Two of the welterweight division’s most exciting projects will collide this Saturday, when Emil Meek and Kamaru Usman meet on the main card of UFC Fight Night 124 in St. Louis. With knockout power to spare between the two, expect a very violent encounter - with a spot in the top 10 on the line.
Let’s break down the matchup and get into your betting options, using the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu to make your picks.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Emil Meek +450
Kamaru Usman -600
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -135, under +115
Matchup Breakdown
The first thing you notice about Meek is his body - the 29-year old Norwegian is jacked. Against Rousimar Palhares, a tree trunk with legs, Meek was every bit as muscled as the famously-muscled Brazilian. And he hits every bit as hard as you’d expect a guy that size to.
In nine wins, Meek has knocked out all but two of his opponents. He has yet to prove that he’s more than a one-dimensional puncher, but it’s a style that’s worked for him so far. Against Jordan Mein - a veteran offensive technician - Meek showed some improvements, knowing when to crowd the pocket and even grinding out a round in top control.
Usman is an elite athlete with burgeoning knockout power. Entering the UFC as a powerhouse wrestler, “The Nigerian Nightmare” is just starting to explore how his explosiveness can translate into fight-ending punches. In his last matchup against Sergio Moraes, the 29-year old patiently waited for an opening and launched a punch that put the Brazilian out cold. A lot of credit goes to Henri Hooft for Usman’s rapidly improving striking.
Will Usman try and test his standup against Meek? If he does, it’ll be a fascinating matchup of size vs. speed. But if Usman fights smart, he’ll go back to his wrestling roots and test the European’s grappling.
UFC Betting Tips
We lean Usman hard in this matchup. He is the faster, more explosive fighter who should have no problem keeping the distance against Meek. Also, if Usman commits to wrestling, Meek will not have an answer. The safe play here is Usman to win. Stay away from the round total, as both men have the ability to finish this fight quickly.
UFC Odds Pick: Parlay Usman to win at -600
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
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UFC Fight Night 124 takes place on Sunday, January 14, 2018 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The main card airs live on FS1 starting 10pm ET.
