Another week, another UFC show.
This one comes to us from Minneapolis, Minn., and FX on Friday night. It’s the third straight week with UFC and next week’s UFC 153 will make four.
That means another opportunity to make some wagers – and follow up on a big win last week with UFC on Fuel TV 5. This event presents some difficult lines, but we’ll make due.
Here are the odds, courtesy of 5dimes:
MAIN CARD (FX, 8 p.m.)
Travis Browne (-240) vs. Antonio Silva (+200)
Jake Ellenberger (-360) vs. Jay Hieron (+300)
John Dodson (-280) vs. Jussier da Silva (+240)
Josh Neer (-210) vs. Justin Edwards (+175)
PRELIMS (Fuel TV, 5 p.m..)
Jeremy Stephens (-225) vs. Yves Edwards (+175)
Michael Johnson (-155) vs. Danny Castillo (+125)
Jacob Volkmann (-185) vs. Shane Roller (+155)
Diego Nunes (-180) vs. Bart Palaszewski (+150)
Darren Uyenoyama (-290) vs. Phil Harris (+230)
PRELIMS (Facebook, 4 p.m.)
Carlo Prater (-125) vs. Marcus LeVesseur (-105)
Mike Pierce (-165) vs. Aaron Simpson (+135)
The main event will help sort out the newly deep UFC heavyweight division. But it presents a challenge for bettors. Browne is undefeated at 9-0-1, though he hasn’t exactly fought a murderer’s row of contenders. His best win is over Stefan Struve – that’s a good one – and he fought to a boring draw with Cheick Kongo.
Silva is a much bigger man. If “Big Foot” can put Browne on his back, like he did in a win over Fedor Emelianenko back in Strikeforce, Browne will be in trouble. Silva has solid jiu jitsu and his sheer mass on top can cause serious problems. Browne has only really shown he can strike. If you like underdogs, take Silva here. It’s a solid bet.
Hieron hasn’t fought in the UFC in seven years and his return comes against one of the best young welterweights in the world. Tough break. Hieron has beaten him before, but that was six years ago in the IFL. Ellenberger has excellent power in his hands and is a good wrestler, kind of like a younger version of Hieron. Put Ellenberger in your parlay.
Dodson is one of the most athletically gifted, fun-to-watch fighters in the UFC. Many think he’s the future of the smaller weight classes. Da Silva is making his UFC debut and with that comes perils. He’ll just be another rung in the ladder for Dodson, the former “Ulimate Fighter” winner, who will get a title shot at Demetrious Johnson with a victory. Parlay it.
There are few better nicknames than Neer’s: “The Dentist.” Trying to pick this fight, though, is like pulling teeth. Neer is the clear favorite with a ton more experience. But Justin Edwards has shown some promise. Stay away from this one.
Stephens is not far off being a win or two away from a welterweight title shot. Yves Edwards is fun to watch, but Stephens is better than him in every area. Parlay fodder, I’d say.
I was really impressed with how Michael Johnson looked against Tony Ferguson in May. His entire game has come along nicely. He’s an up and comer and a candidate for a straight bet because of these short odds. Put a few sheckles on him.
If you’re looking to fill out your parlay, take a look at Diego Nunes and Darren Uyenoyama. Nunes is a former featherweight title contender looking to move back up. He’s more well-rounded than Palaszewski. Uyenoyama was a small bantamweight and should be a beneficiary of the new flyweight division. Harris is making his UFC debut, a good as reason as any to bet against him.
BEST BETS
Silva over Browne
Johnson over Castillo
Parlay: Ellenberger, Dodson, Stephens, Nunes, Uyenoyama
LOOKING BACK
By far the best event in the two-month history of this BEST BETS blog post was last week at UFC on Fuel 5. Stefan Struve came out with a knockout win in the second round over Stipe Miocic. And most importantly, our four-Brits-and-an-Icelander parlay held up. Dan Hardy, Brad Pickett, John Hathaway, Che Mills and Gunnar Nelson all won.
Finally, the streak has ended.
RECORDS
Straight nets: 2-7
Parlays: 2-3