Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson (25-2, 5 KOs, 9 SUBs) will defend his title against submission specialist Wilson Reis (22-6, 10 SUBs) at UFC on FOX 24 on Saturday, April 15, 2017 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The card airs live on FOX starting 8 p.m. ET. Bet on the latest UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now!
The UFC’s most dominant champion is back in action this Saturday, as Demetrious Johnson will defend his title for the ninth time. A win over challenger Wilson Reis would move him within one win of tying Anderson Silva’s record for the most consecutive title defenses. It’s a record that “Mighty Mouse” is largely expected to break, considering how convincingly he’s been winning his fights.
Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down the fight from a betting perspective. As expected, Johnson is a huge favorite in the fight odds.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Demetrious Johnson -739
Wilson Reis +533
Over/under 3.5 rounds, over -165, under +145
The Case for Reis
There really isn’t an area of MMA where Reis is not capable. His well-rounded skillset includes crisp kickboxing, power wrestling and phenomenal jiu-jitsu skills. An explosive, powerful athlete, Reis can dish out serious damage in any phase, from heavy shots to punishing GNP to cranking limbs.
Johnson has only proven vulnerable when he is being muscled around through wrestling, and Reis has the physical skills to do so. Tim Elliott had early success against DJ by overwhelming him with his size, and Reis can do the same with his muscular, compact frame.
But the challenger must be careful to conserve his energy, as Johnson is one of the best-conditioned athletes in the business. Reis must treat this fight like a marathon and not a sprint to outlast the tireless, durable champion.
The Case for Johnson
Remember how we just said Reis is good at everything. Well, DJ is great at everything. He can strike aggressively or land slick counters. He’s got a variety of great takedowns along with amazing takedown defense. When it comes to grappling, he can chase and lock in submissions with the best of them.
But what makes him remarkable is how well he ties everything together. He will adjust his game to counter his opponent’s, and if there is an avenue he wants to take that is not available to him, he will probe his enemy until the particular route opens up.
We’ve also got to mention the ridiculous pace that Johnson can set. He has been training for five round fights for five years now, and he never even seems tired after the final bell. We’ve seen plenty of challengers wilt under the relentless output, and it’s unquestionably one of his best weapons.
How You Should Bet
The UFC fight odds have Johnson as a huge favorite, and he absolutely should be. While Reis might make things interesting early, he simply doesn’t have the gas tank to overwhelm Johnson for five rounds. Take Johnson to win, and if that’s too expensive for your tastes, consider the over on 3.5 rounds.
UFC odds pick: Parlay Johnson to win at -739
Bet on UFC on FOX 24 odds now!
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UFC on FOX 24 takes place on Saturday, April 15, 2017 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The card airs live on FOX starting 8 p.m. ET.
