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CRUZ BACK ON THE THRONE
Closing odds:
Dominick Cruz +130 vs. T.J. Dillashaw -160
The lineal champion, Dominick Cruz, regained the belt he never lost with a five-round split decision victory over T.J. Dillashaw. Cruz’ trademark movement was back in full effect, and even the normally hyperactive Dillashaw looked flatfooted at times. Dillashaw had his moments, as his leg kicks had Cruz noticeably hampered in the fifth round.
This fight was close enough that we could see an immediate rematch. These are two best bantamweights in the business, and the rest of the division has some catching up to do. In the meantime, nobody would be complaining about rounds 5-10 between the two.
ALVAREZ EXPOSES PETTIS
Closing odds:
Anthony Pettis - 300 vs. Eddie Alvarez +240
Former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis came into the fight as a 3-to-1 favorite, but was upset by Eddie Alvarez by split decision in a grueling three-round fight. The common thinking was that Alvarez - known for his high-level boxing - would oblige Pettis in a standup battle. Alvarez instead spent most of his time pressing Pettis up the cage and headfighting his way to victory. It was a somewhat disappointing bout for the many fans who were expecting the barnburners we’ve come to expect from Alvarez.
More importantly, the Philadelphian exposed what could be a fatal flaw in Pettis’ game. While Alvarez is a good wrestler, he’s hardly a dominant one, and he was able to bully the former champ for the majority of three rounds. In all of his losses, Pettis has been unable to stop opponents from imposing a wrestling-centric gameplan. While he has all the talent in the world, Pettis has to address this vulnerability to make it back to the top.
BROWNE GRINDS DOWN MITRIONE
Closing odds:
Matt Mitrione +140 vs. Travis Browne -160
Travis Browne got back into the win column with a third-round TKO stoppage over Matt Mitrione. “Hapa’s” favorite weapon was his front kick, which he landed at will, with volume. Kept at distance, Mitrione was limited to throwing lunging single straight punches that Hapa eventually started timing. By the third round, a tired Mitrione was taken to the ground, full mounted and punched out.
With the win over Mitrione, Browne maintains his status as a top-10 heavyweight. Still, he needs a few more wins to establish himself as a legitimate title contender. He’s not far from his title eliminator against Fabricio Werdum in 2014.
TRINALDO PULLS AWAY AGAINST PEARSON
Closing odds:
Ross Pearson -150 vs. Francisco Trinaldo +130
Pearson’s pressure played into Trinaldo’s counters, and the Brazilian was able to wear down the Brit en route to a surehanded unanimous decision. Trinaldo was able to trap Pearson against the fence on several occasions and land vicious combinations and knees to the body from the Thai plum. The win marked Trinaldo’s fifth consecutive victory.
At 37, Trinaldo is a longshot to have an impact on the title picture, but a five-fight winning streak at lightweight cannot be ignored. He’s done enough to earn a shot at a top-10 fighter.
HOW TO BET
Access live betting lines at BookMaker Sportsbook and start wagering now. With our live betting options, you can also wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. UFC on FOX 18 takes place on January 30, 2016 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The main card will be televised on FOX following the prelims on FOX Sports 1.
