The UFC heads to Belfast, Northern Ireland for a night of action headlined by surging middleweight contender Gegard Mousasi and electric striker Uriah Hall. The two have recent history, with Hall humiliating Mousasi with a stunning spinning jump kick knockout. But there is more than revenge at stake - the Dutch-Armenian could put himself in position for a title eliminator with a win.
Other main card fights include the always entertaining Ross Pearson in a clash with Scotland’s Stevie Ray, a heavyweight scrap between Timothy Johnson and Alexander Volkov, and the eccentric Teruto Ishihara locks horns with Russia’s Artem Lobov.
Let’s take a look at your betting options.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Main Event
Middleweights
Gegard Mousasi -502
Uriah Hall +380
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -145, under +115
Fight Breakdown
In their first fight, Mousasi got caught with a murderous spinning jump kick to the face and succumbed to strikes soon after. However, oddsmakers obviously feel that it was a fluke knockout and have made “The Dreamcatcher” than a 5-1 favorite in the UFC betting odds. They’re probably right, as Mousasi was handily winning that fight and is clearly the more skilled MMA fighter.
A bet on Hall is little more than a prayer that he lands another one-in-a-hundred shot. These two could fight a hundred times and Mousasi would probably win 95 times. “Primetime’s” explosive athleticism has to be respected, but we’re long past the point where Hall should be considered a blue chip prospect. He is what he is - a maddeningly inconsistent fighter with huge flaws. Mousasi has maintained a top-10 world ranking for years.
UFC odds pick: Mousasi to win at -502
Lightweights
Ross Pearson -115
Steven Ray -105
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -220, under +185
Fight Breakdown
This will be Pearson’s 22nd UFC fight, making him one of the promotion’s longest tenured fighters. Over the years, he’s been involved in a bevy of memorable dogfights. While he’s never sniffed title contention, the Brit has consistently fought upper echelon fighters like Al Iaquinta, Edson Barboza and Cub Swanson throughout his career.
Now, he’s playing gatekeeper to Scotland’s Steven Ray, who just suffered his first UFC loss to Alan Alves this past September. Pearson is far more experienced than Alves, but we have to consider the thinning tread on his tires after more than a decade of gritty battles. At 26, Ray is a young buck coming to overthrow an old lion.
UFC odds prediction: Ray UD Pearson
Heavyweights
Timothy Johnson +110
Alexander Volkov -130
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over -170, under +150
Fight Breakdown
6’7” heavyweight knockout artist Alexander Volkov will have to prove that he can handle wrestlers from the get-go. Making his UFC debut, Volkov is a welcome addition to a thinning division, back-to-back losses in 2015 to Cheick Kongo and Tony Johnson suggest that he might not ever be more than card filler. But any big man with 18 KOs in 26 career victories is worth a watch.
His opponent, Timothy Johnson, is the kind of boring, smothering wrestler that is difficult to get excited about, but he is a great litmus test for any UFC rookie. Volkov could quickly raise his stock with a decisive victory, but he better make sure his takedown defense is on point if he doesn’t want to fight off his back the entire night. I’m not so sure his wiry frame can hold up against the barrel-chested Johnson.
UFC odds prediction: Johnson UD Volkov
Featherweights
Artem Lobov +210
Teruto Ishihara -250
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over -175, under +147
Fight Breakdown
A teammate of Conor McGregor, Lobov is a slugger and not much else. Though a decent counterpuncher, the Irishman’s lack of takedown defense and deficient ground game make him a walking target for skilled grapplers. But the UFC is too smart to give the hometown rep an unwinnable fight, which is why the matchup with Ishihara makes a ton of sense.
The Japanese native is a striker first, and with eight KOs in nine career wins he obviously has power. In fact, he’s knocked out both of his UFC opponents thus far. Still, he is far from a finished product as his technique is awkward and he will instantly resort to brawling. That’s taking the most difficult route to beat Lobov, who will be fired up to rep the Belfast crowd.
UFC odds prediction: Lobov UD Ishihara
Please note, the UFC odds at BookMaker are updated daily.
How to Bet
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today. UFC Fight Night 99 takes on November 19, 2016 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The card will stream on UFC Fight Pass starting 4 p.m. ET.
