We’re less than three weeks ago from UFC 198, which takes place in a massive soccer stadium in Brail. Fittingly, the card is packed with a slew of native stars, punctuated by a heavyweight title clash in the main event. Although it looms in the shadow of UFC 200, you definitely shouldn’t overlook this loaded card. Let’s take a look at the available bets you can make now.
Bet on current UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Please note, the UFC odds at BookMaker are updated daily. The lines listed here may have changed since this article was posted.
MAIN EVENT
Heavyweight championship
Fabricio Werdum -165
Stipe Miocic +140
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -180, under +140
When we first covered the opening lines, Werdum was as high as a -225 favorite, with Miocic at +175. It’s obvious that action on the challenger is causing his money line to trend downward. I’d expect this continue in the coming weeks, as the heavyweight title is defined by its instability -- no champion has defended it more than twice. What’s more, Werdum is 38 years old and fighting one of the most well-rounded prospects in the division.
Light Heavyweights
Corey Anderson - 205
Mauricio Rua +175
Shogun is nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career, but he hans’t been aging very gracefully. Instead, he’s been getting thrashed by the division’s elite -- signaling that the end may be near. The Brazilian is a clear underdog against Corey Anderson, who is a young lion on the verge of contendership. Rua is rapidly devolving into a creaky fighter, which explains his UFC odds at BookMaker.
Middleweights
Anderson Silva -140
Urijah Hall +110
Silva showed flashes of his brilliant self in his last bout against Michael Bisping, but the fact that he lost to the Brit seems to indicate that the terrifying striker the former champ used to be is gone. Now, he’s fighting a poor man’s version of his younger self in Uriah Hall, who can be an electrifying striker in his own right. Hall is a slight underdog here, but this fight could end up a pick’em on on fight night.
Catchweight, 140 pounds
Cristiane Justino -1300
Leslie Smith +500
I’ve seen Smith as high as a +900 favorite in some sportsbooks, but she’s at +500 against the most women’s striker in MMA. It’s a shame that “Cyborg”s first UFC fight -- after years of teasing -- will be so inconsequential. This squash match should look like all of Cyborg’s other fights from the past five years -- complete and utter domination.
Middleweights
Ronaldo Souza -300
Vitor Belfort +250
Besides the main event, this is the most significant fight on the card. Belort still has his vaunted knockout power and lightening quick hands, but he’s nearly 40 and his body has shrunk significantly since the UFC outlowed testosterone therapy. Souza nearly beat Ronaldo Souza in his last bout, and if he had done so it could have been him fighting champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 199. Belfort is a bit undervalued at +250, but Souza’s youth and strength gives him a big edge.
Welterweights
Demian Maia -280
Matt Brown +230
In a sick style matchup, the welterweight division’s best grinder/BJJ specialist meets all-action brawler Matt Brown in a pivotal matchup at 170. Maia has won four straight against some special opponents and might force the UFC into giving him a title shot. Given how unstoppable he’s looked lately, it’s no surprise he’s a near 3-to-1 favorite.
BET ON UFC FIGHTS NOW
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.
