UFC 207 Betting Tips
The UFC is ending 2016 with a bang. The UFC 207 card brings back the queen of mixed martial arts Ronda Rousey who will finally make a return to the Octagon following her first ever defeat. The American will take on newly crowned bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes in the headliner title fight of the December 30th card taking place at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The UFC has stacked the card with another belt on the line as Dominick Cruz will defend his strap against the undefeated Cody Garbrandt in the co-headliner. Expect the unexpected with this top card with 11 fights with 7 current or former UFC title holders.
Brandon Thatch (11-4) v Niko Price (8-0)
Brandon Thatch (11-4) will try to end a three fight losing streak as he takes on Niko Price (8-0). Although Thatch has shown a major weakness in his ability to defend submissions, he is a big favourite here against the newcomer Price who will look to bang on the feet. Expect fireworks and a stoppage from Thatch in this one.
Marvin Vettori (11-2) v Antonio Carlos Junior (7-2)
Italian Marvin Vettori (11-2) is a submission specialist, but might have to look for strikes against Antonio Carlos Junior (7-2). This will be the middleweight debut for Antonio, so time will tell how the Brazilian will perform after the drop in weight class.
Tim Means (26-7-1) v Alex Oliveira (15-3-1)
As usual, the final fight of the early prelims will be a crowd pleasing brawl. After a four-year absence, Tim Means (26-7-1) has returned to welterweight stopping four of his five opponents. Alex Oliveira (15-3-1) is on a two fight winning streak and won’t be taking a step backwards. Look for the reach of Means’ strikes to make this difference in this pick ’em fight.
Louis Smolka (11-2-0) v Ray Borg (9-2)
41-year-old Mike Pyle (27-12-1) has taken one too many punches in his long career, and this fight may just be his last. Quicksand comes in as an underdog, and it will be up to Alex Garcia (13-3) to test the Las Vegas resident’s chin and see if it is indeed time to hang up the gloves.
Mike Pyle (27-12-1) v Alex Garcia (13-3)
41-year-old Mike Pyle (27-12-1) has taken one too many punches in his long career, and this fight may just be his last. Quicksand comes in as an underdog, and it will be up to Alex Garcia (13-3) to test the Las Vegas resident’s chin and see if it is indeed time to hang up the gloves.
Tarec Saffiedine (16-5) v Dong Hyun Kim (21-3-1)
The sometimes forgotten Tarec Saffiedine (16-5) and flashy Dong Hyun Kim (21-3-1) is a pick ‘em, but the Belgium fighter has the skills to take out Stun Gun. While Saffiedine can pick up the pace in later rounds, Kim fades away. Look for Saffiedine to chop down the Korean fighter with leg kicks all the way to victory.
Johny Hendricks (17-5) v Neil Magny (18-6)
How quickly the former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks (17-5) has fallen. The former NCAA wrestling champion has lost three of his last four bouts, and is a shell of himself as of late. Hendricks says he will retire if he loses this bout to Neil Magny (18-6). Magny will have to dodge the big left hand of Big Rigg or he will be counting stars early. With superior power and wrestling, I like the slight favourite Hendricks to get back on track here.
TJ Dillashaw (14-3) v John Lineker (29-7)
Former champ TJ Dillashaw (14-3) is a big favourite over John Lineker (29-7). After dodging a few bombs from the Hands of Stone, TJ should will use his footwork and speed to frustrate an unpolished Brazilian on his way to a three-round decision in the first fight of the main card.
Cain Velasquez (14-2) v Fabricio Werdum (21-6-1)
Cain Velasquez (14-2) was sent to UFC 188 in Mexico to give the local fans a reason to celebrate one of their own, but instead it was Fabricio Werdum (21-6-1) spoiling the party by submitting a tired Velasquez. Werdum went into their first fight as a big underdog and many give the mile-high altitude most of the credit for stopping Velasquez and not the Brazilian. One of the best grapplers to ever compete in the UFC is a big underdog here, but I don’t see why. If you are looking for a play that has a chance to land, why not do it on Werdum to catch the American based fighter for the second time in this rematch.
Dominick Cruz (22-1) v Cody Garbrandt (10-0)
The co-headliner brings together two California-based fighters as Dominick Cruz (22-1) will defend his bantamweight belt against Cody Garbrandt (10-0). Garbrandt has three first round TKO/KO stoppages in 2016, all in the first round. No Love will have 25 minutes to try and catch the chin of The Dominator, but it is unlikely to happen. Cruz has made a career out of using his footwork and long reach to keeping the distance from opponents.
Ronda Rousey (12-1) v Amanda Nunes (13-4)
Ronda Rousey (12-1) is back! For the first time Rowdy will be looking to re-capture a belt and not defend it. Amanda Nunes (13-4) won the belt with a dominant victory over Miesha Tate in July and is on a four fight winning streak.
This is a striker versus grappler matchup, with the American wanting this desperately to get to the ground. Coming off a knockout 13 months ago, all the pressure is on Rousey as she is the betting favourite in this bantamweight showdown.
The standing game of Rousey is too big of a weakness and the Lioness should outstrike the Hollywood star. Look for the downfall of the one-time dominant fighter to start here. The stage has been primed for an upset in main event of the year-ending fight.
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.
