Surprisingly, it's not often that a championship fight pits the two best fighters in the division against each other. But that's exactly what will happen when middleweight titleholder Chris Weidman meets Luke Rockhold in the co-main event of this Saturday's UFC 194.
While the main event between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor is stealing all the headlines, there's a sizeable contingent of fans that are just as excited for the middleweight title fight.
UFC 194 odds at BookMaker.eu
Chris Weidman -175
Luke Rockhold +145
Over/under 3.5 rounds, over -105, under -115
Please note, the odds listed here may have changed, as BookMaker updates their lines on a daily basis.
ODDS ANALYSIS
In the span of a few weeks, Weidman has gotten 10 points more expensive, indicating that recent action is favoring the champ. I'd expect this trend to continue as more people place confidence in The All-American's elite wrestling. The over/under has remained steady at nearly pick'em odds for this five round fight.
THE STAKES
For starters, this fight decides who is the best 185-pounder in the world, hands down. Weidman's undefeated record is on the line as well as his slot as a top-5 pound-for-pound fighter. Rockhold has the looks and personality to become a breakout star with crossover appeal.
FIGHT BREAKDOWN
Both men are 31 years old, and enormous 6'3 middleweights blessed with great athleticism and strength. That is where most of the similarities end.
Weidman is an underrated striker. He is much longer than you'd think and can close the distance in a second. His game is all about pressure, and his footwork in cutting off the cage is criminally underappreciated. His lead left hook knocked the great Anderson Silva unconscious, but he also throws thunderous low kicks.
The champion is an all-out murderer in the clinch. His strength pins opponents against the cage, where he fires volleys of brutal knees, elbows and short punches in tight space. From there, he's got an explosive arsenal of takedowns and beautiful chains that are nearly impossible to stop. And when he gets on top, he is a monster - dropping bombs, passing guard and finding submissions.
Rockhold is a dynamic southpaw on the feet, and is particularly good at punishing opponents with powerful round and front kicks with both legs. He is most comfortable when countering, and he is excellent at luring opponents into his right hook or straight left. At times, Rockhold is too patient, but when he hurts another fighter he is very good at going in for the kill.
Like Weidman, Rockhold is particularly dangerous in the clinch. His length and size give him great leverage against the fence, where he loves to blast foes with hard knees to the head and body. But unlike the champ, Rockhold's vocabulary of takedowns from the clinch is rudimentary, mostly limited to inside trips.
While Rockhold is not a great offensive wrestler, he's outstanding defensively in transition and on the mat. For all of his accolades as a striker, Luke is actually more dangerous on the ground - he has nine submission victories compared to his three KOs. When an opponent is dazed, Rockhold is more likely to snatch a submission than to finish with strikes.
THE SMART PLAYS
This is a compelling matchup between two elite fighters in their primes, and their strengths play right into each other. Weidman loves to pressure on the feet while Rockhold loves to counter. Rockhold is superb in defending takedowns and hunting for submissions while Weidman was a former NCAA wrestling champion. And both men are fast, powerful and explosive.
It's a close fight, but I've got to give the edge to Weidman, who is a beast when it comes to wrestling. If all else fails and Weidman is forced to take it to the ground, I just don't see Rockhold stopping him for five rounds. On the feet, Weidman's aggression is certainly more attractive to the judges then Rockhold's patient counter striking.
There's more ways for Weidman to score points in this one, and I think that's what this fight comes down to. Both men are extremely durable, and this should go to the final bell. I just see Weidman's wrestling becoming a huge factor when both men are tired.
PREDICTION: Weidman wins by unanimous decision
HOW TO BET
Access live betting lines at BookMaker Sportsbook and start wagering now. With our live betting options, you can also wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker's live betting platform. UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor takes place Saturday, December 12, 2015 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will air on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET.
