Tatiana Suarez is a big favorite over Carla Esparza at UFC 228 on Saturday in Dallas, Texas. This event is one of four on the FX portion of the preliminary card. Esparza is 13-5 in her career, while Suarez is 6-0 in her career. There are a total of five fights on the main pay-per-view card at UFC 228, with the headliner a bout between Tyron Woodley and Darren Till. There are also a total of nine fights on the preliminary card with four on FX and five on UFC Fight Pass. Let’s look at the bout between Esparza and Suarez and UFC picks.
UFC 228 Betting at BookMaker.eu
Carla Esparza (13-5, 4-3 UFC)
Esparza came into the UFC with a record of 9-2 and she has four wins and three losses in the UFC. She defeated Rose Namajunas by submission, Juliana Lima by unanimous decision, Maryna Moroz by unanimous decision, and Cynthia Calvillo by unanimous decision; while losing to Joanna Jedrzejczyk by TKO, Randa Markos by split decision, and Cláudia Gadelha by split decision. Esparza has been a pro since 2010 and has three wins by TKO/KO and four by submission. She has three first round finishes.
Tatiana Suarez (6-0, 3-0 UFC)
Suarez came into the UFC with a record of 3-0 and remains undefeated in her career and in the UFC. She defeated Amanda Cooper by submission, Viviane Pereira by unanimous decision, and Alexa Grasso by submission. Suarez has been a pro since 2014 and has one win by TKO and four by submission. She has three first round finishes.
Suarez said this to mmafighting.com about her upcoming fight against Esparza, “It’s a great matchup, and I think it’s the fight everyone wanted to see. She’s a wrestler, I’m a wrestler, and I think a lot of times when two people are good at those two things it makes for an exciting fight. I’m not one of those people who’s like, I need (a title shot) now, or at this time.
I’m enjoying my journey, and all I care about is who is in front of me. I don’t worry about the next person beyond what’s in front of me. I do think about when I beat Carla, I’ll probably be this number. Then I’ll probably fight somebody else, then Rose (Namajunas) or whatever. But I don’t put it in my head that, I need to win this fight because I need to get a title shot. I put in my head, I need to win this fight because someone else is trying to beat me.”
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Esparza 2.48 / Suarez 4.15
Accuracy: Esparza 38% / Suarez 66%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Esparza 2.69/ Suarez 0.93
Defense: Esparza 58% / Suarez 42%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Esparza 3.92 / Suarez 6.29
Accuracy: Esparza 36% / Suarez 81%
Takedowns defended: Esparza 57% / Suarez 0%
Submission average: Esparza 0.5 / Suarez 1.4
UFC Picks
Suarez is a big favorite at -550 and is undefeated in the UFC and in her career, but the price may be too high, as Esparza is not without talent. I think there is some value on the underdog at the big price in this one. I do think, however, that the better option is the total. Both of these fighters are going to look to take this fight to the mat and I see it being a dull affair that goes the distance. I will take the rounds to go over.
Main Card (Pay-Per-View)
Welterweight – Tyron Woodley -115 vs. Darren Till
Women’s Flyweight – Valentina Shevchenko -1400 vs. Nicco Montaño
Featherweight – Zabit Magomedsharipov -1100 vs. Brandon Davis
Women’s Strawweight – Jessica Andrade -425 vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Welterweight – Abdul Razak Alhassan -149 vs. Niko Price
Preliminary Card (FX)
Women’s Strawweight – Tatiana Suarez -550 vs. Carla Esparza
Bantamweight – Aljamain Sterling -133 vs. Cody Stamann
Bantamweight – Jimmie Rivera -150 vs. John Dodson
Middleweight – Charles Byrd -225 vs. Darren Stewart
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Welterweight – Craig White -230 vs. Diego Sanchez
Lightweight – Alex White -145 vs. Jim Miller
Women’s Bantamweight – Irene Aldana -120 vs. Lucie Pudilová
Flyweight – Jarred Brooks -335 vs. Roberto Sanchez
Welterweight – Geoff Neal -180 vs. Frank Camacho
UFC 228 Odds at BookMaker.eu
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