On a main card filled with listless fights, Stephen Thompson stepped up and saved UFC Fight NIght 82 from total oblivion. The Kenpo Karate master took his flashy kicking game to a new level and carved up former champion Johny Hendricks before ending the never-before-finished fighter in the first round. Let’s recap the night from a betting perspective.
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WONDERBOY BEATS THE ODDS
Stephen Thompson +264 TKO Johny Hendricks -333
Most MMA fans, analysts and journalists predicted that Hendricks’ wrestling would ground Thompson’s flashy kicking game. Instead, Thompson evaded “Bigg Rigg” and unleashed his devastating arsenal in a shocking destruction of the No. 2 ranked welterweight. Hopefully, you put some money on Thompson.
BIG COUNTRY EXPOSES BIG SHOW
Roy Nelson -111 UD Jared Rosholt -109
In a fight that Dana White stated “set back MMA 10 years”, Roy Nelson took a unanimous decision over Jared Rosholt, who entered the fight on a three-fight winning streak. The bout largely consisted of Rosholt literally running away from Nelson’s strikes. “Big Country” tried to engage throughout, but Rosholt refused to fight.
CAVALCANTE SHOWS LITTLE LIFE
Ovince St. Preux -430 UD Rafael Cavalcante +345
In another excruciating bout, Ovince St. Preux overcame an ankle injury to decision former Strikeforce champion Rafael Cavalcante. The Brazilian seemed unwilling to engage in anything more a single strike every few minutes. OSP was clearly hobbled, yet Cavalcante couldn’t take advantage.
QUICK HITS
Joe Benavidez -407 UD Zach Makovsky +323
Misha Cirkunov -555 SUB Alex Nicholson +425
Mike Pyle +125 TKO Sean Spencer -145
Flyweight No. 1 contender Joe Benavidez handled business as usual against the outmatched Zach Makovsky, who looked a step slow the entire fight. Still, Benavidez is in a tough position, having already lost to champion Demetrious Johnson twice.
Misha Cirkunov also came through as more than five-to-one favorite with a first round neck crank submission over Alex Nicholson. In a graphic twist, you could hear Nicholson’s jaw snap as Cirkunov applied the crank.
At 40 years old, Mike Pyle just keeps on chugging. The 17-year pro pulled off a minor upset over Sean Spencer with a flashy spinning back elbow and a flurry of follow-up strikes in the third round.
BET ON UFC FIGHTS NOW
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available now. You can even wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform.UFC Fight Night 83 takes place on Saturday, February 21, 2016 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The card will be televised on FOX Sports 1.
