In a matchup of top 10 light heavyweights, No. 5 Ovince St. Preux will meet No. 9 Jimi Manuwa on the main card of this Saturday’s UFC 204. Both men are 1-2 in their past three fights, though all those losses have come against highly legitimate title contenders. Let’s break down the fight and your betting options.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Jimi Manuwa +135
Ovince St. Preux -165
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over +135, under -165
Please note, the UFC odds at BookMaker are updated daily. The lines listed here may have changed since this article was written.
Odds Analysis
OSP is the clear favorite at -165, with Manuwa a slight underdog at +135. You’d have to attribute these odds to St. Preux’s more well-rounded skillset. The over/under is set at 1.5 rounds, the lowest possible round total, and this is likely due to Manuwa’s high knockout ratio. Still, it’s a bit surprising that this isn’t a 2.5 round total.
What To Watch For
Jimi Manuwa is an old school knockout artist, with a sprawl-and-brawl style reminiscent of a vintage Chuck Liddell. But unlike the Iceman, Manuwa is hyper aggressive, crowding his opponents to light them up with short, powerful combinations. And it’s obviously working for him: he’s got one of the best stoppage ratios in the division, with 13 KOs in 15 career victories.
At 36 years old is not a young fighter, but he got his start in pro MMA later than most of the veterans in the game, so he’s not as shopworn as you’d think. He is quick on his feet and his strikes are even faster. Fighters especially need to be aware of his dangerous left hand and left leg.
A former University of Tennessee linebacker, Ovince Saint Preux is an outstanding athlete for his size. At 6’3”, he is three inches taller than Manuwa with a much larger frame. He has the natural strength to match his size, although his killshot power doesn’t quite match up with Manuwa’s.
He maximizes his athleticism as an explosive counterpuncher, launching right as opponents invade the pocket. Additionally, OSP has a powerful reactive double leg takedown that keeps fighters guessing. On top, he’ll rely more on his sheer size than technique, but that should be enough against Manuwa’s deficient grappling.
The Betting Breakdown
As Manuwa’s competition level has increased, his frequency of knockouts have dropped. That’s a problem against a bigger man like OSP. Once you consider the fact that St. Preux is coming off a matchup where he absorbed five rounds of punishment from the great Jon Jones, it seems unlikely that Manuwa would be able to finish him off. Add in OSP’s significant advantage in wrestling and this seems like an easy call on St. Preux to win - and he’s not too expensive either.
UFC Odds: St. Preux UD Manuwa
How to Bet
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today. UFC 204 takes place on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. The main card will be televised on pay-per-view following the FOX Sports 1 prelims.
