Two of the world’s best welterweights will square off when former champion Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks – 17-3, 8 KOs, 1 SUB – and contender Tyron Woodley – 15-3, 5 KOs, 5 SUBs – meet at UFC 192 in Houston. While Dana White hasn’t officially dubbed this fight a title eliminator, it’s highly likely that the winner will go on to challenge for the title. Right now, oddsmakers are thinking that it’ll be Hendricks.
CURRENT ODDS
Our online UFC 192 currently have Hendricks as a significant favorite, with a -280 money line. Woodley clocks in at +220. This represents a 10-point swing in Hendricks’ favor since we first opened the odds a few weeks ago, indicating that most of the betting is coming in on the former champion. In this three-round bout, I’d expect the total to be set at 2.5 rounds, with the over being the slightly more expensive bet. Prop bets, such as how the fight will be finished, are usually released on the morning of fight night.
THE LEAD-IN
Hendricks is just 2-2 in his past four, although both of those losses – against Georges St. Pierre and Robbie Lawler – could have easily been scored in his favor. In the December 2014 defeat to Lawler, Hendricks lost the belt. He bounced back with a convincing win over the resurgent Matt Brown at UFC 185 just this past March.
A former Strikeforce contender, Tyron Woodley has posted an impressive 5-2 record inside the octagon. He owns notable wins over current title challenger Carlos Condit, a top-15 fighter in Dong Hyun Kim and rising star Kelvin Gastelum. However, a win over Hendricks would be the biggest scalp in his belt by far.
THE FIGHT BREAKDOWN
Hendricks, a former NCAA wrestling champion, has steadily built up a well-rounded game based on his wrestling pedigree. His power makes him one of the most dangerous punchers in the division, and he has shown a better feel for throwing combinations. Previously, he would throw single shots in hope of a knockout win.
Bigg Rigg is also extremely fluid inside the octagon, transitioning seamlessly from striking into elite chain wrestling. Where he might be most dangerous is in the clinch, where he unleashes a furious arsenal of uppercuts and hard knees, which can also set up his takedowns. He shoots less from distance than he used to, indicating a high level of confidence in his standup.
Woodley is an explosive athlete with the ridiculous power to match. Like Hendricks, he has a strong base in wrestling from which he has crafted a three-dimensional game. He is nearly impossible to take down, and offensively he shoots a lightning quick double that he can finish with authority. When on top, his ground game is predicated around control rather than damage, but that type of game can wear opponents down quickly.
On the feet, Woodley is dangerous but far too emotional. At times, he appears to be cruising, holding back with his strikes. In other instances, he can be baited into an all-out brawl, where he wings telegraphed hooks. However, when he’s in rhythm and finds his range, he’s got a brutal right hand that he sets up with a stinging jab. His low kicks have proven particularly vicious, and he blends them in nicely to set up four-limb combinations.
THE FIGHT PICK
The popular sentiment seems to be that Hendricks and Woodley have similar skillsets, and Hendricks does everything just a bit better. On paper, that appears to be true: Hendricks has better wrestling credentials and more knockouts than Woodley. Also, Woodley struggled to beat an overweight Kelvin Gastelum in his last outing.
However, this fight should be a lot closer than oddsmakers are expecting. Woodley is a faster, more explosive fighter than the guys that Hendricks has been facing lately. But T-Wood also tends to slow down in the later rounds, which gives Hendricks the opportunity to just. The pick here is Hendricks to win a razor-thin split decision victory.
HOW TO BET
Sign in to get the latest Hendricks vs. Woodley 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 192, which takes place on October 3, 2015, at the Toyota Center in Houston. The main card is scheduled for pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET, 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.
