Strawweight star Paige VanZant (7-2, 2 KOs, 2 SUBs) will meet Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson (13-4, 3 KOs, 8 SUBs) in the main event of UFC on FOX 22, which takes place Saturday, December 17, 2016 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA. The card airs on Fox starting 8 p.m. ET. Bet on the latest UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now!
Michelle Waterson and Paige VanZant are more than just attractive women - they’re legitimate fighters who have a tendency of getting into grueling trench battles. Their main event clash at this Saturday’s UFC on FOX 22 should be a ton of fun, as both are as aggressive as they are scrappy. And there’s a ton at stake here as well: the winner keeps her name on a short list of contenders “in the mix.”
Let’s take a look at your betting options and break down the odds.
Main Event
Women’s Strawweight
Paige VanZant -115
Michelle Waterson -105
Over/under 4.5 rounds, over -160, under +140
The Case for Waterson
Waterson is a former Invicta FC champion, a women’s only promotion the UFC regularly uses as a feeder league into the octagon. She’s best known for her thrilling, back-and-forth fight with Jessica Penne in April 2013, where she pulled out a fourth-round armbar to win the belt. To date, the encounter is largely remembered as Invicta’s best fight ever.
Having studied karate since the age of 10, she is a lifelong martial artist who also has trained in Muay Thai, WuShu, BJJ, boxing and wrestling. Though her knockout power is minimal, she is a fluid striker, especially when it comes to kicks. Her karate background is apparent in her footwork, as she times her shots extremely well and bounces back out of counter range like a natural.
Where she is most dangerous is in scrambles, especially when it comes to finding submissions. Waterson has an impressive finishing ratio, and eight of her 14 career wins have come through grappling. This will come in handy against a wrestler like VanZant.
The Case for VanZant
The 20 year old is one of the most athletic fighters in the division, and her natural blessings include incredible durability and stamina. Against Rose Namajunas, she absorbed nearly 60 significant strikes and escaped three locked submissions before finally tapping out to a rear-naked choke in the fifth. Toughness is not a problem for PVZ.
Still, “12-Gauge” is still as raw as cookie dough, especially when it comes to striking. She makes up for this with relentless pressure which nullifies any space opponents need to get their shots off. The clinch is the strongest part of her game, as she will batter fighters with dirty boxing and knees to set up an assortment of trips.
Because Waterson is a natural atomweight, PVZ will have a weight and height advantage, and that bodes well for the Team Alpha Male study. She should be able to muscle around the smaller fighter and control where this fight happens.
Betting Values
While Waterson is a game opponent and the better technical striker, she doesn’t have the power to seriously hurt PVZ. That means VanZant will just keep coming - for five straight rounds. In an upcoming battle of attrition, I favor PVZ’s cardio and pace.
Another great bet is the over on 4.5 rounds. Both women are as durable as they come but lack knockout power. The threat of the finish is higher on the mat, but each fighter has shown the ability to defend and escape submissions.
UFC odds prediction: VanZant UD Waterson
How to Bet
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today.
UFC on Fox 22 takes place on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA. The card airs live on FOX starting 8 p.m. ET.
