When former WEC champion and UFC star Urijah Faber is on the prelims, you know that you’ve got a loaded card. Faber, the UFC’s No. 4 bantamweight, will meet Frankie Saenz, who comes into the bout on a seven-fight winning streak, which includes three straight inside the octagon. MIddleweights Warlley Alves and Colby Covington and lightweights Leonardo Santos and Kevin Lee round out the FOX Sports 1 prelims. Let’s break it down.
UFC 194 odds at BookMaker.eu
Bantamweights
Urijah Faber -616
Frankie Saenz +341
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -160, under +140
At 36 years old, Faber still remains one of the most frenetic lighter weight fighters on the roster. His wrestling remains as potent as ever, although his standup game still lags behind. Saenz, a former wrestler at Arizona State, blends an above average grappling game with surprising technical skills. However, he’ll face the toughest test of his career - by far - in Faber, whose pro MMA experience is among the most extensive of any fighter on the UFC roster.
Faber is in a strange place. He’s clearly still a top-10 fighter in the division, but he’s lost numerous title fights across three weight classes and is coming off another loss to contender Frankie Edgar. He needs a convincing victory to show that he’s still worthy of high profile fights.
Middleweights
Warlley Alves -105
Colby Covington -125
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -155, under +135
Undefeated prospects Warlley Alves - 9-0, 3-0 UFC - and Colby Covington - 8-0, 3-0 UFC - will collide in an attempt to climb the 185-pound ladder. Alves, the TUF: Brazil 3 winner, has shown promise in narrowly beating Alan Jouban and posting a submission victory over Nordin Taleb. If the 24-year old keeps evolving, he could soon become a player at middleweight.
Covington, a former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, has made a seamless transition into MMA. It took him less than three years since his pro MMA debut to make it to the UFC, and he owns a notable victory over veteran Mike Pyle.
Lightweights
Kevin Lee -450
Leonardo Santos +325
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -175, under +155
After losing to Al Iaquinta in his promotional debut, Kevin Lee has reeled off four straight wins to climb back into prospect status. The 22-year old is a former NCAA Division II collegiate wrestler, blessed with natural athleticism and a burgeoning striking game. Based on his natural talent and background, he projects to be a top-15 fighter.
Santos, a winner of TUF: Brazil 2, is 8-0-1, since 2010, and has victories over Efrain Escudero and Tony Martin in the UFC. A former welterweight, the 35-year old Brazilian presents a stiff test for the blossoming Lee.
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.
