The always-entertaining Ross Pearson has been tabbed to open up the main card of UFC Fight Night 81 this Sunday. The British bomber will meet Brazilian veteran Francisco Trinaldo, who comes into the bout on a four-fight winning streak. It’s an interesting switch, considering that there are more known fighters on the prelims, but let’s hope the resulting action justifies it.
UFC Fight Night 81 odds at BookMaker.eu
Ross Pearson -165
Francisco Trinaldo +140
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -191, under +161
Please note, the odds listed here may have changed, as BookMaker updates on a daily basis. You can also view a full range of prop bets when you sign into your account.
THE STAKES
Pearson has alternated wins and losses for six bouts, but could establish his first winning streak in over a year with a win over Trinaldo. The Brazilian has quietly racked up 11-3 record as a lightweight, and Pearson would represent his biggest win yet. That could open up a lot of doors for Trinaldo, as a five-fight winning streak in the UFC’s most stacked division is nothing to scoff at.
FIGHT BREAKDOWN
Pearson is an above average boxer, with skills and legit power in both hands. He loves to operate in the pocket behind his jab, luring his opponents to throw back. Once they do, Pearson is especially good at slipping the punch and countering with combinations.
His left hook is his money shot, and it’s felled a good number of fighters in the division. What’s more, Pearson will also throw mid and high kicks to mix it up. However, his foot strikes usually come in singular shots and are rarely blended into combinations. He’s got good, if not great, takedown defense, and is adequate in executing his own shots. But when he’s on top, he’s not particularly threatening, relying on control and pressure.
Even at 37, Trinaldo is a physical specimen possessing great speed and power. It’s taken a while for his skills to match his tools, but he appears to have put everything together. Instead of winging haymakers, he’ll probe with a jab and follow with stinging kicks. Before, he was satisfied with headhunting, but now he’ll throw potent body-head combinations.
Trinaldo welcomes a grinding clinch match, with a lot of headfighting and gritty dirty boxing. When pressing his opponent’s back against the cage, he is good at dropping for an explosive takedown. On top, he stays busy, working to pass and finding topside submissions. However, he is very vulnerable to takedowns and offers little from his back.
THE SMART PLAYS
This is a pretty close matchup, pitting Pearson’s wiley experience against Trinaldo’s athleticism. If the Brazilian was a better wrestler, I’d probably pick him, but I don’t think Trinaldo can outsmart Pearson. Pearson should be able to hit enough counters to take a unanimous decision.
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 Fight Night 81 takes place on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at the TD Garden in Boston, MA. The main card and prelims will be televised on FOX Sports 1.
