Welterweight prospects Jingliang Li (14-4, 5 KOs, 5 SUBs) and Jake Matthews (11-3, 4 KOs, 5 SUBs) will meet at UFC 221 on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at the Perth Arena in Perth Australia. The main card airs live on pay-per-view following the FS1 prelims. Bet on the latest UFC odds and get the latest previews, predictions and picks at BookMaker.eu now!
Can Jingliang Li be the breakout Chinese star that the UFC is praying for? The 29-year old is currently on a four-fight winning streak, with knockouts in three of those victories. He’ll take a step up in competition this Saturday when he meets Jake “The Celtic Kid” Matthews on the pay-per-view portion of UFC 221. A win by Li could lock up a meeting with at top-15 opponent - which would be a milestone for Chinese MMA.
Matthews will be fighting at home in Australia, making this an away match for Li. Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down the welterweight tilt, along with your best bestting options.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Jingliang Li -190
Jake Matthews +165
Over/under coming soon!
Matchup Breakdown
Li is doing all the right things to advance his career. With a background in Wushu Sanda, the 29-year old possesses a solid striking base, but spent time training abroad to expand his offensive arsenal.
The results are starting to show. Li’s striking combinations are clearly more fluid, and he mixes up with body and head blows. He’s also found a newfound appreciation for leg kicks, often ending his combos with a punishing leg kick. Also improved are his footwork and feints, which he uses to prompt opponents to move first.
Li’s style is aggressive, as he uses pace and output to outwork his opponents. Landing 4.84 strikes per minute and landing at a 45% clip, Matthews’ defense will certainly be tested. But the Aussie will also probe Li’s grappling in a way that he’s not used to.
While Matthews isn’t a great striker, he can beast when pressing opponents against the cage and is a punishing GNP specialist when on top. However, taking Li down will prove difficult, as he has displayed solid counter-wrestling skills when pressed. If this fight stays on the feet, Matthews could run into some problems as his standup always seems to be in need of improvement.
UFC Betting Tips
On paper, Li has the tools to take his fifth straight victory. And his price is playable, though a +200 line from Matthews would be enough to garner a recommendation. Another bet to consider is the rounds over, as both men have the skills and grit to likely cancel out a chance of a finish.
UFC Odds Pick: Li to win at -190
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UFC 221 takes place on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at the Perth Arena in Perth Australia. The main card airs live on pay-per-view following the FS1 prelims.
