UFC 216 takes place on Saturday October 7, 2017 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card airs live on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET. Lightweights Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee will square off in the main event. Bet on the latest UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now!
This Saturday’s UFC 216 might not be getting crazy buzz, but it’s low-key a great fight card. Any Tony Ferguson scrap is worth watching, and the crazy “El Cucuy” will finally get his title shot - albeit an interim one - against the equally brash Kevin Lee.
In the co-main, Demetrious Johnson will attempt to make a record-setting 11th consecutive title defense in a matchup with Ray Borg. Say what you want to say about “Mighty Mouse”, but he’s doing things that have literally never been done before.
Also on the card is a heavyweight scrap between former champion Fabricio Werdum and the always-entertaining Derrick Lewis. If sloppy slugging is your thing, than Lewis needs to be your favorite fighter. To round it all out, strawweight star Paige VanZant will return to the octagon after doing a bunch of TV stuff to meet the scrappy Jessica Eye.
That’s some good stuff right there. Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and get into some quick picks and betting tips.
UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Main Event
Interim Lightweight Championship
Kevin Lee +165
Tony Ferguson -215
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -130, under +110
Brief Breakdown
Ferguson’s style is non-stop, unorthodox offense. This is a guy who will just as likely somersault into takedowns as he is to throw a three-elbow combination. It’s hard to fight somebody that unpredictable, especially when they just don’t let up. We’ve seen him force fighter after fight to simply wilt into fetal positions, and it usually happens within three rounds.
Lee’s has the same level of aggression, though he isn’t nearly as wild. Instead, he’s all about takedowns, GNP and submissions. While he isn’t battle-tested against the top lightweights yet, his spanking of Michael Chiesa suggests that he’s ready for step up in competition. Still, going from the Francisco Trinaldos of the world to guys like Ferguson is a massive leap.
UFC Betting Tips
Lee is definitely a live ‘dog in this matchup, as he has the perfect style to wrap up Ferguson and control him on the bottom. The question is whether he can do so for five rounds. He’s only 25 years old and has never had cardio issues in the past, so a small bet at these odds is a decent play.
UFC odds pick: Lee to win at +165
Co-Main Event
Demetrious Johnson -1250
Ray Borg +705
Over/under 4.5 rounds, over +100, under -130
Brief Breakdown
Same fight, different date, same results. Johnson is the most dominant champion in the sport, and statistically the best in UFC history. He is easily the most well-rounded fighter on the roster, able to do everything at elite levels, and more importantly merge all those skills together into a seamless, flawless fighting style.
Borg is outmatched in every aspect here. The 24-year old has a bright future, but expecting a still-developing fighter to somehow beat a virtually perfect fighter is ridiculous. Even if he gets it to the mat where he’s most comfortable, Johnson can likely beat him at his own game.
UFC Betting Tips
The price on Johnson is strictly parlay fodder. Instead, take a chance on the rounds under, as the talent gap between the two is big enough that Johnson could easily finish this before the final frame.
UFC Odds Pick: Under 4.5 rounds -130
Heavyweight
Fabricio Werdum -250
Derrick Lewis +200
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over +103, under -133
Brief Breakdown
Lewis is the king of messy slugfests, yet it’s somehow led him to a top-10 ranking and a scrap against former champion Fabricio Werdum. There’s nothing pretty about Lewis’ game - he’s there to pummel dudes until they go down. Not a particularly polished striker nor a technical wrestler, Lewis tends to get by on power and heart.
On the flip side, Werdum is a highly trained Muay Thai stylist on the feet - thanks to Rafael Cordeiro at King’s MMA. He’s got a diverse enough skillset to pick apart Lewis, and the Brazilian can always fall back on his world-class BJJ skills. In fact, if he went to the ground with Lewis a quick submission would seem inevitable.
UFC Betting Tips
Lewis always, always has a puncher’s chance. But as Mark Hunt proved, he can be methodically picked apart by more advanced strikers. Werdum qualifies as that, and he has a huge advantage on the ground.
UFC odds pick: Werdum to win at -250
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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.
