We know that it’s tough to keep up with all the matchup bookings in the UFC. From a betting perspective, it makes fiscal sense to stay on top of the game - opening lines can be the best odds you’ll find on certain fighters before the action starts shifting the odds. Let’s check out a few announcements you may have missed the past few weeks.
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REEM HEADS HOME
May 8, UFC Fight Night - Rotterdam
Alistair Overeem TBA
Andrei Arlovksi TBA
After a brief foray into free agency, heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem has resigned with the UFC. He recently announced that he’ll be headlining UFC Fight Night 87 in his home country of the Netherlands, and his opponent happens to be training partner Andrei Arlovski. Think things will get awkward at the Jackson-Wink gym? For what it’s worth, Arlovski and Overeem have publicly stated that they aren’t friends, and the extent of their relationship doesn’t go beyond respectful teammates.
MIR MEETS HUNT DOWN UNDER
March 20, UFC Fight Night 85
Frank Mir +160
Mark Hunt -185
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over +110, under -130
The UFC is once again calling upon Mark Hunt to fight in his adopted country of Australia, and he’ll meet former heavyweight champion Frank Mir in the headlining bout. Mir’s brief career resurgence was halted by Andrei Arlovski this past September, while Hunt stopped a two-fight losing streak with a KO victory over Antonio Silva in his past outing.
Both men are ranked heavyweights, but are pretty far removed from the title picture at this point. Still, Hunt rarely puts on a boring fight, and Mir’s improved boxing could turn this into a crowd-pleasing slugfest.
DAN HENDERSON KEEPS TICKING
April 16, UFC on FOX 19
Dan Henderson +260
Lyoto Machida -320
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over +115, under -135
Count me among the many who feel that the 45-year old Dan Henderson should probably retire. He’s just 2-4 in his past six and he was finished in all of those losses. Lyoto Machida crane kicked Randy Couture into retirement, and it’s possible that he ends the career of another legend this April.
Machida, a former light heavyweight champion, is in mired in the worst stretch of his career. He’s won just once in his past four outings, although all three losses have come against champions or top-3 opponents. A matchup against an old, creaky Henderson is just what he needs to get back in the win column.
DARIUSH GOES FOR SIX STRAIGHT
April 16, UFC on FOX 19
Beneil Dariush -220
Michael Chiesa +180
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -155, under +135
In a pivotal lightweight matchup between two up-and-coming talents, Michael Chiesa will meet Beneil Dariush on a stacked UFC on FOX 19 card. Dariush has quietly won five in a row, most recently earning a signature victory over Michael Johnson at UFC Fight Night 73. Chiesa has won six of eight inside the octagon, with victories over Al Iaquinta, Francisco Trinaldo and Mitch Clarke. The winner would be set for a high profile bout in a loaded division.
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