.jpg "UFC 227 Odds")
Bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw (15-3, 7 KOs, 3 SUBs) defends his title in a rematch against Cody Garbrandt (11-1, 9 KOs) at UFC 227 on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The main card airs live on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET following the FS1 prelims.
TJ Dillashaw is looking to put Cody Garbrandt behind him for good. After dealing with months of traitor accusations and tough guy posturing, Dillashaw turned out Garbrandt’s lights last November to claim the 135-pound belt. Now, he’s got to do it all over again in an immediate rematch this Saturday. Only this time, it’s TJ that’s holding the strap.
Garbrandt has dialed back the trash talk this time around, humbled by his first career loss. But you know that somebody as competitive and prideful as the former champ is itching to get that one back and bring it home for Team Alpha Male. It’s not like he got owned in the first scrap either - he definitively won the first round before eating a monster head kick in the second that was the beginning of the end.
An immediate rematch raises some questions since Garbrandt never even defended his title once. Raphael Assuncao and Marlon Moraes all have valid claims to a challenge. But this is the money fight era, and it’s easier to sell a grudge match. Garbrandt’s also the biggest name available since Dominick Cruz is injured (again).
Nobody’s complaining about this. These are clearly the two best guys in the division right now and the outcome could be totally different this time around. And what we’re interested in is betting on the results. Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break it down.
Bet on UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Cody Garbrandt -102
TJ Dillashaw -118
Fight goes/doesn’t go to decision: +220 / -300
Striking Stats
Significant strikes landed p/m: Dillashaw 5.26 / Garbrandt 3.45
Accuracy: Dillashaw 40.58% / Garbrandt 37.04%
Significant strikes absorbed p/m: Dillashaw 2.91 / Garbrandt 2.99
Defense: Dillashaw 66.35% / Garbrandt 69.06%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Dillashaw 1.73 / Garbrandt 1.06
Takedown accuracy: Dillashaw 37.5% / Garbrandt 38.46%
Takedowns defended: Dillashaw 85.29% / Garbrandt 100%
Submission average: Dillashaw 0.98 / Garbrandt 0
Matchup Preview
Let’s start with the wrestling. Both guys are elite in different ways. Dillashaw excels at takedowns within the flow of his shifty offense, and has the NCAA credentials to win with top control - as he showed against John Lineker. Garbrandt was a national championship high school wrestler before he signed on with Team Alpha Male, a top gym filled with great grapplers. But Garbrandt’s uses his skills defensively, and he has yet to be taken down inside the octagon.
I think it’s safe to say that their wrestling cancels each other out. There might be an opportunistic takedown here or there, but it isn’t worth the energy to try and keep these guys pinned to the mat.
That brings us to a kickboxing scenario, and they each have the tools to beat each other. Dillashaw showed us that his creativeness and unpredictability could pay off, as he caught Garbrandt when he stopped setting up his head kick. But prior to that, Garbrandt was tuning him up on the feet with his superior quickness and his famed fands.
The edge in knockout power still belongs to Garbrandt - he’s one of only true one-hitter quitters at 135. At 27, he’s among the best athletes as well, pretty much unequaled when it comes to reactive counters. But Dillashaw is as tricky as they come, and that guile paid off in a big way.
So the question here is whether you believe Garbrandt just got caught, or if TJ’s just too slick for him. Because it sure looked like No Love was gonna style on Dillashaw like he did to Cruz.
UFC Odds Pick: Garbrandt to win at -102
This fight is pretty much a coin flip, and it’s smart to lean towards the underdog in that scenario. Despite Dillashaw’s knockout, he’s not really a KO artist to begin with. Cody’s got the gas to guy 25 minutes easy, and a ton of time to land a fight-changing blow.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
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 227 takes place on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The main card airs live on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET following the FS1 prelims.
