UFC 213: Nunes vs Shevchenko 2 Preview and Picks
Ready for UFC 213: Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2 picks and betting odds & predictions? UFC 213, despite the loss of a Cody Garbrandt-T.J. Dillashaw fight or a bout between Robbie Lawler and Donald Cerrone will carry on Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada with what looks to be a pretty good card despite.
UFC 213: “Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2”
- Date: Sat., July 8, 2017
- Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Broadcast: Pay-Per-View (PPV), FOX Sports 1, UFC Fight Pass
Main card (PPV at 10 p.m. ET)
A rematch between women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko should be a good one, an Interim Middleweight Title fight between Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker should provide fireworks and Heavyweight legends Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem almost never disappoint.
Here is a look at every fight on the card, the odds associated with each fight and a brief look at what should go don on what promises to be yet another terrific night at the fights.
Amanda Nunes (14-4): -105 vs. Valentina Shevchenko (14-2): -125
Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko meet or the second time Saturday – this time for the Women’s Bantamweight Title. Both have been terrific in the lead-up to this fight – Nunes has literally sent two UFC legends into retirement – Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey (both by KO) during an impressive five fight win streak. Shevchenko has won two straight fights in dominant fashion since her loss to Nunes.
Shevchenko has established herself as one of the more well-rounded fighters in the game – she beat boxer Holy Holm at her own game and most recently submitted the talented grappler Julianna Pena. Nunes on the other hand has finished four of her last five opponents while making them all (legends included) look pretty bad.
While I love Shevchenko’s skills I just can’t ignore the current form of Nunes ahead of this fight – she simply looks as though she will never be defeated!
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If this fight goes into the later rounds Shevchenko may have the edge but I see Nunes doing to her what she did to Tate and Rousey – ending this fight earlier with her fists. Nunes is a freak folks and is poised to hold onto the belt for a long time!
MMA Betting Pick: Amanda Nunes -105
Yoel Romero (12-1): +105 vs. Robert Whittaker (19-4): -135
The Interim Middleweight strap will be on the line Saturday when two accomplished ground fighters thrown down. Yoel Romero, an Olympic wrestler with shocking striking power will take on Robert Whittaker who brings a technical ground game and solid punching power into the Octagon. Whittaker’s most recent win against Ronald “Jacare” Souza opened a few eyes for sure while Romero has won eight straight fights ahead of this weekend including bouts against Souza, Lyoto Machida and Chris Weidman.
Both men have looked terrific lately – Whittaker is the more well-rounded while Romero has become one of the best finishers in the Middleweight Division. So, who wins?
I’m taking the technical striking ability of Whittaker in this one. The one hole in Romero’s game is his endurance. Once dragged into the later rounds, I expect Whittaker’s superior conditioning to take over and for Whittaker to post a decision victory. It has Fight of the Night potential written all over it -can’t wait!
MMA Betting Pick: Robert Whittaker -135
Daniel Omielanczuk (19-7-1): +475 vs. Curtis Blaydes (7-1): -750
An intriguing Heavyweight battle comes our way Saturday when Polish fighter Daniel Omielanczuk takes on Curtis Blaydes. Omielanczuk has lost two straight fights ahead of this weekend including losses of Stefan Struve and Timothy Johnson while Blaydes hits the Octagon for the fist time since a positive Marijuana test overturned a win against Adam Milstead in February.
Omielanczuk is a competent striker with nine submission victories in his career – pretty well-rounded while Blaydes’s game is striking – he has finished all of his wins by KO and is dangerous as they come on his feet. Blaydes promises aggression – he likes to force the issue, pummel his opponent and eventually take the fight to the mat where his terrific ground and pound takes over.
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Blaydes will have a six-inch reach advantage and he is four inches taller than Omielanczuk – that’s the difference here. It is hard to see Omielanczuk fending off the size and the aggressiveness of Blaydes. In what should be a vicious fight from the outset I’m taking the favorite here to impose his will and win by a typical stoppage.
MMA Betting Pick: Curtis Blaydes -750
Fabricio Werdum (21-6-1): -130 vs. Alistair Overeem (42-15): EVEN
Two Heavyweight legends meet for the third time Saturday looking to settle the score. Overeem was submitted by Werdum in PRIDE in 2006 but avenged that loss five years later when he beat the Overeem during the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.
Overeem enters this fight having won four of his last five fights (all by stoppage) – his plan will be to keep this fight standing. Werdum on the other hand will try to employ his world-class grappling skills to drag Overeem into his office – on the ground. Translation – there is no secret as to what each of these fighters will try to accomplish in this bout. The only question is – who do you think will be able to impose his will?
My guess is that Overeem will be able to stay out of Werdum’s danger areas, will stay disciplined and will be able to keep this fight where he has the obvious advantage – on the feet. Take Overeem to keep his roll going and to set up a possible rematch with the only guy that has beaten him the last couple of years – Stipe Miocic.
MMA Betting Pick: Alistair Overeem – EVEN
Anthony Pettis (19-6): -240 vs. Jim Miller (28-9): +190
A Lightweight battle between two fighters in desperate need of a win kicks off the pay-per-view on Saturday with Anthony Pettis who is just 1-4 in his last four bouts takes on Jim Miller who was last seen getting beaten by Dustin Poirier. Both fighters were considered elite fighters not long ago but each needs a strong performance Saturday in order to just remain relevant.
Pettis will enter this fight as the more well-rounded guy and with a decided edge on his feet – Miller is better in the clinch and on the ground. That said neither is quite as dominant as they were a couple of years ago. The question is – who will be able to dictate where this fight winds up?
My guess is that it will be Miller that imposes his will – Pettis has looked underwhelming and frankly disinterested in his last five fights while Miller has been his typical hard-nosed, never-quit guy. Pettis has ZERO momentum right now and looks like a shell of his former self. Take the upset in this one.
MMA Betting Pick: Jim Miller +190
Undercard (Fox Sports 1 at 8PM ET
Travis Browne (18-6-1): -200 vs Aleksei Oleinik (51-10-1): +160
MMA Betting Pick: Travis Browne -200
Chad Laprise (12-2): -600 vs Brian Camozzi (7-3): +400
MMA Betting Pick: Chad Laprise -600
Thiago Santos (14-5): -155 vs Gerald Meerschaert (26-8): +125
MMA Betting Pick: Gerald Meerschaert +125
Jordan Mein (29-11): +135 vs Belal Muhammad (11-2): -165
MMA Betting Pick: Jordan Mein +135
Undercard (UFC Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. ET)
Rob Font (13-2-0): -325 vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade (24-1-0): +250
MMA Betting Pick: Rob Font -325
Cody Stamman (13-1-0): -280 vs. Terrion Ware (17-5-0): +220
MMA Betting Pick: Cody Stamman -280
James Bochnovic (8-1-0): +235 vs. Trevin Giles (9-0-0): -305
MMA Betting Pick: Trevin Giles -305