Former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler (28-12, 20 KOs, 1 SUB) meets former ONE and Bellator champion Ben Askren (18-0, 6 KOs, 5 SUBs) at UFC 235 on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card airs live on pay-per-view starting 9pm ET.
At long last, Ben Askren is fighting in the UFC. The undefeated welterweight, who won titles in Bellator and One FC, has long been seen as one of the best fighters to never have fought inside the octagon. Part of that was an ongoing beef with UFC president Dana White, as the pair pretty much trashed each other in social media every chance they got.
But after a “trade” that sent former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson to One FC for Askren, we finally get to see how “Funky” gets down against the best fighters in the world. His first task? None other than “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler, former welterweight champion and all-around badass.
This matchup throws Askren straight into the deep end, as Lawler is best known for cracking skulls open and shortening lifespans. As the No. 6 welterweight, Robbie’s name still carries a lot of weight as well. If Askren wants to jump right into title contention, he not only has to win, but also in a way that convinces the brass that he’s ready for the top dogs. Making it look easy against Lawler is about as easy as lassoing a live wolverine.
Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down your best online betting options. Live UFC betting is also available on fight night, so you can hedge your bets between rounds as the fight unfolds.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Ben Askren -270
Robbie Lawler +205
Fight goes/doesn’t go to decision: -195 / +155
Significant Striking Stats
Landed per minute: Lawler 3.56 / Askren NA
Accuracy: Lawler 44% / Askren NA
Absorbed per minute: Lawler 3.99 / Akren NA
Defense: Lawler 60% / Askren NA
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Lawler 0.72 / Askren NA
Accuracy: Lawler 65% / Askren NA
Takedown defense: Lawler 69% / Askren NA
Submission average: Lawler 0 / Askren NA
Bet Lawler vs. Askren at BookMaker.eu
Unfortunately, FightMetric only counts stats for UFC fights, so none of Askren’s numbers are available. We have a pretty good idea what they’d look like, though: heavy on the takedowns, light on the striking. Which is pretty much the opposite of Lawler, whose specialty is rearranging dudes’ faces with his fists.
What we’ve got here is a classic wrestler vs. striker matchup, and oddsmakers tend to favor wrestlers, which is why Askren is more than a 3-1 favorite in the online UFC sportsbooks. Lawler’s takedown defense is solid, but Askren is generally regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the game. He’s a two-time NCAA champion and an Olympian in freestyle wrestling. There might not be a better-credentialed wrestler to be honest.
Here are the best wrestlers on Lawler’s resume: Johny Hendricks, Rory MacDonald. Against both guys, Lawler was able to stay upright, though we can’t say that either of those guys really committed to trying to ground him. Askren will - he almost has to. His striking is fine, but in no way is he armed to throw down with a killer like Robbie.
UFC Odds Pick: Askren to win at -270
Askren is about as one-dimensional as it gets, but nobody’s found a way to stop his funky wrestling style. That might change once he faces other powerhouse wrestlers, but Lawler definitely does not fit that description. As much as we love Robbie’s gritty style, he gets taken down and controlled for most of the fight.
Bet Online: Askren by decision
Though Lawler’s been stopped in seven of his 12 losses, he’s still one of those guys that’s too tough for their own good. Askren doesn’t have the killshot power to put him away, and the last time Ruthless lost by submission, it came at the hands of BJJ ace Jacare Souza - in 2011.
Bet on UFC odds online 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 235 takes place on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card airs live on pay-per-view starting 9pm ET.
