Categories
Fight Club

Free Picks: UFC 183 Silva vs. Diaz Betting Odds & Preview

UFC Betting Odds

UFC 183 throws down on Las Vegas on Saturday, January 31 and features the return of the once baddest man on the planet – Anderson Silva as he takes on former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and current UFC Mouthpiece Tile Holder Nick Diaz.

An important Welterweight fight between Kevin Gastelum and Tyron Woodley is on the card as is exciting Lightweights Iaquinta and Joe Lauzon.

Needless to say it should be another intriguing night of fights – let’s break it down.

UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz

Date: January 31, 2015
Time: 10 PM ET
Location: Las Vegas
Broadcast: Pay-per-view

MAIN CARD – Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET

Nick Diaz (26-9): +320
Anderson Silva (33-6): -385

Former Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva returns to the Octagon after sustaining one of the ugliest injuries inside the Octagon most have ever seen.

He rides a two fight losing streak (both to Chris Weidman) into face Nick Diaz who himself has been fighting at the very top level for quite some time – Diaz’s last two fights have been Title tits – he lost both!

CLICK to GRAB OUR BEST Expert Sports & Football Picks for 2015 GAMBLING!

Silva is known as the best striker in UFC history – his attack is as diverse and as lethal as any ever seen. He can beat you with both hands and both feet and if the fight happens to go to the ground, his high level jiu-jitsu black belt allows him to remain dangerous whether he is in top control or on his back.

Nobody has ever questioned Silva’s cardio either – he can go five rounds with ease.

Diaz brings some of the best pure boxing to the Octagon and his gas tank, like Silva’s never seems to empty. He is as tough as they come – his chin is legendary and his willingness to mix stand in front of his opponent has become almost legendary.

Diaz also has a strong jiu-jitsu background – he like Silva is absolutely comfortable anywhere this fight happens to go.

So what does it all mean? Silva and Diaz are both on two-fight losing streaks and both are coming off layoffs – Silva’s was due to injury and Diaz was due to semi-retirement. Both men are definitely past their prime – it will likely come down to Silva and his mental state ahead of this contest.

Diaz moves up a weight class in this fight to take on a foe that is miles ahead of him in overall ability.

While I think Diaz gives Silva a tough fight, bet on the former Champ to have a little more motivation here. If Diaz were in peek form, I may lean his way but off a layoff, I just don’t see him having the skills to pull the upset.

MMA Betting Pick: Anderson Silva -385

Kelvin Gastelum (10-0): -140
Tyron Woodley (14-3): +120

The UFC Welterweight Division figures to get a little murkier on Saturday night when Tyron Woodley takes on The Ultimate Fighter Season 17 winner, undefeated Kevin Gastelum. Woodley has beaten names like Carlos Condit and Josh Koschek while Gastelum has defeated Rick Story and Jake Ellenberger.

[dfads params=’groups=1436&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

Gastelum has never won by knockout – he is totally dependent of his submission game. Woodley, a former Missouri wrestling standout should be able to neutralize Gastelum’s inevitable submission attempts. Woodley is just too well rounded in this one – he can win wherever this fight happens to go while Gastelum is still a tad green, a bit one dimensional and not quite experienced enough right now,

MMA Betting Pick: Tyron Woodley +120

Al Iaquinta (10-3-1): -170
Joe Lauzon (24-9): +145

Exciting Lightweights take to the Octagon Saturday when Joe Lauzon attempts to squash the momentum of a UFC up-and-comer Al Iaquinta. Lauzon has won his last two fights and Iaquinta has won five of his last six overall including TKOs over Ross Pearson and Rodrigo Damm in his last two.

Lauzon will have to get this fight to the mat – he has 17 submission wins among his 24 overall. All three of Iaquinta’s losses have come by submission! That said, Iaquinta is on a roll – his potent standup should be enough to dispose of Lauzon who looks just average in the twilight of his career.

MMA Betting Pick: Al Iaquinta -170

Tim Boetsch (18-7): +330
Thales Leites (24-4): -400

Time Boetsch and Thales Leites square off in Middleweight action Saturday – Leites has won seven straight fights and four straight since resigning with the UFC and Boetsch has lost three of his last five fights.

Boetsch has beaten names like Yushin Okami, CB Dolloway and Hector Lombard but can look as bad as he can good at times. His predictable wrestling with heavy striking approach is pretty easy to fight-plan against – take Leites to keep his impressive roll going and to take another step in the Middleweight Division.

MMA Betting Pick: Thales Leites -400

Thiago Alves (20-9): -110
Jordan Mein (29-9): -110

Welterweights Thiago Alves and Jordan Mein will throw down in a fight originally booked for August. Mein instead fought Mike Pyle that night and delivered an impressive Performance of the Night with a 72 second KO. Alves has alternated wins and losses since 2009 and endured a two-year layoff that ended last year.

Mein is a young, hungry, confident fighter who should be up to the task Saturday. Simply put – Alves isn’t quite what he used to be and is an injury waiting to happen!

MMA Betting Pick: Jordan Mein -110

PRELIMINARY CARD – FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET

Sara McMann (8-1): -160 vs. Miesha Tate (15-5): +140
MMA Betting Pick: Miesha Tate +140

[dfads params=’groups=63753&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

Derek Brunson (12-3): -465 vs. Ed Herman (22-10): +365
MMA Betting Pick: Take the upset – Ed Herman+365

John Lineker (25-7): +170 vs. Ian McCall (13-4-1): -200
MMA Betting Pick: Ian McCall -200

Rafael Natal (17-7-1): -180 vs. Tom Watson (17-7): +155
MMA Betting Pick: Rafael Natal -180

PRELIMINARY CARD – UFC Fight Pass, 7 p.m. ET

Diego Brandao (18-10-0): -200 vs. Jimy Hettes (11-2-0): +170
MMA Betting Pick: Jimy Hettes +170

Ildemar Alcantara (20-7-0): -200 vs. Richardson Moreira (7-2-0): +170
MMA Betting Pick: Ildemar Alcantara -200

Andy Enz (7-2-0): +105 vs. Thiago “Marreta” Santos (9-3-0): -125
MMA Betting Pick: Andy Enz +105

Check out our Updated UFC Odds.

[dfads params=’groups=63706&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

By DaveB

Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.