card (Fight Pass, Start Time 7 p.m. ET):
Henry Briones (15-4-1): -125 vs. Guido Cannetti (6-1): +105
MMA Betting Pick: Henry Briones
Marlon Vera (6-1-1): vs. Marco Beltran (5-3):
MMA Betting Pick: Marlon Vera
Check out our Updated UFC Odds.
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