It’s time for Paige VanZant to return to the sport that made her a star. After dabbling in various television pursuits for the year, the 23-year old will fight for the first time in 2017, meeting the tough Jessica Eye on the main card of this Saturday’s UFC 216. The matchup will also take place at flyweight, which is closer to both their natural weights.
It’ an important matchup for VanZant, as a loss could convince her that TV might be a better career for her. And while Eye is a winnable matchup, she’s by no means a pushover.
Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down the fight along with your betting options.
UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Paige VanZant vs. Jessica Eye
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FIght Preview
Eye comes into the bout with a 1-5 record in her last five, although losses to Miesha Tate, Juliana Pena, Sara McMann and Bethe Corriea are nothing to be ashamed about. It should be noted that she hung tough in all of those defeats, hanging tough until the final bell.
The 31-year old has always shown flashes of talent, but has never been able to piece it all together consistently. Her offensive boxing is solid, but Eye tends to wing her punches and leave herself open. The same goes for her clinch and wrestling game. She is constantly pressing the action and exposing herself for counters.
Similar to Eye, VanZant is pretty much all offense, all the time. Her pressure isn’t very technical, but she has won a handful of bouts with her relentless swarming. She is a Team Alpha Male product through and through, as the 23-year old loves to lock up with opponents and force them into scrambles. PVZ fights so frenetically that she usually ends up in advantageous positions.
This will be PVZ’s first appearance after leaving Alpha Male, having relocated to Portland earlier this year to work with Chael Sonnen and Fabiano Scherner. If anything, it should improve her wrestling technique and submission game, but what she really needs help with is her striking. Far too sloppy on the feet, PVZ was exposed by Rose Namajunas and Michelle Waterson as a striker.
How to Bet
There are some hard choices here. It’s fair to question how dedicated to MMA VanZant is when she’s got so many things going on. It’s also ok to doubt whether she will ever capitalize on the raw talent that she has. But Eye is an opponent she should be able to beat, as she is better equipped physically and will not have to worry about getting outclassed in any phase. Lay the price on VanZant to win.
UFC odds pick: VanZant to win
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UFC 215 takes place on Saturday, September 9, 2017 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada. The card airs live on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET.
