The UFC’s biggest superstar is back in action this Saturday. Ronda Rousey, women’s bantamweight champion, movie star and cover girl will defend her title against undefeated Holly Holm, a former pro boxing world champion. It’s a definite mismatch, but that’s always the case when it comes Rousey. Let’s break down the fight and the available odds.
Please note, the odds listed here may have changed, as BookMaker updates their lines on a daily basis.
UFC 193 odds at BookMaker.eu
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
RONDA ROUSEY -1625
HOLLY HOLM +948
OVER/UNDER: 1.5 rounds, +325 over, -400 under
In terms of power, athleticism and skill, Ronda Rousey is at least 10 years ahead of any other fighter in her division. That enormous talent differential is simply unprecedented in the sports. It’s something we as fans should appreciate, because frankly it’s something that we might never witness again.
All praises aside, the biggest factor that sets Ronda apart is her sheer physicality. Rousey overwhelms opponents with a frightening blend of speed and power, and her Olympic judo base gives her the ability to toss other women around like ragdolls. Once she gets a fight to the ground, it’s only a matter of time before she isolates a limb and finds an angle to torque it.
Her only flaw comes in the standup game, where she can get sloppy in exchanges. Her aggression leaves her open to strikes, and because she employs little head movement, we’ve seen her get tagged a few times. However, none of her past victims had the power to capitalize on this, as she’s shaken off their best shots like a bull shakes off flies.
Holly Holm, bless her soul, is getting thrown into this fight way too early. But in a division that’s starving for fresh faces to put across the cage with the champ, any undefeated fighter is in danger of this. And given the fact that Holm has a decorated background as a former champion boxer, the UFC has a fresh storyline to feed the masses.
That’s not to say that Holm is dead in the water. As expected, she’s a very good striker. And she’s taking to full-out kickboxing like a fish in water. Out of her six KO victories, five have come by way of kicking, with three head kick knockouts. That’s extremely impressive for a boxer who transitioned into MMA only four years ago.
What’s more, Holm is a good athlete with plus strength. She holds her own well in scrambles, and has strong takedown defense. And none of her opponents have been able to put her back against the fence in an extended clinch. Her athleticism allows her to control the distance and operate at range where she’s most comfortable.
However, where Holm is weakest is where Ronda is the strongest: on the mat. Nobody has really tested her ground game, so it’s impossible to say how good she is in that area, but we can safely assume that she’s a relative newbie in that area given that she’s spent most of her fighting career as a boxer.
THE SMART BETS
Obviously, Ronda to win is nearly a lock - and a very expensive pick. Even if she elects to fight Holly on the feet, she can just bully her way into the clinch and land knees until Holm goes down. And if Rousey takes it to the mat, which she should easily be able to do, Holm’s lack of experience in that area should lead to a very quick submission.
You know what bet I really like? The over on 1.5 rounds at +325. It’s true that Rousey could end the fight well before that if she really wants to, but I’m sure she’s heard the murmurs that she’s too dominant for her own good. About whether it’s worth the $70 ppv price tag to watch her fight for 30 seconds. And given the fact a record-crowd of 70,000 is expected this Saturday in Australia, Rousey might be inclined to give us a longer show. It’s a gut feeling, but a small bet on the over will pay out more than 3 to 1.
HOW TO BET
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. And with our simple payout system, collecting your winnings is quick, easy and painless. UFC 193 takes place this Saturday, November 14, 2015 at the Etihiad Stadium in Melbourne, Austrialia. The card will be televised on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET, with the FOX Sports 1 prelims beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
