Rise and shine, it's time for some punching.
It's another early-morning (Sat., March 1, 2014) show for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as it returns to Cotai Arena in Macau, China, with The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): "China" Finale.
In addition to the TUF: "China" welterweight finale between the last two contestants standing, Wang Sai and Zhang Lipeng, the international mixed martial arts (MMA) card will also feature a clash between 170-pound standouts Dong Hyun "Stun Hun" Kim and John Hathaway.
In addition, a heavyweight bout between knockout artists Shawn Jordan and Matt Mitrione is also on tap for the Fight Pass main card.
If there's anything that can shake those morning gumblies, it's cold hard cash. Therefore, let's see how much we can make you with the latest TUF: "China" betting guide below:
TUF: "China" Finale Odds For The Under Card:
Yui Chul Nam (-180) vs. Kazuki Tokudome (+140)
Zak Cummings (-135) vs. Alberto Mina (-105)
Albert Cheng (-135) vs. Anying Wang (-105)
Jumabieke Tuerxun (-245) vs. Mark Eddiva (+175)
Thoughts: You want safe bets? I’m loving the lines on Nam and Tuerxun.
Tokudome -- though gutsy as hell -- just does not have the chin or wrestling ability to handle Nam’s onslaught. Neither is he crisp nor powerful enough to counter "The Korean Bulldozer’s" wide swings. Watching Tokudome get run over by Isao Kobayashi using Nam’s favored tactic of punch spamming has me thinking he won’t last long against Nam.
Lay some down on the Korean.
As I mentioned in my preview for the bout (read it here), there is a 100 percent correlation between being part of Team Lakay and having atrocious takedown defense. Mark Eddiva does not have the skills to stop Tuerxun on the feet nor prevent Jumabieke from taking him down and working him over from there.
In other words, I feel comfortable recommending a hefty bet on Tuerxun, especially when you factor in Eddiva’s total lack of competition and long time away fro the sport.
TUF: "China" Finale Odds For The Main Card:
Dong Hyun Kim (-350) vs. John Hathaway (+290)
Wang Sai (N/A) vs. Zhang Lipeng (N/A)
Shawn Jordan (-165) vs. Matt Mitrione (+125)
Nam Phan (-165) vs. Vaughan Lee (+125)
Hatsu Hioki (-380) vs. Ivan Menjivar (+260)
Thoughts: What’s that? An actual under dog pick from Stumberg? Say it ain’t so!
Oh, but it is. I’m putting my neck on the line and recommending a bet on Lee.
Lee is by no means a world-beater, but to be frank, Phan has the worst ground defense in the universe. Literally everyone who has put him on his back recently has beaten the snot out of him from there. Lee is also a competent-enough striker to at least handle Nam’s boxing offense long enough to wrangle him down.
Nam’s hard to submit. He’s just stupidly easy to hit in the face once you take him down. Bet accordingly.
TUF: "China" Finale Best Bets
- Parlay -- Yui Chul Nam and Jumabieke Tuerxun: Bet $80 to make $96
- Parlay -- Jumabieke Tuerxun and Vaughan Lee: Bet $50 to make $108.5
If nothing else, at least we're likely to get some early finishes ... literally.
See you there, Maniacs.
Running Profit For 2014 Based On This Column: $226.10