UFC 216: Ferguson vs Lee Preview and Picks
Ready for UFC 216: Ferguson vs Lee picks and betting odds & predictions? We have reached UFC 216 which will feature two title fights. The Co Main event will be a rescheduled flyweight tile fight from UFC 215 and the main event will be the lightweight title fight.
Event: UFC 216: Ferguson vs Lee
Date: September 9th, 2017
Time: TBD
Location: T Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Broadcast: PPV, Fox Sports 1, UFC Fight Pass
Main Card (10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Pay-Per-View)
Tony Ferguson vs. Kevin Lee will be fighting for the Interim UFC Lightweight Title as the main event of the evening.
Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson made his feelings know about not being a main event in a PPV event, even though he has dominated the sport. The UFC seemed to listen and he finally will get his shot at the title while being the co main event in the PPV.
Here is a look at all of the fights on the card, the odds associated with each and what should play out on a night that should future a lot of exciting matches.
Tony Ferguson (-220) vs. Kevin Lee (+180)
It’s a Lightweight championship fight that will headline UFC 216 at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee will face off in what many believe will be a very competitive fight, and could go the distance.
Kevin Lee comes into this fight as underdog at +180. Lee has reeled off five straight wins and that has afforded him the chance at this championship bout.
In his last fight he faced off against Chiesa who he put in a rear naked choke and put him to sleep. If he is going to want to have success in this fight Lee is going to need to find a way to get Ferguson on his back.
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His opponent Ferguson has been one of the most exciting guys in all of the UFC, but has been overshadowed by Conor Mcgregor.
He comes into this fight off a win over former championship Rafael Dos Anjos. He will try to use his fast pace in the octagon and his flurry of punches and kicks to try to wear out Lee early.
I think he will do that in his fight and really damage Lee early. I think Lee will hold on to go the distance but Ferguson will win on the judges scorecards.
MMA Betting Pick: Ferguson -220
Demetrious Johnson (-1250) vs. Ray Borg (+800)
This fight was originally scheduled for UFC 215 but Ray Borg was forced to pull out because of illness so now they are the co-main event in this one.
It’s really no a surprise to see Johnson favored by such a larger margin. He has been dominant at defending his title and he will look to do the same in this one.
One reason that Johnson hasn’t gotten many PPV shots is because of how he dominates his opponent, but that could be different in this one.
Ray Borg is a very aggressive fighter and he won’t just sit back in this fight and hope to get lucky. I would expect to see Borg actually be the more aggressive in this fight.
If Borg want’s a chance to win this fight he is going to need to get lucky with one of his submission attempts and catch “Mighty Mouse” off guard.
If this fight goes the distance there is no way that Borg will be to win on the scorecards, and that is exactly what I think will happen.
I think Johnson will keep his technical style and that will lead to a victory on the judges scorecard.
MMA Betting Pick: Johnson -1250
Fabricio Werdum (-255) vs. Derrick Lewis (+215)
The last non championship fight on the card is a heavyweight battle between Fabricio Werdum and Derrick Lewis which has had a lot of trash talk leading into it.
Werdum is a former champion who still has a lot left in the tank at 40 years old. If he was to lose this fight though it would be a tough road back for him.
Derrick Lewis has been talking a lot of trash and I would look for him to come out early and really try to land some of his power punches or one of his head kicks.
I think one of them will land and he will knock out Werdum.
MMA Betting Pick: Derrick Lewis +215
Kalindra Faria (-190) vs. Mara Romero Borella (+165)
This is a woman’s Flyweight battle between two fighters that a lot of fans have not heard of. This is a replacement for the Jessica Eye against Paige VanZant fight that fell apart.
Faria has had a pretty successful run up the UFC ladder put whenever she is put in a big spot fight against someone better then her she seems to lose and then she is forced to climb back up the ladder again.
For Borella she has really burst on the scene from no where. She has had a huge run the last year which has put her in this position.
She likes to try to to submit you, but those submission and take-downs come from the clinch position.
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I think Faria will know that and she will make sure to stay out the clinch in this one. Faria will win this fight pretty easily.
MMA Betting Pick: Faria -190
Beneil Dariush (-235) vs. Evan Dunham (+195)
The UFC 216 card opens up with a lightweight bout that has a ton of say on the division and how it will play out over the next couple of years.
Dunham has been battling any injury coming into this event but he should be pretty close to full strength in this fight.
He has a four match winning streak coming into this match and an upset here would really capitulate him up the standings.
Dariush is the heavy favorite in this match but he needs to be careful he doesn’t get caught with a kick to the head. If he does that he could be upset in this one.
I expect this will be a fight where both guys take a lot of damage. At the end of the day I think Dariush will win in a decision.
MMA Betting Pick: Dariush -235
Prelims (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on FS1)
Tom Duquesnoy (-170) vs. Cody Stamman (+150)
MMA Betting Pick: Cody Stamman +150
Will Brooks (-340) vs. Nik Lentz (+280)
MMA Betting Pick: Will Brooks -340
Lando Vannata (-230) vs. Bobby Green (+190)
MMA Betting Pick: Bobby Green +190
Poliana Botelho (-135) vs. Pearl Gonzalez (+115)
MMA Betting Pick: Pearl Gonzalex +115
Prelims (6:15 p.m. ET / 3:15 p.m. PT on UFC Fight Pass)
Walt Harris (-290) vs. Mark Godbeer (+245)
MMA Betting Pick: Walt Harris -290
Magomed Bibulatov (-525) vs. John Moraga (+415)
MMA Betting Pick: Magomed Bibulatov -525
Brad Tavares (-185) vs. Thales Leites (+160)
MMA Betting Pick: Brad Tavares -185