Albert Tumenov is quickly becoming a puncher to be feared in the UFC's welterweight division, and he's targeting fellow knockout artists to prove a point. The 23-year old Russian prospect will meet the explosive Lorenz Larkin in a main card matchup that's my dark horse for Fight of the Night. Let's take a look at the odds, break down the fight and make some picks.
UFC 195 odds at BookMaker.eu
Albert Tumenov -205
Lorenz Larkin +175
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over -150, under +125
Please note, the odds listed here may have changed, as BookMaker updates their lines on a daily basis.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The odds at BookMaker show Tumenov as slight more than a 2-to-1 favorite, and that seems about right for somebody that looks like a special striker. The low over/under here is a reflection of just how quickly these men can render opponents unconscious, and this is a fight that could steal the show.
THE STAKES
Tumenov is quietly one of the UFC's hottest welterweight prospects, on a four-fight winning streak punctuated by three devastating first round knockouts. Beating an established name like Larkin would introduce him into the world of ranked fighters. Likewise, Larkin could force the UFC to take him seriously as a welterweight if he can derail the Russian hype train.
FIGHT PREVIEW
Lorenz Larkin entered the UFC as an undefeated middleweight, but a 1-4 record quickly sent him to the bottom of the division. Since dropping to welterweight, he's posted back-to-back knockouts over John Howard and Santiago Ponzinibbio.
Larkin has never been short on physical talent. But he has consistently failed to live up to all that potential. He's blindingly fast, possesses fight-ending power in both his punches and kicks, and times his opponents exceptionally well. What's more, Larkin is comfortable moving forward or backward.
However, Larkin's lack of aggression has cost him several fights. He'll give away rounds, waiting for the perfect shot that sometimes never comes. This is extremely frustrating, given that he is the physically superior fighter in most of his bouts.
Unlike Larkin, Tumenov will force the issue. The Russian is a pressure fighter who never stops throwing punch-kick combinations. What makes him scary is the efficiency and power of his strikes. Tumenov does not brawl: he has excellent footwork and takes angles to minimize the damage coming back.
Tumenov seems a bit undersized for the division, but it hasn't posed him any problems thus far. Against a smothering wrestler, Tumenov's lack of size might be exposed, but Larkin is not a takedown threat. Plus, Tumenov has the frame to put on weight, and we could see him sticking around at 170 for a while.
THE SMART PLAYS
I'm a huge fan of Tumenov. He's young, powerful and full of confidence. I wished he trained at a top American gym, but he seems to be developing nicely regardless. I'm a bit biased here, but Tumenov's aggression should make the difference. I see him landing enough power shots to pick up a TKO in Round 2.
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 195 takes place Saturday, January 2, 2016 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will be televised on pay-per-view following the prelims on FOX Sports 1.
