19-year old Sage Northcutt, the UFC’s new uber-prospect, will square off against Cody Pfister to follow up his sensational promotional debut this past October. For now, it seems as if Dana White is keeping the training wheels on Northcutt’s career to groom him into the star that many are projecting the kid to become. Oddsmakers have made him the biggest favorite on the entire card.
UFC Fight Night 80 odds at BookMaker.eu
Sage Northcutt -1300
Cody Pfister +500
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over -145, under +125
ODDS ANALYSIS
I expect Northcutt’s odds to get more expensive closer to fight night. He’s got a ton of hype right now, but there is real skill to back it up. While there is always the possibility that Northcutt makes some rookie mistakes, Pfister simply isn’t talented enough to take advantage of it. That’s what the odds are reflecting here.
ALL ABOARD THE HYPE TRAIN
With the exception of the headlining fight between Paige VanZant and Rose Namajunas, Northcutt vs. Pfister is the most highly anticipated fight on the card. That’s because Northcutt is already special, despite owning just one victory in the octagon - over an opponent that nobody’s ever heard of.
In addition to his electric athleticism and a lifetime of martial arts training, Northcutt has the charisma to be a future star. It’s hard not to like the teenager, who is respectful, enthusiastic and positive to a fault. He is a 19-year old competing in a grown man sport and that in itself is fascinating. What’s more, we get to watch him grow and mature in the octagon.
Northcutt has also made a high-profile move to the famed Tristar Gym in Montreal, which produced the legendary Georges St. Pierre. While Northcutt has been impressive in compiling a 6-0 record, it’s scary to think how good he can be under the tutelage of Firas Zahabi, who is generally regarded as one of the best coaches in MMA.
His opponent, Cody Pfister, is 1-1 in the UFC. After losing his octagon debut to James Moontasri, Pfister bounced back with a unanimous decision over Yosdenis Cedeno. Prior to his callup, he fought in regional promotions such as XFL, KOTC and Shark Fights. In his past 10 bouts, Pfister is 8-1-1.
THE SMART PLAYS
If you’re planning to bet on Northcutt, you probably want to do it sooner than later as action will follow the hype. I suppose you could make an argument that Northcutt is so green that Pfister might be able to expose the youngster, who will be fighting in just his seventh pro fight. But if you go that route, don’t risk anything more than a small bet.
The under on 1.5 rounds seems like a great value at +125. Northcutt is already one of the fastest, most explosive fighters at lightweight, and his finishes come like lightning. This one should end early.
HOW TO BET
Access live betting lines at BookMaker Sportsbook and start wagering now. With our live betting options, you can also wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. UFC Fight Night 80 takes place Thursday, December 10, 2015 at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will stream live on UFC Fight Pass starting 10 p.m. ET.
