Next week is going to be a busy week for MMA bettors, with three cards in three nights leading up to the milestone UFC 200. We’ll have detailed betting guides for each of the main cards, but this week we’re focusing on the prelims. Let’s take a look at the middle child, The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale.
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Flyweights
John Moraga vs. Matheus Nicolau
Former flyweight title challenger John Moraga has only lost to Demetrious Johnson, John Dodson and Joe Benavidez. That’s the the No. 1, 2 and 3 guys in the division. Now, he’s stuck in no man’s land as a fine fighter who’s obviously not championship material. The UFC is casting him into a gatekeeper role in a matchup with 23-year old Brazilian prospect Matheus Nicolau. On a four-fight winning streak that includes three stoppages, Nicolau is a hot prospect in a thin division.
Middleweights
Cezar Ferreira vs. Anthony Smith
In what should be a fun brawl between two aggressive fighters, Omaha’s Anthony Smith squares off against Brazil’s Cezar Ferreira. Smith has 22 stoppages in 25 career victories, with 11 KOs and 11 SUBs. More notably, he comes into the bout on an eight-fight win streak, which includes victories over veterans like Brock Jardine and Josh Neer. Ferreira’s chin has been exposed of late, as he’s lost three of his past five -- all by way of first-round KO.
Lightweights
Jake Matthews vs. Kevin Lee
This is a great matchup between two young guns at 155. Kevin Lee steps in for an injured Stevie Ray in a lightweight tilt against Jake Matthews. Just 21 years old, Matthews is already 4-1 inside the Octagon since a short stint on TUF Nations. His most recent victory was a thrilling upset win over fellow prospect Johnny Case. A win over Lee could signal his arrival has a true fighter to watch -- even in a loaded lightweight division. However, Lee could make a strong argument as a blue chip prospect himself -- the Michigan native is just 23 years old.
Welterweights
Li Jingliang vs. Anton Zafir
The UFC’s hope for a great Chinese fighter to rally the world’s most prosperous country to the promotion probably should revolve around Li Jingliang. With a 1-2 record in his past three, Li hasn’t really done much to impress the UFC brass nor fans hoping for the next Asian star. His matchup against Zafir might be his last chance to prove that he belongs inside the octagon. Zafir is coming off a loss in his UFC debut against James Moontasri. You might remember that bout because Zafir was caught with a sensational spinning backfist that promptly made several highlight reels.
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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. The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale takes place Friday, July 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card will air on FOX Sports 1 starting 10 p.m. ET.
