Former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis has some work to do to get back into the title picture. Just a few years ago, he had a belt around his waist along four straight spectacular finishes and seemed poised for a long reign as the 155-pound champion.
Two losses later, he’s just looking for a win this Saturday against Edson Barboza.
Bet on UFC 197 odds at BookMaker.eu
Anthony Pettis -150
Edson Barboza +120
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over +100, under -120
Please note, the UFC odds at BookMaker are updated on a daily basis, so the lines listed here may have changed.
THE STAKES
A third straight loss for Pettis would be disastrous. Right now, he’s still considered one of the top 155ers in the world. That won’t be the case if he loses to Barboza. The Brazilian is a very good lightweight, but he’s basically a gatekeeper to the elite. His only losses have come against the division’s top fighters, like Donald Cerrone, Michael Johnson and Tony Ferguson. Quite frankly, Pettis needs to beat guys like Barboza to keep his status as a contender.
FIGHT ANALYSIS
It’s not a secret that Pettis’ can be bodied up and wrestled, but his last fight with Eddie Alvarez exposed just how much work he needs in terms of takedown defense and clinchfighting. It wasn’t pretty, but Alvarez pretty much shoved Pettis into the cage and dragged him to to the ground -- and there was nothing Showtime could do to stop it for three rounds.
Luckily for him -- and the fans -- Barboza is unlikely to try a similar tactic. The Brazilian is a striker through and through, and a standup battle is the best platform for Pettis to remind everyone of his “Showtime” ways. Barboza also fights emotionally rather than tactically, so he’ll go down swinging even if he’s getting lit up. That’s what happened in his last bout against Tony Ferguson.
However, it’s not going to be easy for Pettis. Barboza is one of the most explosive athletes, and he matches up physically in size, speed and power. We all know about the famous Showtime Kick, but almost as popular is Barboza’s spectacular spinning wheel kick knockout of Terry Etim. These guys are walking highlight reels, and it only takes a single strike from either to end the fight.
THE SMART PLAYS
The UFC odds at BookMaker are close, and I agree with the money lines. If you let these two engage in a standup battle, we have no clue what’s gonna happen. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a reenactment of The Matrix given how flashy they can be. When it comes to who will win, it’s a really tough call.
Honestly, I feel like this is a toss-up. When you factor in their resumes, I understand why Pettis is the favorite. He’s beaten some of the best in the world while Barboza always seems to fall short against the same caliber of competition. But Pettis is also the type of fighter he thrives against, the striker that doesn’t threaten much in the way of takedowns. In the case of a pick’em, I’ll side with the underdog, and in this case it’s Barboza.
UFC ODDS: BARBOZA UD PETTIS
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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 197 takes place on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will be televised on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET.
