UFC 219 takes place on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card airs live on pay-per-view starting 9 p.m. Bet on the latest UFC odds and get the latest UFC betting previews, predictions and picks at BookMaker.eu now.
The UFC is ending the year with the biggest possible matchup in women’s MMA. Brazilian destroyer and featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino will defend her title in the main event of this Saturday’s UFC 219 against former bantamweight champion Holly Holm - a bona fide star.
There’s so much to love about this matchup, but we’ll settle on storyline that Cris Cyborg will be facing her most challenging opponent in...ever? We’ve never seen her challenged once in 18 fights, so if Holm can even remotely test her, the pay-per-view price will be worth every penny.
A similar sentiment runs through the co-main event, where lightweight monster Khabib Nurmagomedov will meet a legitimate title contender in Edson Barboza. It’s been exceedingly difficult for the undefeated Russian to make it into the octagon, but when he does he usually gives us a stark reminder as to why many feel that he’s the best 155-pounder in the world.
Also on the card is a bantamweight contender matchup between body shot wizard John Lineker and Jimmie Rivera - winner of 19 straight fights. Undefeated blue chip prospect Cynthia Calvillo will collide with former champion Carla Esparza in a pivotal strawweight matchup. Finally, action fighter Carlos Condit will return from a hiatus to meet veteran Neil Magny.
There’s a ton to get into from a betting perspective, so let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down your best options.
Main Event
Featherweight Championship
Cris Cyborg -400
Holly Holm +300
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over -250, under +200
Betting Breakdown
Lightning’s not gonna strike twice for Holm. Against Rousey, “The Preacher’s Daughter” was able to expose her opponent’s complete lack of striking depth. Cyborg has no weaknesses we know of - and she could conceivably muscle the Holm around if she wanted to. Every single physical advantage - from strength to size to athleticism - belongs to Justino.
The scary thing about Cyborg is that she’s gotten better in the UFC. No longer just an aggressive mauler, the Brazilian is far more polished, patient and composed. It’s highly unlikely she fights so recklessly in her biggest chance at mainstream stardom since turning pro more than 15 years ago.
UFC Betting Tips
Cyborg to win is an easy pick, but her price is simply a parlay booster at this point. 1.5 rounds is a low total, and the over seems to be a safe pick with a more affordable price. We have every reason to believe that Cyborg could end this fight earlier - especially if she forces a grappling match - but she’ll want to maximize her screen time in her first marquee UFC event.
The best value here? Cyborg inside the distance. Holm has only been finished once in her career, but she’s fighting a killer whose notched 18 straight finishes. There’s not a woman in the world who can go the distance with her - and that’s not hyperbole.
UFC Odds Pick: Cyborg inside the distance at -175
Co-Main Event
Lightweight
Khabib Nurmagomedov +225
Edson Barboza -285
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -135, under +1-5
Betting Breakdown
Nurmagomedov is basically a lightweight boogeyman at this point. Every once in awhile, he’ll emerge from some injury-related hiatus to mangle some poor soul and remind everyone that he’s a champion in waiting. Then he’ll disappear again.
Fighting for the first time in 2017, the Dagestani brute will have to deal with one of the most explosive fighters in the lightweight division. Edson Barboza’s leg kicks are murder weapons in their own right, and it’s hard not to cringe as he chops people down. And we all know that he can end a fight in a spectacular, split-second assault. Check out his flying knee beheading of Beneil Dariush or his spinning wheel kick on Terry Etim for evidence.
UFC Betting Tips
If you believe that Barboza can keep the best wrestler in the division at bay, then lay the price on the Brazilian. However, we’re leaning towards Khabib to take the win here, because Barboza just doesn’t have the gas tank to fight off a caveman for three rounds. One takedown, and Khabib irrevocably changes the course of this fight with his GNP. The price on “The Eagle” is playable as a parlay booster.
UFC Odds Pick: Parlay Nurmagomedov to win at -285
Women’s Strawweights
Cynthia Calvillo -260
Carla Esparza +210
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -210, under +165
Betting Breakdown
Calvillo is the a blue chip prospect from Team Alpha Male, and she possesses the strong wrestling and scramble skills typical of fighters from the Sacramento team. Esparza prefers to wrestle as well, setting up a likely test of “whose takedowns are strongest” between the two.
We have to give the edge to Calvillo, whose athletic ceiling is clearly much higher than Esparza’s. There’s also the fact that the former champ is clearly lost on the feet, and while Calvillo is no Joanna Jedrzejczyk, she’s more effective in that area.
UFC Betting Tips
The safest play here is the over, which is usually the case in the strawweight division. Calvillo’s a decent submission wrestler, but Esparza’s got enough knowledge in the grappling department to fight her off. The other route here would be to lay the price on Calvillo - “Cookie Monster” is a stepping stone fight for a rising contender.
UFC Odds Pick: Over 2.5 rounds -210
Welterweight
Carlos Condit -175
Neil Magny +135
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -135, under +105
Betting Breakdown
It’s good to have “The Natural Born Killer” back inside the octagon. There aren’t many welterweights as dynamic and creative on the feet as Condit. While his title window is likely closed, he still could play an important role at 170 pounds as a name contender. But first, he’d have to get past Magny.
Both guys are tall, rangy outfighters who do their best work at distance. Condit throws non-stop volume, while Magny prefers to work off a stiff jab. A slight advantage goes to Condit on the feet, because of his more diverse arsenal and willingness to throw all eight of his limbs. But Magny holds a trump card in his back pocket with his wrestling - strong wrestlers have always been able to hold Condit down.
UFC Betting Tips
Tough call here, but we Magny has the physical tools to disrupt Condit’s offense, and the wrestling to stifle it in spurts. Lay the price on Magny to pull off a tough-fought win.
UFC Odds Pick: Magny to win at +135
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
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 219 takes place on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card airs live on pay-per-view starting 9 p.m.
