UFC Fight Night 89 might be the final event before the massive UFC 200 weekend, but the promotion is making sure it’s a good free fight card on FS1. Mostly because headlining act Stephen Thompson is the hottest fighter in the welterweight division, and he’ll be facing Rory MacDonald -- who is just one bout removed from the 2015 Fight of the Year.
Elsewhere on the card, lightweight star Donald Cerrone takes on a legitimate welterweight challenge, the first women’s flyweight bout takes place, and a former hockey goon attempts to build on a knockout win.
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Main Event
Welterweights
Stephen Thompson -120
Rory MacDonald -110
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -160, under +140
Ever since Stephen Thompson channeled the spirit of the Karate Kid and knocked out former champion Johny Hendricks in the first round at UFC Fight Night 82, we’ve been itching to see him back in action. Wish granted, with a cherry on top. Not only does he fight another top contender, “Wonderboy” meets Rory MacDonald -- who is coming off the 2015 Fight of the Year for his unforgettable bout with Robbie Lawler.
Is Stephen Thompson for real? Or was he the perfect foil for Johny Hendricks? How he performs against one of the most well-rounded fighters at welterweight should tell us a lot about whether he’s championship material or not.
Co-Main Event
Donald Cerrone -165
Patrick Cote +130
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -125, under +105
Technically, Donald Cerrone made his welterweight debut against Alex Oliveira in his last match. But Oliveira was an upjumped lightweight fighting on late notice. Consider his fight with Patrick Cote his real first scrap at 170. “Cowboy” has long been one of the most popular fighters in the UFC for his aggressive style and his willingness to fight anyone at any time, and the fact that he’ll be fighting bigger men adds another layer of intrigue for the former pro kickboxer.
Many forget that Cote challenged then-champion Anderson Silva at the peak of his powers. After that, he lost two straight, was cut from the UFC and had to fight his way back through the regional circuit. Now, he comes into the fight on a three-fight winning streak, with two coming by way of TKO.
Middleweights
Steve Bosse vs. Sean O’Connell
ODDS COMING SOON
How fitting is it that a former Canadian hockey enforcer is fighting in Ottawa? Steve “The Boss” Bosse is a knockout artist with 9 KOs in 11 career wins, and he’s coming into the bout on the strength of a one-punch knockout of respected vet James Te Huna. He’ll face off against another mid-tier 185-pounder in Sean O’Connell -- who happens to hit pretty damn hard himself. While neither man will ever be considered a top-10 middleweight, you can’t deny this fight should be a major crowd-pleaser.
BEST OF THE REST
Valerie Letourneau vs. JoJo Calderwood
Elias Theodorou vs. Sam Alvey
ODDS COMING SOON
Former strawweight title challenger Valerie Letourneau squares off against TUF 20 alum JoJo Calderwood in the UFC’s first-ever women’s matchup at 125 pounds. We could see the inception of a new division after the fight, and given the gritty, striking-based styles of the two there should be plenty to cheer for.
Elias Theodorou is a male model with a man-bun and a manly jawline that prompted UFC analyst to compare the Canadian to Gaston. That’s just amazing. But beyond that, he’s coming off his first pro loss and it’ll be interesting to see how he responds against a vet like Sam Alvey. Gaston has all the tools to be a star if he can rise up the ranks.
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HOW TO BET
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! You can even wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Money lines, totals, props and money line are all available now. at UFC Fight Night 89 on June 18, 2016 at the TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Canada. FS1 will televise the card starting 9 p.m. ET.
