We’re just a day away from a solid night of UFC action in Australia - remember to lock in your prefight bets in our sportsbook! Choose heavyweight contenders, welterweight contenders, an ex-hockey enforcer and hometown prospects.
Just in case you’ve missed our in-depth previews, you can check out our quick picks here.
Bet on UFC Fight Night 85 odds at BookMaker.eu
Please note, the odds at BookMaker are updated daily. The lines listed here may have changed since this article was posted.
Main Event, Heavyweights
Frank Mir +160
Mark Hunt -185
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over +110, under -130
Mir will want to avoid a world-class striker like Hunt on the feet, as the former champion has been knocked out cold on several occasions. However, he’s not a dominant enough wrestler to drag Hunt to the ground, so all signs point to a standup affair. While Mir has improved a lot in this area, he’s nowhere near the level of the Super Samoan.
To me, the best value lies in the over on 1.5 rounds. Mir is savvy enough to try and keep his distance and clinch if he’s in danger, and that should prolong the fight past the midway point of the second round. Remember, this is a five-rounder, so Hunt will probably pace himself.
Co-Main Event, Welterweights
Hector Lombard -135
Neil Magny +115
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -140, under +120
This should probably be the headliner in terms of divisional impact. Lombard is a former title contender returning from a PEDs suspension, while Magny is one of the best welterweight prospects in the division. I like Magny as a slight underdog - he is taller, longer and more athletic than Lombard, who holds the edge in power.
But the two biggest factors here is how Lombard will do post-suspension, and whether his cardio will hold up against a springy, younger Magny. Lombard is an extremely dangerous fighter, but I don’t think he can keep up.
Lightweights
Johnny Case -110
Jake Matthews -110
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -185, under +160
In a battle of blue-chip prospects, Johnny Case and Jake Matthews will clash in an attempt to climb a loaded lightweight ladder. While Matthews’ physical tools pop off the page, it is Case’s experience and finishing instinct that should be the difference makers in this bout. At just 26 years old, Case has already racked up an astonishing 18 stoppage wins in 22 career victories. At 6’1”, he is a rangy lightweight that looks to be on his way up. It’s too much, too soon for Matthews.
Middleweights
Daniel Kelly -511
Antonio Carlos Jr. +408
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over +131, under -156
The Ultimate Fighter Brazil winner Antonio Carlos Jr. looks like he’ll be a future threat in the top-10, while Kelly is one of those tough-nosed veterans that the UFC seems to only call on for matchups in his native country. The talent deferential here is sizeable, with the much younger Carlos coming out on top.
Middleweights
James Te Huna -245
Steve Bosse +205
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over +161, under -190
Knockout artists with their backs against the wall - can you say barnburner? This is probably the most difficult fight to pick on the main card, since it’ll come down to who lands the first big shot. Te Huna is far more experienced, and even though he’s coming off a few major injuries, he should be able to find a way to beat a relative newbie like Bosse.
Strawweights
Bec Rawlings +105
Seo Hee Ham -125
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -250, under +210
For a grinder like Ham, size matters. And she’ll be the significantly smaller fighter against Bec Rawlings. For that reason alone, I think she’ll be unable to impose her preferred game plan of pressing opponents against the cage and grinding them down. Rawlings will make her pay in the clinch en route to a unanimous decision.
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Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! You can even wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Money lines, totals, props and money line are all available now. UFC Fight Night 85 takes place Saturday, March 19, 2016 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia. The card will stream on Fox Sports 1 at 10 p.m. ET following the prelims starting at 7 p.m.
