UFC 208 Holm vs De Randamie Preview and Picks
Ready for UFC 208: Holm vs. De Randamie picks and betting odds & predictions? The UFC stages its second pay-per-view card of 2017 on Saturday when some of the promotions’ top veterans and some of its up-and-comers take to the Octagon ay Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Although the names on the card may not be recognizable to all, rest assured that the upcoming fights are very good and could shape the landscapes of their respective Divisions in the future.
Here is a look at every fight on the card and what should play out on what promises to be yet another terrific night of UFC action.
UFC 208: Holm Vs. De Randamie
Date: February 11, 2017
Time: 9 pm ET
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Broadcast: PPV, Fox Sports 1, UFC Fight Pass
UFC 208 PPV Main Event:
Holly Holm (10-2-0): EVEN vs. Germaine de Randamie (6-3-0): -130
The inaugural women’s 145lb championship will be contested Saturday night when Holly Holm takes on Germaine de Randamie. It was thought that Cris Cyborg would be a part of this fight but she wasn’t able to make weight in time.
Holm hasn’t been all that impressive since knocking out Ronda Rousey – she has lost two straight ahead of this weekend including against Miesha Tate and to Valentina Shevchenko.
Standing in her way is Germaine de Randamie, a top tier kickboxer that herself has struggled since taking up MMA after a 37-0 kickboxing career.
So that brings together two women with similar skill-sets. That said de Randamie’s muay-thai could easily be the difference here. Holm has proven to be a one-trick pony so far in her career – de Randamie has at least somewhat of a mixed bag in terms of her skills. The formula for defeating Holm has become obvious – a little too obvious in my mind.
de Randamie will know exactly what is coming in this fight, should be able to defend it and use her more varied skills to further add to the misfortune of the former women’s Champ.
Holm has done nothing in her last two fights – I can’t see her dramatically righting the ship Saturday.
MMA Betting Pick: Germaine de Randamie -130
Anderson Silva (33-8-0): +105 vs. Derek Brunson (16-4-0): -135
The living legend Anderson Silva steps back into the Octagon Saturday trying to prove that he still belongs. His competition Saturday is a far cry from what he has faced during his personal five fight winless streak – Chris Weidman (twice), Michael Bisping, Daniel Cormier and his No Contest versus Nick Diaz.
Derek Brunson provides the opposition Saturday – he is a very good striker, has a decent ground game and has won five of his last six fights overall – nothing like the level of talent Silva has faced however.
His biggest win to date came against a tough Uriah Hall – a pretty good but his opponent Saturday is on a totally different level.
How Silva is an underdog is mind-boggling to me.
I am expecting a very motivated former pound-for-pound gate keeper to re-establish himself. Silva ain’t done yet – take him to prevail by decision Saturday.
MMA Betting Pick: Anderson Silva +105
Jacare Souza (23-4-0): -500 vs. Tim Boetsch (30-10-0): +350
The experienced and powerful Tim Boetsch looks to make it three straight wins on Saturday when he takes on the #3 Middleweight in the world Jacare Souza who enters off a dominant win over Vitor Belfort.
Both men have a ton on the line – a possible title shot is a realistic possibility as long as the victor can string together another win or two.
Souza is 9-2 in his last 11 fights overall – his only losses over that span came in decision fashion against elite strikers – Boetsch while not quite elite can certainly hold his own in a striking contest.
Souza’s defense is no joke – even in his losses to Luke Rockholt and Yoel Romero he was able to avoid that knockout power.
While I expect Boetsch to be competitive here, it is Souza’s ability to stay out of trouble and to drag any fight to the mat that has me backing him. Jacare, at this point of his career is a “B+” fighter while Boetsch looks like a decent “C+” guy.
MMA Betting Pick: Jacare Souza -500
Glover Teixeira (25-5-0): -160 vs. Jared Cannonier (9-1-0): +130
The #3 Light Heavyweight in the world Glover Teixeira will try to earn another Title shot on Saturday when he takes on up-and-comer Jared Cannonier who brings with him a diverse and dangerous striking game into the Octagon.
Teixeira has fallen on hard times recently but a look of his level of competition excuses him just a bit – two of his last three losses have come against Jon Jones and Anthony Johnson – his last came in 13 seconds at the hands of Johnson at UFC 202.
Jared Cannonier is a relative newcomer to the National Spotlight – not a whole lot is known about his overall game. That could be a detriment or it could be an advantage!
My guess is that it is indeed a disadvantage and that the inexperienced Cannonier gets schooled by a guy who has been a fixture in the top 10 of this Division for years.
Teixeira is just too dangerous in every aspect of the fight came and too experienced to be denied here. Tex should be fighting for the Title again soon – consider Cannonier a stepping stone this week.
MMA Betting Pick: Glover Teixeira -160
Dustin Poirier (20-5-0): -350 vs. Jim Miller (29-8-0): +265
Jim Miller looks to continue his re-ascension up the 155 pound ladder on Saturday when he takes on Dustin Poirier who had been on quite a roll before losing to Michael Johnson in his last fight.
Both of these guys have been around the block more than once and both would love to get another shot at the Lightweight strap.
Miller rides a three fight win streak into Saturday night’s contest including one against the tough Thiago Alves at UFC 205 – Joe Lauzon and Takanori Gomi were his other victims over that span.
Poirier on the other hand had won four straight before getting KO’d in the first round last time out against Michael Johnson.
Poirier heads into the contest as heavy favorite and rightfully so but I like the underdog here. Miller knows how to drag his opponent into his type of fight – it has happened in his last three bouts overall.
Expect Miller to make this fight ugly and to slow the pace to a crawl. I think Miller gets this fight to the mat and grinds out an underwhelming victory here
MMA Betting Pick: Jim Miller +265
UFC 208 “Prelims” Undercard (FOX Sports 1, Fight Pass):
Randy Brown (9-1-0): -130 vs. Belal Muhammad (10-2-0): EVEN
MMA Betting Pick: Belal Muhammad EVEN
Wilson Reis (21-6-0): -600 vs. Ulka Sasaki (19-3-2): +400
MMA Betting Pick: Wilson Reis -600
Nik Lentz (27-7-2): +160 vs. Islam Makhachev (13-1-0): -200
MMA Betting Pick: Islam Makhachev -200
Ian McCall (13-5-1): -140 vs. Jarred Brooks (11-0-0): +110
MMA Betting Pick: Ian McCall -140
Marcin Tybura (14-2-0): vs. Luis Henrique (10-2-0):
MMA Betting Pick: Luis Henrique
Roan Carneiro (21-10-0): +200 vs. Ryan LaFlare (12-1-0): -260
MMA Betting Pick: Ryan LaFlare -260
Rick Glenn (19-3-1): -225 vs. Phillipe Nover (12-7-1): +175
MMA Betting Pick: Rick Glenn -225
