In his most recent fight, Darren Elkins authored one of the most dramatic comebacks of the year as a huge underdog. This Saturday, “The Damage” will follow up the biggest win of his career in another expected barnburner against the always-entertaining Dennis Bermudez. The featherweight clash is already a favorite for Fight of the Night, as both men are aggressive, tough and durable.
Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down your betting options.
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Dennis Bermudez -235
Darren Elkins +195
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -225, under +185
Matchup Preview
Elkins comes into the scrap with four straight wins, but we have to talk more about his miracle against Bektic. The 33-year old took a hellacious beating over two rounds - it was so brutal that nobody would have complained had the ref stopped it. But in the final frame, Elkins dug deep unleashed a volley of strikes that stunned a fighter many have hailed as a future champion, stealing a victory from the certain jaws of defeat.
The Bektic fight is the perfect snapshot of who Elkins is as a fighter. Though not quite good enough to be legitimate title contender, “The Damage” is still one of the toughest outs in a loaded division. He is always willing to stand and trade, and never stops scrambling out of bad positions. His incredible will, combined with solid all-around skills, is usually enough to overwhelm all but the top tier fighters.
Like Elkins, Bermudez is a gritty fighter with skills in every area. On the feet, “The Menace” throws everything with serious heat. Stocky and powerful, Bermudez keeps his combinations tight and crisp, and though he doesn’t have many knockouts to his credit we’ve seen him consistently wobble fighters.
Against Elkins, Bermudez would probably be best served to use his wrestling. Elkins has always been vulnerable against strong takedown artists, and Bermudez is an underrated wrestler. While he’s not Bektic - who has been compared to Khabib Nurmagomedov - Bermudez is a fighter with a natural top game and a penchant for finding openings for punishing GNP.
UFC Betting Analysis
While Elkins is not as heavy an underdog this time around, he is still somewhat outmatched. Bermudez is certainly a guy that can be caught - and it’s been happening more frequently over the years - but his losses have only come against fellow top contenders. Elkins will make this fight a grind, but in the end Bermudez is better equipped to win.
UFC odds pick: Bermudez to win at -235
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UFC on FOX 25 takes place on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York. The card airs live on FOX starting 9 p.m. ET.
