IIIIIIT’S TIIIIIME...to look at some underdogs for UFC 198 in Brazil. And there are plenty of live ones for you to consider, from the main event on down. We’ve sorted out a few for you here, so you can net a nice payout and say “I told you so” to all your friends on fight night.
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LIVE ‘DOGS
Stipe Miocic +135 vs. Fabricio Werdum -160
Uriah Hall +105 vs. Anderson Silva -125
These guys are barely underdogs for a reason. But I like Miocic’s chances more than Hall. The heavyweight challenger is exactly the type of agile, athletic wrestle-boxer that gives Werdum problems. The champ has beaten better opponents that Miocic, but possibly not one as well-rounded as the former Golden Gloves boxer and NCAA Division I wrestler. If Miocic sticks-and-moves, and mixes in a few takedowns, he can stymy Werdum for five rounds.
Hall is a guy that can end the fight with one well-placed strike. Nothing exemplifies this more than his highlight reel jumping spin kick to Gegard Mousasi’s face. And Silva is an eccentric fighter that will coast for long periods of a scrap and give away rounds -- like he did against a clearly outmatched Michael Bisping. While I’d lean towards Silva getting a friendly decision in his home country, he’s as unpredictable as Hall is inconsistent.
WARM ‘DOGS
Vitor Belfort +250 vs. Ronaldo Souza -300
Matt Brown +225 vs. Demian Maia -270
Both Belfort and Brown could easily be put into the Dead ‘Dogs section, but there are a few keys factors that keep them from that ungainly distinction. When you have hands as fast as Belfort, there’s always more than a puncher’s chance that he could end the fight with one of his signature blitzkrieg.
I expect Brown to get suffocated by Maia, but his pace and cardio shouldn’t be taken for granted. Even when he’s on his back, he’ll keep throwing them ‘bows and scrambling to get out of precarious positions. At 38 years old, Maia might find himself struggling to hold down a hyperactive Brown. And if the fight stays on the feet, “The Immortal” has a clear striking advantage over the Brazilian.
DEAD ‘DOGS
Mauricio Rua +180 vs. Corey Anderson -215
Leslie Smith +500 vs. Cristiane Justino -1300
With all due respect to the great Shogun Rua, he’s aged far too much to handle a young stud like Corey Anderson. Rua still has lethal hands and leg kicks, but he quickly gasses after a single round of high paced action. Considering that Anderson is a speedy, 26-year old wrestle boxer with fresh legs, the outcome looks grim for Shogun.
And bless Leslie Smith’s heart and courage for stepping up to fight serial mauler Cris Cyborg. Smith is durable, but let’s not hope she’s too tough for her own good. She’s brutally outmatched against the violent Santos, who many consider to be the finest pound-for-pound woman’s fighter in the sport.
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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.
