It’s still a few months away, but UFC 200 on July 9 is on everyone’s minds as the promotion keeps adding fights to the milestone card. So far, it’s falling a bit short of expectations but the card hasn’t been finalized yet. There’s been a flurry of additions recently, so let’s catch on what we know.
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THE BIG FIGHTS
Conor McGregor -105 vs. Nate Diaz -125
Frankie Edgar -115 vs. Jose Aldo -115
Cain Velasquez -330 vs. Travis Browne +260
McGregor-Diaz II is a straight up money fight, and it’s a fun one between two of the most exciting fighters on the roster. The Irishman is reportedly “obsessed” with avenging his loss to Diaz, and to his credit he was lighting up the Stockton bad boy in the first round before he got gassed in the second.
Diaz -- on 10 days notice -- ended up winning in dominant fashion, and one of the most compelling storylines going into the bout is how much better he’ll be with a full training camp. Should he mangle McGregor, how much will that hurt the superstar’s drawing power?
In the case of Edgar vs. Aldo, the No. 1 and No. 2 featherweights in the UFC have to face each other to earn a shot at featherweight champion McGregor. What’s more, the bout will be for the interim title -- a small consolation to make up for the fact that the featherweight division is pretty much on hold while McGregor continues to fight outside the weight class.
Still, Edgar-Aldo 2 is an awesome fight between one of the greatest champions in the promotion’s history and an elite fighter at the peak of an amazing career. From wrestling to Muay Thai to boxing to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, these men cover all facets of MMA skills at the highest levels.
When it comes to Cain Velasquez, there are a good number of experts who believe that he is still the best heavyweight on the planet. It’s easy to blame his loss to Fabricio Werdum in Mexico City on the altitude, as Velasquez was winning the first round before his tank ran empty. If he can run through a top-10 fighter in Browne, it’s highly likely he’ll face the winner of Werdum-Miocic.
HIGH-STAKES BOUTS
Johny Hendricks -180 vs. Kelvin Gastelum +140
Gegard Mousasi -205 vs. Derek Brunson +185
Former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks will look to bounce back from the worst loss of his career in a tough matchup against prospect Kelvin Gastelum -- who is a disappointing 1-2 in his past three. Both men desperately need a win here to stay relevant in the title picture at 170.
Gegard Mousasi is a fringe contender at middleweight, although he’s failed to sustain any momentum in the UFC. His opponent, Derek Brunson, has quietly reeled off four straight wins to earn his shot at Mousasi. A win over the Dutch-Armenian would propel Brunson into the upper class of 185.
BIG NAMES, FUN FIGHTS
Sage Northcutt -300 vs. Enrique Marin +240
Jim Lauzon -115 vs. Diego Sanchez -115
Takanori Gomi +185 vs. Jim Miller -240
20-year old Sage Northcutt’s immense hype was derailed by Bryan Barberena, but there is still intense interest to see how the phenom will develop. He tapped out to a submission that wasn’t even fully applied, inviting many a jeer from his contemporaries. Was that loss a sign that Northcutt is all hype and not cut out for the UFC? His bout against Enrique Marin will tell us a lot.
Lauzon-Sanchez may not have much -- if any -- impact on the title picture at 155, but that’s not with this fight is about. These are two dudes that love a good brawl, and we’re expecting them to leave the octagon, bruised, battered and bloody. The pair have a ton of Fight of the Night awards between them, speaking to their ability to put on entertaining shows.
In the same vein, Gomi vs. Miller is all about action. Gomi is nothing more than a knockout artist at this point, while Miller is one of those gritty fighters who can take a mauling and keep brawling.
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You can even wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. UFC 200 takes place on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card will be televised on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET following the prelims on FS1.
