– Last Updated on December 30, 2016 2:33 pm
UFC 206: Holloway vs Pettis Preview and Picks
Ready for UFC 206: Holloway vs. Pettis picks and betting odds & predictions? The UFC heads North of the border this weekend where UFC 206 goes down at Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario. This card was supposed to feature a Light Heavyweight bout between Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson but the far-too-frequent injury bug bit Cormier and the bout was scrapped.
UFC 206: Holloway vs. Pettis
Date: December 10, 2016
Venue: Air Canada Centre
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The show must go on however – a pretty good card is on tap with the Interim Lightweight Championship on the line and a few other fights with future title implications throwing down. Here is a look at the full card and what could play out in Toronto on Saturday night.
UFC 206 PPV Main Event:
Max Holloway (16-3): -175 vs. Anthony Pettis (19-5): +145
Former Lightweight Champ Anthony Pettis – one of the most lethal strikers in MMA tries to get back what he thinks is still rightfully his – the Title Belt, albeit an interim one. His opponent Saturday is Max Holloway who rides an incredible nine fight win streak into the Octagon. Although it may seem a tad cliché – this fight has potential to be a Fight of the Year candidate.
The shame about this title fight is that it may just determine who the third and fourth best fighters in the Division are – Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo are the two best and neither will be part of this Title fight. But I digress!
Both of these two have some serious striking chops – Pettis’ combination of speed and power is like few in MMA. He has been a tad exposed lately however – Rafael Dos Anjos, Eddie Alvarez and Edson Barboza all got the better of Pettis on his feet. Holloway is at least equal on his feet – the difference is that Max throws a ton more than Pettis and his hit far less often.
Neither man has much of a wrestling background – striking is their games. Pettis may be the better submission artist however – he has actually submitted more opponents than he has knocked out. So who wins?
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These two fighters are pretty even in just about every aspect of the fight game – the difference to me is current form and there is no denying exactly where Holloway is. He has takes on and beaten some top contenders while Pettis has lost three of his last four fights overall.
Simply put Holloway is too hot, too complete a fighter and too motivated to be denied a fight against Jose Aldo or Conor McGregor.
MMA Betting Pick: Max Holloway -175
UFC 206 PPV main card (tentative line up):
Donald Cerrone (31-7, 1 NC): -270 vs. Matt Brown (20-15): +210
A juicy Welterweight battle between Donald Cerrone and Matt Brown should provide fireworks before the Main Event of the Evening. Brown will be looking to get back in the win column after consecutive losses to Demian Maia and Jake Ellenberger while Cerrone will try to make it four straight wins since moving up to 170 pounds.
Cerrone is a beast – he has won 11 of his last 12 fights overall. The Cowboy is comfortable anywhere a fight happens to go – his ground game is terrific and his striking game has evolved into make him one of the most dangerous all-around fighters in the division.
Meanwhile Brown won seven straight fights before his recent losing streak – he finished six of those seven opponents. But his peak was in 2013-2014 – a lifetime as far as MMA goes. Brown has simply become a journeyman fighter at this point in his career – no match for a guy that looks like he won’t be beaten.
While I can appreciate the skills of Matt Brown, there are two things going against him right now – two very big things – momentum and the better all-around skill set. Cerrone’s biggest obstacle may be himself in this fight – if he looks past Brown there could be a surprise waiting. I don’t think it happens though – Cerrone is just too focused and too Hot to be denied an eventual Title shot.
MMA Betting Pick: Donald Cerrone -270
Cub Swanson (23-7): +180 vs. Doo Ho Choi (15-1): -230
Featherweight take to the Octagon when Cub Swanson and Doo Ho Choi try to throw their names into Title contention. Cub Swanson brings one of the most electric striking games in the Organization to the Octagon while Choi has lost just once in his impressive career so far.
