Jan Blachowicz’ – 18-4, 5 KOs, 7 SUBs – night at UFC 194 just got a lot easier – and a lot less relevant. Once slated to meet contender Anthony Johnson, the Pole will now meet TUF 19 winner Corey Anderson – 5-1, 3 KOs – due to some lineup shuffling. Opportunity now knocks for Anderson, who could break into the top-15 with a victory.
CURRENT ODDS
Our online UFC 191 odds currently list Blachowicz as a slight favorite, with a -150 money line. Anderson is +120 underdog. I’d expect the total for this three-round fight to be 2.5 rounds, with the over going into chalk territory. 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.
AMERICA VS. POLAND
We can’t talk about Corey Anderson without bringing up his nickname: “Beastin 25/8.” You can’t just add an extra hour and day to 24/7. But if you do, why not go all the way and be “Beastin 25/8/366”? Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, I can say that Anderson is a decent prospect in a division that’s in sore need of them. Just 25 years old, he’ll look to bounce back from the first loss of his young career – a TKO at the hands of veteran Gian Villante.
A native from Poland, Blachowicz was successful in his UFC debut this past October when he dropped Ilir Latifio in less than two minutes with a body kick. But in April, Jimi Manuwa snapped his six-fight winning streak in the UFC’s first foray to his native country. Prior to the UFC, Blachowicz compiled a successful career on the European circuit, beating notables like Rameau Thierry Sokodjou, Houston Alexander and Goran Reljic.
The bout will take place on the main card, giving the fighters a fantastic opportunity to make a statement on heavily promoted pay-per-view. The stakes are higher for Blachowicz, who is the UFC’s No. 12 fighter and will likely not gain ground with a win. But a victory for Anderson could mark his arrival into the top-15 and establish his status a prospect to watch.
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Anderson is a former Division III All-American wrestler, and a rangy athlete with excellent takedown skills. His standup skills lag far behind his wrestling, although he has been improving rapidly under the direction of Mark Henry and Ricardo Almeida.
Blachowicz is a guy that’s solid everywhere, but doesn’t stand out in any particular area. He prefers to strike and packs real power in both fists. However, he’s extremely slow when it comes to pace, preferring single punches over combinations. And while he’s a competent wrestler, he’s not good enough to win fights with that skill.
While Blachowicz is the better all-around fighter, Anderson is probably too quick and athletic for him. If Anderson can be cerebral within the bout, he should be able to figure out a way to win. The pick is the American by unanimous decision.
HOW TO BET
Sign in to get the latest Jan Blachowicz vs. Corey Anderson 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.
