Former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida (22-7, 9 KOs, 2 SUBs) meets No. 7 middleweight Derek Brunson (17-5, 9 KOs, 4 SUBs) at UFC Fight Night 119 on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at the Geraldo Jose de Almeida Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The card airs live on FS1 following the FS2 prelims. Bet on the latest UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now.
Lyoto Machida is coming back from an 18-month suspension for banned substances. But how much does the 39-year old have left? His main event matchup with No. 7 Derek Brunson should tell us a lot about how Machida will fare in the near future - a win would automatically put the former light heavyweight champion back into the top 10.
Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down the matchup, along with your betting options.
UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Derek Brunson -165
Lyoto Machida +135
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over +130, under -150
Fight Preview
Machida’s karate style is still unpredictable, creative and difficult to figure out, but a few opponents have found ways to break through. Some, like Yoel Romero, Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman, simply overpower him. It would seem that Brunson has the same sort of tools to follow the same route.
While Brunson is not the wrestler that those guys are, he does have the same sort of explosive power. He’s definitely not shy about using it either. In fact, Brunson has absolutely no issue punching himself out in search for a killshot. It’s both helped and hurt him in the past, as Robert Whittaker simply weathered the storm and iced him within a round. But in four prior fights, Brunson scored first-round stoppages.
That sort of knockout power makes him dangerous against the aging Machida, who has taken some vicious beatings in recent fights. But with more than a year and a half on the sidelines to recover, “The Dragon” should be relatively fresh and spry. And Brunson should really think twice about charging forward against a striker as tactical as Machida.
On paper, Brunson has what it takes to win this fight - it all depends on how he approaches it. If he comes out guns blazing, Machida will easily pick him apart. But if he listens to his coaches at Jackson-Wink and picks his spots, this is his fight to lose.
UFC Betting Tips
Brunson’s lack of patience will end up costing him in this fight. Machida can be one of the most frustrating fighters to face, and Brunson seems averse to fighting more than a single round. In a five-round fight, Machida’s movement and timely striking should carry him to a victory.
UFC odds pick: Machida to win at +135
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
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UFC Fight Night 119 takes place on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at the Geraldo Jose de Almeida Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The card airs live on FS1 following the FS2 prelims.
