Brazilian MMA legend Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort (25-13, 18 KOs, 3 SUBs) will meet veteran Nate Marquardt (35-17, 11 KOs, 16 SUBs) at UFC 212 on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The card airs on pay-per-view after the FS1 prelims. Bet on the latest UFC 212 odds at BookMaker.eu now!
Vitor Belfort stepped into his first pro MMA match in 1996, at an event called Superbrawl 2. This Saturday, more than 20 years earlier, he’ll fight for the last time. The UFC is giving him a sendoff in his home country at UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro, and “The Phenom” will ride off into the sunset, win or lose, in a retirement fight against veteran Nate Marquardt.
So can Vitor Belfort secure a final victory? Or will Marquardt spoil the party? Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down the fight from a betting angle.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now
Vitor Belfort +100
Nate Marquardt -130
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over +165, under -205
Please note, UFC odds are updated daily and subject to change.
The Case for Belfort
The Brazilian’s long-spanning career has largely been defined by an uncanny physical trait: blazingly fast hands. From the heavyweight division all the way down to middleweight, Belfort’s hand speed and KO power has given him the ability to scalp 18 KOs in 25 career victories.
Those victims include some very accomplished fighters: Dan Henderson, Luke Rockhold, Michael Bisping, Anthony Johnson, Rich Franklin, Randy Couture and Wanderlei Silva are just a few of the names he’s stopped.
Belfort’s gas tank is on empty, his chin is cracked and the strength to defend takedowns is gone. But he’s still got those hands. “The Phenom” is a shell of the fighter he used to be, but the 40-year old is still an extremely dangerous one-round fighter.
The Case for Marquardt
At 38 years old, Marquardt’s been fighting almost as long as Belfort has. While his resume is certainly not as distinguished, it is certainly respectable. A former middleweight title challenger, Marquardt’s has racked up notable wins over fighters like Demian Maia, Rousimar Palhares and Tyron Woodley.
A veteran like Marquardt will not be fazed by the moment in hostile territory. He will need to be poised against a fired-up Belfort, who will be searching for a storybook ending with a KO knockout. The American has generally been durable throughout his career, but like Belfort, the wear and tear on his chin is catching up to him.
The good news for Marquardt is that his chances of winning increase exponentially the longer the fight goes. Surely he’s seen how bad Belfort has looked recently, and he should be able to find ways to prolong the scrap behind a well-rounded skillset.
How You Should Bet
You want Marquardt as an underdog. He’s not very reliable these days, but it’s impossible to have any faith in Belfort right now. Part of that is the level of competition he’s been facing, but the truth is that he’s a 40-year old fighter who fights 10 years older ever since he got off TRT.
Marquardt is a smart enough fighter to take this fight into ugly territory, where Belfort cannot hold up. The pick is Marquardt to win by third-round TKO.
UFC odds pick: Marquardt to win at +100
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now
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 212 takes place on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The card airs on pay-per-view after the FS1 prelims.
