Anthony “Rumble” Johnson – 19-5, 13 KOs – is the most powerful puncher at 205, hands down. So naturally, the UFC is pitting him against a man who’s also known for concussive power: British slugger Jimi Manuwa – 15-1, 13 KOs, 1 SUB. Yup, this one’s gonna be a barnburner, and is the early favorite for Fight of the Night at UFC 191.
CURRENT ODDS
Our online UFC 191 odds currently have Johnson as a massive favorite, with a -472 money line. The British bomber is more than a 3-to-1 underdog at +321. The total in this bout will likely be set at 1.5 rounds, given that both men are heavy, heavy hitters who love to trade shots. Don’t forget to check in on fight night for updated prop bets, which include whether the fight will end in a knockout or submission, what round it will end in, and how each man will finish the fight.
THE RETURN OF RUMBLE
Anthony Johnson is coming off a loss in a title challenge against Daniel Cormier at UFC 187. While Rumble wobbled Cormier in the first with a whopping right, the eventual champion recovered and dominated him en route to a third-round submission. The bout marked the 31-year old’s first title shot, so it’ll be interesting to see how he rebounds.
Jimi Manuwa is 5-1 in the UFC, with his lone loss coming against a top-3 light heavyweight in Alexander Gustaffson. For what it’s worth, Johnson destroyed Gustaffson when they met in Sweden. Four of Manuwa’s wins have come by first or second round TKOs, making it clear just how dangerous his hands are. But none of those victories have come against anyone in the top-15, so it’s difficult to estimate his ceiling.
Make no mistake, this is a bout with real implications in the 205-pound class. Johnson is a top-3 fighter in the division, and a win could earn him another title shot. While Manuwa isn’t in anyone’s top-10, a signature victory over a guy like Johnson would put him there. If the Brit can snag a massive upset, he’d be in line for another big name, like Ryan Bader or Lyoto Machida.
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
There is no doubt what these men want to do: bang with big shots. On paper, Johnson is the bigger fighter, and at 6’2”, he has also spent time at heavyweight. Manuwa is a bit small for the division at 6’0”, and at 35 years old he’s four years the elder of his opponent. Rumble is the better athlete, and he’s much faster than his size suggests.
Moreover, Johnson is a better wrestler, and he has the choice to take this fight to the ground if necessary. It’s unlikely that he’ll do so, but he can use the threat of takedowns to keep Manuwa guessing. And if it comes down to a pure striking battle, Johnson does exactly what Manuwa does, but in a much more punishing manner. Being the bigger man and the harder hitter, Johnson is who you want to stick with. I see him notching a first-round TKO.
HOW TO BET
Sign in to get the latest Anthony Johnson vs. Jimi Manuwa odds. BookMaker offers daily updates to money lines, over/under, prop bets and more, so make sure to lock in your bets should you find a favorable wager. Their championship bout is scheduled for UFC 191, which takes place Saturday, September 5, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card is set to air on pay-per-view following the prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Don’t forget to check in during fight night to get live odds. During each fight, BookMaker updates their odds in real-time, so you can keep betting as each fight unfolds on live television. It’s a great way to hedge your bets should you fall behind. With our mobile platform, it’s never been easier to bet on UFC events.
