Middleweight knockout artist Hector Lombard (34-7, 19 KOs, 7 SUBs) will meet Anthony Smith (27-12, 13 KOs, 11 SUBs) at UFC Fight Night 116 on Saturday, September 16 at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The card airs live on FS1 starting 10 p.m. ET. Bet on the latest UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now!
Hector Lombard could be nearing the end of an enigmatic career. At 39 years old and winless in three fights since returning from a PEDs suspension, the Cuban judoka has fallen far from the contender ranks he inhabited just a few years ago. This Saturday, Lombard will play gatekeeper for Anthony Smith, who will be looking to build his resume against a name opponent.
Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down your betting options.
Opening UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Hector Lombard -129
Anthony Smith +101
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over -145, under +105
Fight Preview
An Olympic medalist in judo, Lombard mainly uses his background to keep the fight standing. His stout frame and rock-like base renders him nearly impossible to take down. This works out well because Lombard really only wants to do one thing: knock the block off of his opponents.
Despite his advanced age, Lombard is an exceptional athlete with freakish power. He can cover ground frighteningly quick, and he flurries with a hurricane of debilitating hooks. During his prime, Lombard racked up a 24-fight unbeaten streak while looking like the second coming of a Pride-era Wanderlei Silva.
However, his one-dimensional style could not hold up against more advanced competition in the UFC. It became clear that he simply did not have the cardio to tread in deep waters. While he’s gotten better at not punching himself out, Lombard still has to track every energy expenditure, leading to some very cautious outings.
Athletically, Smith can’t hold a candle to Lombard. He’s not particularly powerful nor fast, instead relying on grit to outlast opponents. Turns out he’s pretty damn good at doing that. An opportunistic striker, “Lionheart” comes into the matchup with two straight KO victories, one by head kick and another by elbow. HIs creativity helps overcome his lack of explosiveness.
The key here is if he has the game to weather Lombard’s storm and drain his tiny gas tank. Smith has a penchant for beating more talented fighters, but this is a big jump for a mid-tier fighter.
UFC Betting Tips
On paper, Lombard has most of the key advantages. But his age and dwindling cardio make him an extremely dicey play. Looking at the odds, the rounds over is a tempting play. Lombard is a much more cautious fighter these days, and Smith will be likely be fighting conservatively considering his opponent’s KO power.
UFC Odds Pick: Over 1.5 rounds -145
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 Fight Night 116 takes place on Saturday, September 16 at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The card airs live on FS1 starting 10 p.m. ET.
