Former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (14-2, 12 KOs) meets knockout artist Francis Ngannou (12-3, 8 KOs, 4 SUBs) at UFC on ESPN 1 on Saturday, February 17, 2019 at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. The main card airs live on ESPN starting 9pm ET.
It’s been over two and a half years since Cain Velasquez last fought. But the former heavyweight champion is back, and his return is genuinely one of the more compelling storylines for 2019. Though the division has gone on without him, with Stipe Miocic breaking the record for most heavyweight title defenses and teammate Daniel Cormier taking the belt from Miocic, many still remember Velasquez as the man who had all the talent to be the GOAT.
Naturally, we’re all still curious to see if Velasquez can pick up where he left off. We’ve lost count of how many major surgeries the man has had, and though he’s come back before as a dominant force, Cain is no 36 years old. It’s not easy to bounce back from a hard training at that age, much less a torn muscle.
Ngannou was able to snap out of a serious funk, knocking out surging contender Curtis Blaydes in less than a minute at UFC Fight Night 141 this past November. It was good to see “The Predator” get back to his crushing ways, but how will he do against the most suffocating wrestler in heavyweight history? What we do know is that if he gets past Velasquez, he’s right back in title contention.
The UFC odds at BookMaker.eu opened with Velasquez as a heavy favorite. Online oddsmakers aren’t buying into Ngannou being able to stop an elite wrestler just yet - Blaydes didn’t even get the chance to try and take him down, and they haven’t forgot just how bad Stipe schooled him. Let’s peep the opening odds and the FightMetric stats.
We’ve also go the early actions you should be taking on the opening UFC odds. Remember, live UFC betting at BookMaker.eu is available on fight night as well.
UFC Betting at BookMaker.eu
Cain Velasquez: -240
Francis Ngannou: +180
Fight goes/doesn’t go to decision: Coming soon
Significant Striking Stats
Landed per minute: Velasquez 6.38 / Ngannou 1.97
Accuracy: Velasquez 57% / Ngannou 36%
Absorbed per minute: Velasquez 2.29 / Ngannou 1.94
Defense: Velasquez 57% / Ngannou 48%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Velasquez 5.15 / Ngannou 0
Takedown accuracy: Velasquez 45% / Ngannou 0%
Takedown defense: Velasquez 85% / Ngannou 70%
Submission average: Velasquez 0.4 / Ngannou 0.5
Bet UFC on ESPN 1 Odds Online at BookMaker.eu
So many questions surrounding Velasquez. Is he the same guy? Can his cardio still be the same in his late 30s? What about his athleticism? Will ring rust be an issue? Has the division passed him by?
We’re all rooting for Velasquez - the heavyweight division is better with a fully healthy Cain around. By now, he’s part of the “old guard”, along with guys like Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt. Ngannou’s meteoric rise came with him mostly on the sidelines, and there was a time when the Frenchman was an undefeated prospect calling him out.
Ngannou’s power is the great equalizer. When he lands, there’s not a soul on the planet that can withstand it. But will he be able to get any shots off against Velasquez’s smothering offense? We saw what happened Stipe was able to do with him, and it shattered his confidence. This could go seriously wrong or ridiculously right for Ngannou.
Early Betting Online
We just can’t pick against Cain right now. If Ngannou is anywhere close to a +275 favorite, then that justifies a small bet considering all the questions surrounding Velasquez and the brutal power that The Predator brings to the table. We’d also suggest going with the rounds under or the prop that the fight doesn’t go to decision. Velasquez has finishes in 12 of his 14 career wins, while Ngannou has gone to decision just three times in his career.
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 on ESPN 1 takes place on Saturday, February 17, 2019 at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. The main card airs live on ESPN starting 9pm ET.
