This Saturday marks the first UFC pay-per-view of 2017, and the promotion is christening the new year with a historic main event: an inaugural title to introduce a new division. Former bantamweight champion Holly Holm will meet Dutch striker Germaine De Randamie for the new featherweight title, attempting to become just the fourth fighter in UFC history to hold belts in two weight classes.
Also on the main card is middleweight GOAT Anderson Silva, who will look to earn his first win since 2012 against Derek Brunson. Taking place in the same division, title contender Ronaldo Souza will meet the gritty Tim Boetsch. Rounding out the notable fights is a light heavyweight feature between knockout artist Glover Teixeira and the rising Jared Cannonier.
Let’s take a look at your UFC 208 betting options at BookMaker.eu and make a few common sense picks to earn you some cash on fight night.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu (odds updated daily)
Main Event
Women’s Featherweight Championship
Holly Holm +100
Germaine De Randamie -120
Over/under 4.5 rounds, over -125, under +105
Common Sense Says…
Based on their resumes, Holm should be a bigger favorite. After all, she is the former champion and original Rousey slayer. But “The Preacher’s Daughter” has lost two straight, and they exposed two huge weaknesses for De Randamie to prey on.
Her first loss to Miesha Tate showed that Holm’s ground game is still super basic. In the final frame of a fight she was winning, she straight panicked when Tate got her to the ground and got caught in a rear-naked choke. Then, against Valentina Shevchenko, Holm basically got beat to the punch by an elite Muay Thai stylist.
De Randamie isn’t a wrestler, but she’s a damn fine kickboxer. Much like Shevchenko did, the Dutch fighter should be able to outstrike Holly with superior hand and foot speed. If De Randamie’s money line gets into plus territory, jump all over it.
UFC odds pick: De Randamie to win at -107
Middleweight
Anderson Silva +111
Derek Brunson -132
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over -140, under +120
Common Sense Says…
Anderson Silva is old, but he’s not done yet. While not the terror he used to be, we still see flashes of the brilliant violence he’s known for. The Brazilian is still not a guy you want any part of on the feet, though his once impenetrable takedown defense is no longer what it once was.
If Brunson comes out brawling - something that’s become a habit - the Jackson-Wink product is going to get skinned alive. But if he fights smart and goes back to his wrestling roots, he’s got a good chance to pull this off, especially in a three-round fight. I’m sure he’d like a legend’s scalp on his resume, so I’m going with the ladder.
UFC odds pick: Brunson to win at -132
Light Heavyweight
Glover Teixeira -185
Jared Cannonier +140
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over -110, under -110
Common Sense Says…
It’s hard not to fall in love with Cannonier. Dude is freaking massive and moves like an All-Pro defensive lineman. But “The Killa Gorilla” is making a leap from fighting mid-tier opponents to a guy that earned a title shot against Jon Jones and has beaten better fighters like Ovince St. Preux, Ryan Bader and Rampage Jackson.
Though Glover’s coming off a loss where he was knocked out cold by Anthony Johnson, Cannonier doesn’t have that type of killshot power. He’s got to outsmart a guy that has three times as many fights and a more well-rounded skillset. His size and athleticism gives him a shot, but he needs more experience to knock off a perennial contender like Teixeira.
UFC odds pick: Teixeira to win at -185
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UFC 208 takes place on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following the FS1 prelims.
