We’re a few days away from one of the best free cards of the year, and it’s time to start locking in your picks to score some sweet payouts. Today we’re looking at the main card and making some quick picks. You can check out our more in-depth previews from earlier this week as well.
Bet on UFC on FOX 19 odds at BookMaker.eu
Please note, the UFC odds at BookMaker are updated daily, so the lines you see here may have changed since this article was written.
MAIN EVENT, LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Glover Teixeira -210
Rashad Evans +175
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -170, under +150
PREDICTION: Rashad Evans UD Glover Teixeira
Teixeira steps in on short notice for the injured Shogun Rua, yet comes in as a favorite. That’s probably because Evans looked horrible in his last fight. But let’s not write Evans off yet - he hadn’t fought for nearly two years before he met Bader this past October. Teixeira is the exactly the type of fighter that Evans would have shut down in his prime, and I have a feeling that “Suga” has a few good fights left at 36.
WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHTS
Rose Namajunas -183
Tecia Torres +145
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -225, under +185
PREDICTION: Tecia Torres SD Rose Namajunas
My dark horse pick for fight of the night, Namajunas vs. Torres promises to be a fun, frenzied fight. The UFC odds at BookMaker are reflecting how dominant Namajunas looked against superstar Paige VanZant in her last fight, but I think it was partly due to the fact that PVZ wasn’t experienced enough for a contender fight. Torres is far more experienced - and already owns a win over Namajunas. I see her eking out a close upset win.
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Khabib Nurmagomedov -130
Darrell Horcher +110
Over/under rounds 2.5 rounds, over -130, under +110
PREDICTION: Khabib Nurmagomedov TKO Darrell Horcer, Round 2
Nurmagomedov is one of the most terrifying wrestlers in the UFC, period. But he’s coming off two major injuries and hasn’t fought in two years. Luckily for the native of Dagestan, he gets a tune-up fight against a complete unknown in Darrell Horcher instead of an injured Tony Ferguson, who is the hottest lightweight in the loaded division.
Just who is Darrell Horcher? Nobody really knows. He compiled a 2-1 record in Bellator from 2012-13, and his only career loss comes against UFC vet Phillipe Nover. The 28-year old has since reeled off five straight wins in CFFC. Despite a somewhat impressive 12-1 record, he hasn’t faced anyone remotely close to the caliber of Nurmagomedov.
FEATHERWEIGHTS
Cub Swanson -123
Hacran Dias +103
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -245, under +205
Prediction: Cub Swanson UD Hacran Dias
With Machida vs. Henderson cancelled, featherweight contender Cub Swanson’s bout against submission specialist Hacran Dias makes its way to the main card. Although Swanson comes into the bout on a two-fight losing streak, those defeats came against Frankie Edgar and Max Holloway - two of the top three featherweights in the division.
Dias has never beaten anyone on Swanson’s level, with his two octagon losses coming against Ricardo Lamas and Nik Lentz. If the Brazilian was a better striker, I’d be tempted by his UFC odds at BookMaker, but he’s likely to get tagged a bunch on the feet.
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HOW TO BET
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time money lines, totals, props and money line are all available now. You can even wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. UFC on FOX 19 takes place on April 16, 2016 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The card will be televised on FOX starting 8 p.m. ET following the FS1 prelims at 6 p.m.
