UFC 198 is in the books, and we’ve got a two week break until the promotion’s next event: UFC Fight Night 88. It’s a good free card, with arguably the two best bantamweight prospects -- Cody Garbrandt and Thomas Almeida -- squaring off in what should be an all-action headliner. Here’s what to expect for the Vegas card on May 29.
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MAIN EVENT
Bantamweights
Cody Garbrandt +135
Thomas Almeida -165
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over -165, under +145
You don’t see a 1.5 round over/under for a bantamweight bout that often -- it’s the next-to-lightest weight class, so the the knockout probability is lower. That just speaks to how good these dudes are at ending fights. Garbrandt might be young and green, 24 years old and 8-0, but he’s already knocked out seven opponents, five of which have come in the first two rounds.
Almeida is a guy that a lot of experts tabbed to challenge for the title by the end of this year. That’s definitely possible with a win over Garbrandt, as the 24-year old Brazilian has notched a spectacular 20-0 record with 19 finishes. He’s an electric athlete that’s not afraid to mix it up, and Garbrandt would be the biggest win of his career.
Featherweights
Jeremy Stephens +140
Renan Barao -170
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -125, under +105
After repeated struggles to make the 135-pound limit at bantamweight, former champion Renan Barao will try his hand at featherweight. Don’t think that it’s just the weight cut that sent him packing -- Renan was lit up twice by T.J. Dillashaw in title bouts that weren’t even close.
He was whipped so bad that there are some that might think he won’t ever be the same fighter again. Kind of like how Junior dos Santos looked like a shell of himself after being victimized twice by Cain Velasquez. But Barao is just 29 and getting a beatable opponent -- Jeremy Stephens -- who is 1-3 in his past four bouts.
FIGHTS OF INTEREST
Jorge Masvidal vs. Lorenz Larkin
Aljamain Sterling vs. Bryan Caraway
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Rick Story
Fight fans are always curious to see how smaller fighters will fare in bigger weight classes, which makes Jorge Masvidal’s bout against Lorenz Larkin particularly intriguing. Masvidal was a top-15 fighter at 155 and one of the division’s better strikers. He faces off against the explosive Lorenz Larkin, who has settled in nicely as an upper level gatekeeper.
Aljamain Sterling is an undefeated bantamweight with a newly signed UFC contract, and a win over a tough vet like Bryan Caraway could put him in line for a top-5 opponent. Perhaps he’ll face off against the loser of Almeida-Garbrandt. Sterling’s main drawback is that he’s not a very exciting fighter, but Caraway’s aggressive style could force him to take more risks.
Saffiedine vs. Story is a matchup between two very good welterweights who could make a run at the top-10. Saffiedine is one of the most technical kickboxers in the division, and he loves to chop out the lead legs of his opponents. Story is a wrestle-boxer who will look to close the distance right away, setting up a compelling clash of styles.
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HOW TO BET
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 88 takes place Saturday, May 29, 2016 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card will be televised on FS1 starting 8 p.m. ET.
