Fresh off of dethroning Anthony Pettis in an upset few people saw coming, Rafael dos Anjos – 24-7, 4 KOs, 8 SUBs – will defend his newly earned title belt against the division’s hottest fighter, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone – 28-6, 5 KOs, 15 SUBs.
Amazingly, the fight marks the first title challenge for Cowboy, who’s hung around the top-10 for years.
CURRENT ODDS
Our online UFC odds currently have dos Anjos as a -320 favorite, with Cerrone more than a 2-to-1 underdog at +250. In a five-round championship fight, I’d expect the total to be 2.5 rounds, with the over being the slightly more expensive bet. Don’t forget to check in on fight night for prop bets, such as what round the fight will end and how it’ll be finished.
IS DOS ANJOS TOO EXPENSIVE?
I’ll admit I’m a bit surprised to see the Brazilian at these odds, given the fact that Cerrone is riding an eight-fight winning streak against some of the best in the division coming into the bout. However, nobody has ever beaten former champion Anthony Pettis the way dos Anjos just did. Prior to that, Pettis was considered far and away the best 155-pounder in the world.
Dos Anjos also happens to be the last mean to beat Cowboy, besting him in a three-round unanimous decision when they met in August 2013. The odds were much closer back then, with no established favorite across the sportsbook. A lot has changed since then.
But Cerrone is every bit deserving of the title shot, despite an extremely crowded field of worthy contenders. During his eight-fight streak, he’s beaten top-10 guys in Edson Barboza, Eddie Alvarez and Benson Henderson. And with the exception of his fight against Henderson, he’s won them all in convincing fashion.
Casual fans are likely to be much more familiar with Cerrone than the champion, who has never really drawn many headlines. He was merely known as one of the more talented fighters in a stacked division, but a win against former champion Benson Henderson kicked off an impressive three-fight win streak that culminated in his championship bout with Pettis.
I’m sure the UFC would love for Cerrone to win this match, as he’s a much more marketable fighter than the low-key dos Anjos.
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Cerrone is one of the best strikers in the division, and it’s well-known that he was a pro kickboxer before joining the UFC. But his grappling game might be even more dangerous, as evidenced by his 15 submission victories. On the ground, Cowboy can find submissions in the blink of an eye, especially off of his back.
Dos Anjos’ striking has improved exponentially under the tutelage of Rafael Cordeiro. His exceptional athleticism makes his technical Muay Thai extremely dangerous, and it almost makes you forget that he’s a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. While he’s not a great wrestler, he’s better than average, shooting a nice double with a power finish.
This fight should mostly take place on the feet, where both men are most comfortable. While I do think that Cerrone is a bit undervalued, he is somewhat outmatched. Because while both their standup games are in elite territory, dos Anjos’ athleticism gives him an explosive dynamic that Cowboy can’t match. The pick is dos Anjos by TKO in the third.
HOW TO BET
Sign in to get the latest Rafael dos Anjos vs. Donald Cerrone odds. BookMaker Sportsbook 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 set for UFC on FOX 17, which takes December 19, 2015 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. The main card will be televised on FOX, with a starting time yet to be announced.
Don’t forget to check in during fight night to get live odds. During each fight, BookMaker Sportsbook 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.
