UFC 193: Rousey vs Holm Preview and Picks
UFC 193 comes our way this weekend from Australia when both UFC Women’s titles will be on the line. Holly Holm will look to knock off the baddest woman on the planet Ronda Rousey and the Strawweight strap will be on the line between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Valerie Letourneau. The rest of the Main Card is pretty strong – Mark Hunt vs. Antonio Silva should provide fireworks while the other two fights on the card should bring some serious violence.
With that in mind here is a look at all of the fights on the card and what should play out down under this weekend.
UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm
Date: November 14, 2015
Time: TBD
Location: Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
Broadcast: Pay-per-view, Fox Sports 1, UFC Fight Pass
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MAIN CARD – Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET
Ronda Rousey (12-0): -2000 vs. Holly Holm (9-0): +1000
Possibly the most dominant athlete on the planet, Ronda Rousey steps back into the Octagon Saturday looking to make an example of yet another opponent. The opponent (or victim!!!!) in this case is former World Champion boxer, Holly Holm.
Holm is arguably the most gifted striker in the division – her hands are obviously a terrific weapon and her feet have become equally explosive. Obviously, with a boxing background her striking defense is also very good.
Holm’s weakness – grappling plays right into the hands of Rousey in this one unfortunately for the challenger. Rousey’s Olympic judo background and her ability to submit her opponent seemingly at will make her unstoppable indeed.
Rousey is strong, she is well rounded and is the most confident fighter in the game. Simply put there are very few holes in Rousey’s game – if she can get her hands on you, it’s basically game over.
Rousey is impossible to bet against – she hasn’t been touched so far in her career outside of her war with Meisha Tate. Holm has the athleticism, speed and Octagon IQ to make things interesting for sure but Rousey’s strength and insane grappling edge gets her yet another win inside the Octagon.
Look for the patented arm-bar finish in this fight – likely early as per usual!
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MMA Betting Pick: Ronda Rousey -2000
Joanna Jedrzejczyk (10-0-0): -2300 vs. Valerie Letourneau (8-3-0): +1150
The women’s Strawweight Championship will be on the line Saturday when Joanna Jedrzejczyk defends her belt against Valerie Letourneau. Jedrzejczyk has been incredible and looks a lot like the second best female fighter on the planet behind you know who! Jedrzejczyk could be the best pure female striker in the business – awfully tough to contend with.
Valerie Letourneau is a good all around fighter – her size alone makes her a tough match for anyone. Her game is grappling and getting the fight into deep water.
Jedrzejczyk, not unlike Ronda Rousey looks unbeatable right now – her style is like no other in her division. Letourneau will be hit early and often as Jedrzejczyk turns this match into her type of fight – an all-out brawl. It should be a good tilt with a predictable outcome.
MMA Betting Pick: Joanna Jedrzejczyk -2300
Mark Hunt (10-10-1): -260 vs. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (19-7-1): +200
Perhaps the most intriguing fight on the card takes place in the Heavyweight division when Mark Hunt and Antonio Silva do battle in a rematch of a sensational fight in 2013. It is hard to imagine this one going the distance!
The fighters bring no surprises into this fight – Hunt will be going for the knockout early and often and will be hoping his conditioning gets him through a round or two. Silva will try to utilize his OK set of all around skills to minimize the damage Hunt hopes to inflict – Silva has to hope his questionable chin isn’t the difference maker here.
My guess is that Silva’s inability to absorb what Hunt will inevitably throw is the difference – both men will be hit hard and only one man can withstand that sort of punishment – Mark Hunt.
In another classic, expect Mark Hunt to end this one early unlike last time and send Silva tumbling further down the Heavyweight ranks.
MMA Betting Pick: Mark Hunt -260
Robert Whittaker (14-4): -105 vs. Uriah Hall (12-5): -125
Former The Ultimate Fighter alums meet in Middleweight action on Saturday looking to take the next step in the organization. Both are striking machines – able to end a fight at any point. So who wins this intriguing matchup?
Hall has been impressive but has shown vulnerability against fighters that do to him what he hopes to do to others. Serious strikers have given Hall fits – Rafael Natal and John Howard to name a couple. Whittaker happens to be one of those solid strikers who should be able to stay out of Hall’s danger areas and get the win.
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Hall is always capable of proving his doubters wrong but Whittaker is just too strong and too consistent to be denied here.
MMA Betting Pick: Robert Whittaker -105
Stefan Struve (26-7): -135 vs. Jared Rosholt (13-2): +105
Heavyweights with a penchant for violence kick off the pay-per-view card on Saturday. Rosholt brings a terrific wrestling pedigree into the Octagon – he is a three-time NCAA Division I All-American and has shown the ability to dictate exactly where a fight goes. Struve has been a solid UFC Heavyweight but a formula has emerged about how to beat him – grind him down, pressure him and give him no space to breathe.
That’s precisely Rosholt’s game – I expect Jared to control this fight from beginning to end and score a unanimous decision win
MMA Betting Pick: Jared Rosholt +105
PRELIMINARY CARD – FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET
Jake Matthews (8-1): -900 vs. Akbarh Arreola (23-9-1): +550
MMA Betting Pick: Jake Matthews -900
Kyle Noke (20-7-1): +140 vs. Peter Sobotta (15-4-1): -170
MMA Betting Pick: Kyle Noke +140
Anthony Perosh (15-9): +275 vs. Gian Villante (13-5): -375
MMA Betting Pick: Gian Villante -375
Richie Vaculik (10-3): -115 vs. Danny Martinez (16-7): -115
MMA Betting Pick: Danny Martinez -115
PRELIMINARY CARD – UFC Fight Pass, 6:15 p.m. ET
Daniel Kelly (9-1): +200 vs. Steve Montgomery (8-3): -260
MMA Betting Pick: Daniel Kelly +200
Richard Walsh (8-4): -350 vs. Steve Kennedy (22-7): +250
MMA Betting Pick: Richard Walsh -350
Anton Zafir: +210 vs. James Moontasri: -280
MMA Betting Pick: Anton Zafir +210
Ryan Benoit (8-3): +125 vs. Ben Nguyen (13-5): -155
MMA Betting Pick: Ben Nguyen -155
Check out our Updated UFC 193 Odds.
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