With UFC Fight Night 81 just a few days away, it’s time to take a closer look at the underdogs going into the card. Because as gamblers, nothing is more thrilling than picking an underdog to win and scoring a plus payout. From the main event to the prelims, let’s take a look at a few fighters that have the odds stacked against them.
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.
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LIVE UNDERDOGS
Dominick Cruz +130 vs. T.J. Dillashaw -160
Matt Mitrione +135 vs. Travis Browne -165
Tim Boetsch -220 vs. Ed Herman +185
Cruz has to be considered a live dog after his dominant showing against Takeya Mizugaki. Dillashaw will be facing a mirror image of himself in the cage, and there’s no telling how he’ll respond. I favor Dillashaw’s recent body of work vs. Cruz’ past glory, but I wouldn’t argue against a small bet on Cruz.
Matt Mitrione’s one-shot knockout power is the great equalizer in any fight, and considering how often Browne has gotten tagged in his past three fights, it’s hard not to like Meathead’s chances of landing a fight-ending shot. Browne is definitely the more dynamic striker, but he seems to have regressed since switching to Glendale Fight Club.
A few years ago, Tim Boetsch was a top-10 middleweight. Now, he’s just a guy that’s 2-5 in his past seven fights. Herman hasn’t fared much better and is just 2-3 in his past five. This fight is pretty much a toss-up.
RISKY UNDERDOGS
Eddie Alvarez +211 vs. Anthony Pettis -291
Francisco Trinaldo +130 vs. Ross Pearson -150
While Alvarez exudes all the traits of an unbreakable Philly fighter, he is severely overmatched physically against Pettis. The former lightweight champ is faster and much more explosive, with the ability to finish fights in the blink of an eye. Still, Alvarez’ grit cannot be counted out, but I just wouldn’t count on it to win you any money.
In stark contrast, Trinaldo vs. Pearson is a case where experience seems to outweigh athleticism. Trinaldo is big, strong and fast, but that might not be enough against the experience of Pearson, whose superb counterpunching matches up well with the Brazilian’s aggressive style.
UNDERDOGS DEAD IN THE WATER
Joey Gomez +180 vs. Rob Font -210
Daron Cruickshank +210 vs. Paul Felder -255
Stay away from Gomez vs. Font altogether. It’s a fight that got set up at the last minute due to injury shuffling. Neither has a track record to really draw upon, which makes any proposition a risky one.
Daron Cruickshank and Paul Felder are a lot closer in the odds than I’d expect. Felder was a hot commodity until consecutive losses to Edson Barboza and Ross Pearson. But he still has a higher ceiling than Cruickshank, whose skills seem to be declining.
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.
