Once-beaten bantamweights Jimmie Rivera (20-1, 4 KOs, 2 SUBs) and Thomas Almeida (21-1, 17 KOs, 3 SUBs) will collide at UFC on FOX 25 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. Bet on the latest UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now.
A high stakes bantamweight clash between No. 5 ranked Jimmie Rivera and No. 9 Thomas Almeida this Saturday could produce a new title contender at 135 pounds. Both men have only been beaten once and have at least 20 wins each. Those are some seriously impressive credentials at any division.
Furthermore, the matchup presents an intriguing clash of styles. Rivera, is a short, stocky interior power puncher, while Almeida is flashy, high flying athlete. This is going to be a good one.
Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down your betting options.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Jimmie Rivera -200
Thomas Almeida +160
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over -200, under +170
Matchup Preview
At 5’4”, Rivera is one of the shortest fighters in the division. Naturally, he’s developed a style that takes advantage of a stocky, powerful frame. A very hard puncher, “El Terror” wades right into the pocket and starts tagging opponents with hard shots.
Not unlike John Lineker, the 28-year old will prompt his opponents to take the first swing, then counter with tight, technical combinations. The Team Tiger Schulman rep can generate incredible power in small spaces, and his paltry KO ratio isn’t really indicative of how much damage he can do.
Rivera’s best work might come in the clinch, where his low center of gravity makes him extremely difficult to move and even harder to take down. Early on in his career, Rivera could win on wrestling, clinchwork and scrambling alone. These days, he’s a much more dynamic offensive fighter.
The 25-year old Almeida is a pressure fighter who prefers to counter. Like Rivera, “Tominhas” will invade a fighter’s space to goad the first strike, setting up one of Almeida’s flashy counters. Of course, that type of style sets him up to get hit, and the knock on Almeida is that he always seems to get tagged a few times before he truly finds his rhythm.
A member of Chute Box, Almeida brings the level of violence typical of the famed Brazilian camp. His 17 KOs in 21 career victories is an extraordinarily high ratio for the 135-pound class, and 14 stoppages with punches alone shows the power he has in his fists.
UFC Betting Analysis
This is a tough matchup to pick a winner, but Rivera seems to have the advantage due to a strong clinch game. As the physically stronger man, Rivera has the option to press Almeida into the cage should he get the worse of the exchanges. Almeida has yet to face a stifling wrestler like Rivera, and a loss will be another learning experience for the youngster.
UFC odds pick: Rivera to win at -200
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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.
