It’s tough to make an impression in the crowded lightweight division, but Paul Felder – 10-1, 7 KOs – is making people take notice. Although he’s coming off a close loss to Edson Barboza, Felder will get an opportunity to right the ship against a respected veteran in Ross Pearson – 17-9, 7 KOs, 5 SUBs – when the two meet at UFC 194 in Las Vegas.
CURRENT ODDS
Our UFC 191 odds currently list Felder as a big favorite, with a -352 money line. Pearson checks in at +272. The over/under in this three-round bout is likely to be set at 2.5 rounds, with the over being the more expensive bet. 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.
FELDER A FUTURE STAR?
“The Irish Dragon” quickly made waves with a split-decision debut win over Jason Saggo and a spectacular spinning backfist knockout of Danny Castillo in his second UFC bout. While he lost in his most recent outing to top-15 fighter Edson Barboza, Felder made the fight closer than it should have been and picked up a Fight of the Night bonus in the loss.
Pearson has is 2-3 in his past five fights, alternating losses with wins. Although his loss to Diego Sanchez was outright robbery, Pearson has still failed to find any consistency lately. While the Brit has beaten some very good fighters over the years like George Sotiropoulos, Dennis Siver and Gray Maynard, he has never quite been good enough to crack the top-10. He enters the bout coming off a loss to Evan Dunham at UFC Fight Night 72.
For Felder, the matchup marks a fantastic opportunity to mark his arrival as a player in the lightweight division. A signature win over Pearson is exactly what he needs to advance his career, but a second straight loss could prove disastrous. Pearson is carving out a role as a gatekeeper, and a victory over a prospect like Felder would cement his status as one of the better litmus tests at 155.
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Felder is a slick striker with a game built to avoid wrestling. Where he excels is in his counters, where he baits opponents into his punches and a stepping knee. He has shown the ability to be aggressive, with a diverse arsenal of quick spinning kicks and backfists. What’s more, Felder is a brutal clinch fighter when he wants to be, throwing sharp knees and elbows under a strong double-collar tie.
Pearson is a good boxer with legit power in both hands. He operates behind a crisp jab, but the left hook is his bread-and-butter. The Brit also possess a strong low-kicking game, mixed in with the occasional middle or high kick. He can hit the takedown but is not a prolific wrestler by any means.
This fight will take place on the feet, where both men are most comfortable. However, Felder is much more diverse striker, and has far less miles on the odometer. The American has a size and strength advantage to boot. Simply put, he’s too much for Pearson to handle, and Felder should be able to notch a second-round TKO.
HOW TO BET
Sign in to get the latest Paul Felder vs. Ross Pearson 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.
