The UFC is headed to Fresno this Saturday for an underrated card featuring title contenders, rising fighters and undefeated prospects. While the starpower is somewhat lacking, the intrigue for some of the scraps is definitely not.
Headliner Cub Swanson is always up for a good scrap, and he’ll test the unbeaten Brian Ortega in what could be the final obstacle to a title shot. Jason Knight AKA “Hick Diaz” will look to bounce back from the worst loss of his career. Scott Holzman vs. Darrell Horcher is a meeting of solid lightweights, and Eryk Anders and Markus Perez are two undefeated middleweights on a collision course.
Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down your best betting options.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Main Event, Featherweight
Cub Swanson -115
Brian Ortega -115
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -220 , under +180
Brief Breakdown
If Ortega can take this to the mat, it’s his fight to lose. But for all his grappling prowess, he’s just not that good a wrestler - and Swanson has pretty good takedown defense. In a kickboxing match, Swanson’s effective-yet-unorthodox striking gives him the edge over a guy who is still evolving in the standup phase.
The reason that Swanson’s not a bigger favorite here is that he always seems to be in close fights, and Ortega has a habit of hanging around and pouncing on an opportunity to snatch a limb or neck. The rounds over here is the safest play, but the price isn’t cheap. We recommend going with Swanson to win a tough one.
UFC Odds Pick: Swanson to win at -115
Co-Main Event, Featherweight
Jason Knight -310
Gabriel Benitez +237
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -135, under +115
Brief Breakdown
It’s clear that Jason Knight wasn’t ready for a contender like Ricardo Lamas, and is giving him a beatable opponent to get him back into the win column. Benitez is hardly a tin can, but he’s the type of mid-tier fighter that “Hick Diaz” had been feasting on before he ran into Lamas.
Because Benitez offers zero takedown threat, Knight can get busy doing what he does best: walking down dudes and shredding them with a relentless boxing attack. The pace and cardio will be too much for Benitez, who is just 1-2 in his past three fights. Take Knight to win, and if you’re feeling lucky take him inside the distance.
UFC Odds Pick: Knight to win at
Lightweight
Darrell Horcher -110
Scott Holzman -120
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -245, under +205
Brief Breakdown
Holtzman is a clinch and dirty boxing specialist, which makes sense as he’s a former hockey goon. Additionally, training at the MMA Lab has turned him into a solid wrestler. While he can be taken down by good wrestlers, it’s extremely difficult to hold him on the mat. Horcher isn’t a guy that can really test him in that area anyway.
Horcher’s style is defined by his hard punches and a rawhide-like toughness. He earned some respect coming in as a late notice opponent for Khabib Nurmagomedov and tagging the Dagestani wrestler with some good punches before succumbing to GNP in the second. His follow-up, a split decision against Devin Powell, showed us his ceiling isn’t very high. But then again, neither is Horcher’s. We lean towards Holtzman because of his inside game, but the rounds over is probably the safest play.
UFC Odds Pick: Over 2.5 rounds at
Middleweight
Eryk Anders -285
Markus Perez +225
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over +120, under -140
Brief Breakdown
Eryk Anders is a former LFA champion, and his vacant belt was claimed by Markus Perez. Now the unbeatens will face off inside the octagon. While neither projects to be a title contender, each man brings some promise as UFC newcomers.
Anders is a former collegiate football player who won a national title with Alabama in 2009. His elite athleticism isn’t really something you see every day in this sport, and it’s translated thus far to six KOs in nine career wins - four of which have come by the first round. Markus Perez is making his UFC debut here, and while he is well-rounded he will be overwhelmed physically by Anders.
UFC Odds Pick: Anders to win at -285
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
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UFC Fight Night 123 takes place on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. The main card airs live on FS1 starting 9 p.m. ET.