Swanson has beaten the likes of Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira, and Jeremy Stephens and has lost to Frankie Edgar and Max Holloway – no shame in that! He has since posted a win and is the #5 ranked Featherweight on the planet right now. His varied striking game includes power and technique in both hands and some of the best kicks in the Division. He is a gritty guy that doesn’t mind being dragged into deep water if need be.
Choi’s striking is no joke either – he has finished 12 fights by KO or TKO including a 1st round demolition of Tiago Tavares last time out. He will stand and bang with anyone and has shown the ability to hold his own against some good caliber fighters.
The only real issue with Choi is the fact that he has never had to go beyond the first round in his three UFC fights. His three UFC battles have lasted a combined 4 1/2 minutes. My guess is that Choi won’t have to go deep in this fight either – against an aggressive Swanson his counter-punching game should be effective.
I like the “The Korean Superboy” to get it done here – he is a Title Challenger in waiting and will prove it against an aging Swanson.
MMA Betting Pick: Doo Ho Choi -230
Tim Kennedy (18-5): -160 vs. Kelvin Gastelum (12-2): +130
Veteran Tim Kennedy will be back inside the Octagon Saturday as he welcomes Kelvin Gastelum to the Middleweight Division. Both men have The Ultimate Fighter Titles to their name and each would love to climb the ladder toward a Title shot.
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Tim Kennedy has fought and beaten some top dogs in MMA – Michael Bisping and Robbie Lawler are among his victims while Gastelum has beaten the likes of Johnny Hendricks, Ricks Story and Jake Ellenberger in his career. Gastelum is a top tier Welterweight however – the question is whether he is big enough for the 185 pound division.
Needless to say both men bring a terrific pedigree into the Octagon.
Kennedy is a solid all-around fighter – his striking is decent – his kicks are very good, his wrestling is solid and his size and conditioning are what have made him one of the most difficult fighters to face in the Division. Gastelum is a good all around fighter as well – he is a freak athlete who depends on this athleticism more than pure talent in any one aspect of MMA. If there is one area in which Gastelum will have the advantage it is in his speed – both striking and shooting for thee takedown.
Kennedy hasn’t fought in two years – two! He goes against a guy at the top of his game right now – I don’t like Kennedy’s chances.
MMA Betting Pick: Kevin Gastelum +130
Jordan Mein (26-10): -155 vs. Emil Meek (8-2-1): +125
Two brawlers kick off the pay-per-view card when the returning Jordan Meek takes on UFC newcomer – Norwegian stud Emil Meek.
Mein has the obvious experience edge here and I think that’s the difference in this fight. Mein is a dangerous guy whose technical boxing makes him the one to watch.
Meek arrives off a vicious knockout of Rousimar Palhares – he has seven KOs among his eight wins so far. He’s no joke. But his straight ahead style could pose problems against a technical guy like Mein.
It should be a great fight but – Mein has a ton to prove and I think he takes advantage of Meek’s aggressiveness and gets it done.
MMA Betting Pick: Jordan Mein -155
Other Scheduled UFC 206 Bouts (FS1, Fight Pass):
Nikita Krylov (21-4): -110 vs. Misha Cirkunov (12-2): -120
MMA Betting Pick: Nikita Krylov 21-4): -110
Olivier Aubin-Mercier (8-2): -160 vs. Drew Dober (17-7): +130
MMA Betting Pick: Drew Dober +130
Valerie Letourneau (8-5): -175 vs. Viviane Pereira (11-0): +145
MMA Betting Pick: Valerie Letourneau -175
Mitch Gagnon (12-3): -160 vs. Matthew Lopez (8-1): +130
MMA Betting Pick: Mitch Gagnon -160
John Makdessi (14-5): +135 vs. Lando Vannata (8-1): -165
MMA Betting Pick: Lando Vannata -165
Jason Saggo (12-2): +165 vs. Rustam Khabilov (20-3): -205
MMA Betting Pick: Rustam Khabilov -205
Zach Makovsky (19-7): -165 vs. Dustin Ortiz (15-6): +135
MMA Betting Pick: Zach Makovsky +135