We’re just hours away from UFC 185 main card. The favorites all look good, of course, but the underdogs are coming hard tonight. Kevin J will be kickin’ it on twitter during the fights, and he just wants to kick it, just wants to kick it with you @KevJMahon.
Headlining the undercard are Ross Pearson (-430) and Sam “Hand of Stone” Stout (+380). I have my concerns about Stout’s chin after more than 30 professional fights, but the octagon veteran still has the power to stop Pearson.
Now that Henry Cejudo (-750) has made weight and looked good doing it, Chris Cariaso (+600) is going to have his work cut out for him in the first bout of the main card. I’m liking Cejudo to get the win almost as much as everyone else is, so maybe place a small bet on Cariaso at 6-to-1 and don’t expect to get it back.
Moving on, Alistair Overeem (-145) is the more technically skilled attacker, but his suspect chin leaves him open to Big Country’s (+135) heavy hands. Expect a short affair, one way or the other.
Johny Hendricks (-425) is hungry for a chance to get his title back, but he may run into a roadblock in Matt Brown (+378). Brown is one of the toughest men in the UFC, having never been knocked out in 31 pro fights. If it comes down to technique, give it to Hendricks, but if it comes down to heart, Brown could come away with it. Both men have a heavy-handed style, so expect a slugfest.
The first title fight of the evening pits challenger Joanna Jedrzejczyk (+130) against champion Carla Esparza (-150). I think that Carla is much more dominant here than the oddsmakers are giving her credit for. There’s no doubt that Joanna has been bringing the heat in the pre-fight leadup, but if there’s one thing that we know about the champ, it’s that she’s a serious scrapper. Expect an intense, competitive fight, but also expect Jedrzejczyk to be put through the woodchipper by the end of it.
Topping off the main card is the Lightweight title bout between challenger Rafael Dos Anjos (+450) and champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis (-525). Dos Anjos had evolved into an absolute monster, and is more of a threat than the odds reflect. All the same, Pretty Tony is one of the most dynamic and offensively gifted fighters that the 155lbs weightclass has ever seen.
Don’t get it twisted, I’m picking the favorites across the board tonight, but I’m also calling for at least 2 upsets tonight between the main card and the Pearson/Stout fight.
If you’re brave, RDA and Matt Brown could make you money tonight. Otherwise, just throw your favorite favorites into a parley or two. Don’t forget about Duffey and li’l Pettis on the prelims.
Keep your hands up, protect yourself at all times, and come back next time for the next Rabbit Punch!
Above odds from 5Dimes as reported by bestfightodds.com at the time this article was posted
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