UFC 208 Betting Tips
UFC 208 is headlined by a newly introduced women’s featherweight division. The former bantamweight champ Holly Holm, known for her brutal KO of Rhonda Rousey, takes on the Netherlands’ Germaine de Randamie for the title.
While the card lacks overall star power, it does highlight perhaps the greatest mixed martial arts fighter of all time in Anderson Silva. The Spider faces a top ten ranked fighter in Derek Brunson in the co-main event.
The event goes down in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center on Saturday, February 11.
Rick Glenn (18-4-1) V Phillipe Nover (11-7-1)
Brooklyn’s own Phillipe Nover will take on American Rick Glenn. The Filipino Assasin comes in as a slight favorite, but has been unsuccessful in the Octagon with only one out of five wins. Keep an eye on Glenn that was the previous WSOF featherweight champion.
Roan Carneiro (21-10-0) V Ryan LaFlare (12-1-0)
Ryan LaFlare is another local on the card as the Long Island wrestler will face Brazilian Roan Carneiro. The 38 year old Carneiro has won his last seven of eight bouts after squeaking by with a split decision in his last outing in September.
Jarred Brooks (11-0-0) V Ian McCall (13-5-1)
Ian McCall has a very late replacement opponent in Jarred Brooks. McCall’s original opponent, Neil Seery, announced that he had to pull out of the bout due to the death in the family. McCall is the favorite here, but with injuries and other personal distractions, Uncle Creepy is always a risky bet While Brooks will be a smaller fighter, the American has the opportunity to surprise the veteran with in his UFC debut.
Wilson Reis (21-6-0) V Ulka Sasaki (19-3-2)
Wilson Reis was in line for a title shot until flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson pulled out due to injury. Now the Brazilian comes into this bout with Japan’s Ulka Sasaki as the biggest favorite on the card. Once the fight goes to the ground, Reis will look for a submission against Sasaki.
Nik Lentz (27-7-2) V Islam Makhachev (13-1-0)
In addition to growing a fabulous beard, Nick Lentz has put together two straight wins since moving up to the featherweight division. The Carny will be an underdog when facing Russian Islam Makhachev. The injury prone Lentz is a risky bet in this one.
Jim Miller (28-8-0) V Dustin Poirier (20-5-0)
The safest bet for the fight of the night is between the always entertaining Jim Miller and Dustin Poirier. With both fighters outside of title contention, they have turned their styles into crowd pleasing brawling. Miller will have the advantage with the grappling, while the always dangerous Poirier will look to land punches and kicks. Poirier is a solid favorite based on winning four out of five bouts after moving up to the lightweight division.
Randy Brown (9-1) V Belal Muhammad (10-2)
Belal Muhammad will try to make a quick return as a late replacement after getting KO’d last November. This is not a good idea. Look for hot prospect Brown, who will be fighting close to home, to stop Muhammad before the final bell rings.
Marcin Tybura (14-2) V Justin Willis (4-1)
It is rare that a fighter with only five professional fights steps into the Octagon, but with Marcin Tybura losing his original opponent, the big man Willis will get the opportunity. The Polish heavyweight Tybura is coming off an impressive head-kick KO in his last UFC bout, but with these two strong men it will be a coin flip who will be standing after they exchange heavy blows.
Tim Boetsch (20-10-0) V Ronaldo Souza (23-4-0)
Ronaldo Souza is one of the best submission grapplers in the UFC and the Brazilian will put on a show against the American wrestler Tim Boetsch. It is hard to understand why this match was made as Jacare should be fighting for the middleweight belt. After the slugger Boetsch misses a few punches, expect the Brazilian to be celebrating with a victory in the cage.
Jared Cannonier (9-1-0) V Glover Teixeira (25-5-0)
Glover Teixeira was KO’s in 13 seconds in his last fight against Anthony Johnson. If the Brazilian keeps light on his feet, he should leave unscathed against Jared Cannonier. Teixeira still has power, speed, and good wrestling. The 37-year-old is a safe favorite here.
Derek Brunson (16-4-0) V Anderson Silva (33-8-0)
The UFC 208 card needed some star power, and they brought in Anderson Silva to get that pop. One of the greatest of all time was brought in on just two days notice to face light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in a non-title fight. The legend will fight an unlikely opponent in Derek Brunson who is also coming off a loss. At 41-years-old and losing four out of five fights, Brunson has the punching power to end the fight. The odds have it playing out that Brunson comes away with the win. Consider a play on the Brazilian to secure one more win here before he ends his career.
Holly Holm (10-2-0) V Germaine de Randamie (6-3-0)
The inaugural women’s featherweight title was going to be a star studded showdown between American Holly Holm and the pound-for-pound best female in the world Cristiane Justino. However, Cyborg, turned down the bout and instead Germaine de Randamie stepped in. Both fighters last fought at the 135-pound category, but move up to the 145-pound division for a shot at the UFC belt.
Holm, a former professional boxing champion, has suffered consecutive losses since her shocking KO over the Ronda Rousey in 2015. Expect new life in the striker that will challenge another striker in Mandamie. The 32-year-old Dutch kickboxer has won two straight fights by stoppage.
This is a pick’em bout, but Holm’s wrestling might just make the difference. The American has been working her grappling for years and if she can put Randamie on the ground, we could see an unexpected submission or ground-and-pound stoppage.
About Ryan O’Leary
Ryan O’Leary is the founder of MMAViking.com, the premier source for daily mixed martial arts news in the Nordics. Established in 2008, the UFC credentialed media source has covered over 200 events cageside.
