Coming off a career-highlight knockout win over contender Gegard Mousasi, talented middleweight Uriah Hall - 12-5, 8 KOs, 2 SUBs - will jump back into the ring against “The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes” winner Robert Whittaker - 14-4, 7 KOs, 5 SUBs.
A native Australian, Whittaker will be a huge crowd favorite in front of 70,000 countrymen in the biggest fight of his career.
Please note, the odds listed here may have changed, as BookMaker updates their lines on a daily basis.
UFC 193 odds available at BookMaker.EU
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
URIAH HALL -120
ROBERT WHITTAKER -110
OVER/UNDER: 2.5 rounds, over -105 , under -115
Uriah Hall is one of the more well-known fighters to emerge from a recent TUF series, mostly on the strength of notching the most sensational knockouts in the show’s history. Blessed with elite athleticism and explosive striking prowess, many thought Hall would soon emerge as a contender at 185. A few listless performances quickly changed that opinion.
However, Hall’s sky-high ceiling is still clearly apparent, as evidenced by his most recent victory over a perennial top-7 fighter in Gegard Mousasi. What’s more, he did so with a spinning jump kick that is the early favorite for knockout of the year. With that single blow, Hall is back in the spotlight as an intriguing fighter to watch in the division.
The New York native also has an underappreciated wrestling game, as we’ve seen him shoot from distance and explode through takedowns. This keeps his opponent honest, and when he gets on top Hall employs punishing ground and pound. While not a submission expert, he’s extremely competent in locking up submissions.
Whittaker started his UFC career as a big welterweight before moving up a weight class. While this means he’s generally the smaller man, he fights extremely long, lessening the impact of the size difference. He is quick with great timing and angles, and is superb at chipping away at opponents with a crisp jab and a steady stream of low kicks.
When he opens up, the Australian has slick punching combinations - particularly on the counter. His left hook and standing elbow can be devastating, and his above average head movement and blocking allow him to trade effectively in the pocket. Like Hall, he’s got great takedown defense and occasional shoots for double leg takedowns. However, most of his ground game is based on control, and he does little to capitalize on top position.
This projects to be a kickboxing battle between two fighters who prefer to counter, which means there could be long periods of inactivity. Both Whittaker and Hall can be aggressive at times, but neither is known for a high output. Hall probably has more tools to work with, but his lack of urgency is maddening at times.
THE SMART PLAYS
Over the course of three rounds, it’s hard to bet against Hall’s deadly arsenal. We saw against Mousasi that even if you have a clear blueprint to beat him, he can change the course of a fight in a hot second. Whittaker is a fine fighter, but Hall will have 15 minutes to land a debilitating shot, which is why I’d put my money on him to score a TKO on the road.
As for the over/under betting odds, your guess is as good as mine. The under offers a bigger window of opportunity, but it’s hard to make that play considering these are two counterstrikers. I’d stay away from the round total altogether.
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 Ethiad 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.
