UFC 200 might be getting all the hype, but you’d be doing yourself a huge disservice by overlooking this Saturday’s UFC 198 in Brazil. From the heavyweight title fight in the headliner down to the prelims, it’s a stacked event featuring some of the biggest stars in the sport.
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MAIN EVENT
Heavyweight championship
Fabricio Werdum -165
Stipe Miocic +140
Over 2.5 rounds, over -130, under +110
PREDICTION: Miocic TKO Werdum, Round 4
Werdum is one of the best heavyweight jiu-jitsu artists in the UFC’s history, and his striking has caught up to his ground game in recent years. He’s also 38 years old and has facing a younger, faster fighter in Stipe Miocic. The challenger is one of the most well-rounded guys in the division, with superb movement and in-cage instincts. Expect the underdog to outbox Werdum and put him away late.
Middleweights
Ronaldo Souza -300
Vitor Belfort +250
Over 1.5 rounds, over +130, under -150
PREDICTION: Souza SUB Belfort, Round 4
39-year old, post-TRT Vitor Belfort is not the same dude that was flatlining opponents a year and a half ago. He’s still got ridiculous hand speed, but his power isn’t as fearsome and his cardio is suspect. Chris Weidman dragged Belfort to the ground and pound him into oblivion. Souza will do the same, but instead of bludgeoning him the multiple-time BJJ champ will tie him into a knot that would make an Eagle Scout blush.
Welterweights
Demian Maia -280
Matt Brown +230
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over -170, under +150
PREDICTION: Maia UD Brown
Maia is another championship-level grappler. Starting to see a theme? Matt Brown is a guy who loves to stand and bang, but he’s not going to have any room to get off if Maia does his usual impersonation of a human vacuum seal. Put it this way: if Demian can take down guys like Neil Magny and John Fitch, it’s only a matter of time before “The Immortal” finds himself on his back, readying his post-fight “I want to fight guys who actually fight” speech.
Middleweights
Anderson Silva -140
Uriah Hall +110
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -135, under +115
PREDICTION: Silva UD Hall
The old Anderson Silva fights the new Anderson Silva in what should be a fun fight featuring two guys that will try to kick the crap out of each other. Emphasis on the word “kick”, because you can reasonably expect, low kicks, side kicks, spinning kicks, front kicks, crane kicks and other kicks...just for kicks! Sorry for the pun. Back to the fight: Hall is just too damn inconsistent to have much faith in and it’s easy to see the judges ruling a close fight for a legend in his home country.
Light Heavyweights
Corey Anderson -205
Mauricio Rua +175
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -200, under +170
PREDICTION: Anderson TKO Rua, Round 3
Dear Shogun: you’re a former Pride and UFC champion. The MMA world has nothing but mad respect for you. But damn bro, it’s tough watching you get mangled these days. If you’re not thinking about retiring, how about requesting Joe Silva to grant you “legends” fights against guys that are also in the later stages of their careers? Because fighting young, hungry studs like Corey Anderson that are looking to build their names off of how well they can redesign a Hall of Famer’s face to resemble blood sausage is not the way to go right now.
Women’s 140-pound catchweight
Cristiane Justino -1300
Leslie Smith +500
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over +205, under -245
PREDICTION: Justino TKO Smith, Round 1
If Smith makes it to the second round against Justino, consider that a win. Her prize? A new nose, a few broken ribs and a free, necessary trip to the dentist courtesy on the UFC’s dime. Seriously, when these low-level girls fight Cyborg, they come out no better than the Final Girl of a knockoff Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie.
Bet on UFC 198 odds at BookMaker
HOW TO BET
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! You can even wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Money lines, totals, props and money line are all available now. UFC 198 takes place on Saturday, May 14 at the Arena de Baixada stadium in Curitiba, Brazil. The main card will be televised on pay-per-view following the prelims on Fox Sports 1.
