The Irish takeover continues.
Conor McGregor will look to earn an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title shot with his fifth straight victory inside the Octagon, promising to dispatch of Octagon veteran Dennis Siver in the first round of their main event bout at UFC Fight Night 59 this Sunday (Jan. 18, 2015) at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
The rest of the card features an outstanding lightweight match up between former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) rivals Donald Cerrone and Benson Henderson as the two men collide for the third time in their respective careers. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): "Smashes" winner Norman Parke is also slated on the main card, taking on tough veteran Gleison Tibau in the opening bout on Fox Sports 1.
UFC Fight Night 59 looks to be an outstanding night for mixed martial arts (MMA) fans, so why not try to spice things up and rack up some dough by betting?
Lets check it out:
UFC Fight Night 59 Odds For The Under Card:
Sean Spencer (-160) vs. Cathal Pendred (+130)
Lorenz Larkin (-155) vs. John Howard (+125)
Chris Wade (-500) vs. Zhang Lipeng (+350)
Patrick Holohan (-270) vs. Shane Howell (+210)
Johnny Case (-185) vs. Frankie Perez (+150)
Charles Rosa (-145) vs. Sean Soriano (+115)
Sean O'Connell (-190) vs. Matt Van Buren (+155)
Joby Sanchez (-170) vs. Tateki Matsuda (+140)
Thoughts: While these are certainly not the best lines you will ever see, I am enticed by favorites Joby Sanchez and Charles Rosa, as well as the under dog in John Howard.
While Sanchez is still relatively green in mixed martial arts (MMA), the 23-year old was impressive in his Octagon debut against Wilson Reis in Aug. 2014. After nearly finishing Reis, Sanchez's inexperience allowed his opposition to storm back en route to a unanimous decision.
This time around, Sanchez is taking on much weaker competition in Tateki Matsuda. At 10-6, Matsuda is just on the edge of being "UFC caliber," and I fully expect Sanchez to get the better of Matsuda wherever the fight takes place. While it will be difficult to finish Matsuda, Sanchez should leave Boston with his first career victory.
Boston native Charles Rosa returns to his old stomping grounds this weekend, and you can expect an impressive performance from the relative newcomer this Sunday against Sean Soriano. Taking his UFC debut against the ever-tough Dennis Siver on just a weeks' notice, "The Boston Strangler" impressed with his overall game and varied attack.
With Soriano slumping inside the Octagon following two straight defeats, expect Rosa to put on a show, earning his first UFC victory by way of submission in the second round.
The only underdog that I am interested in on the undercard is welterweight knockout artist John Howard. While "Doomsday" will likely have a large speed disadvantage against Larkin, that did not stunt middleweight Costa Philippou from knocking out "The Monsoon" in the very first round last May.
With Larkin riding a three fight losing streak, and his confidence certainly waning, one slight misstep could spell the end of his UFC career as he wakes up to a screaming Boston crowd. While I certainly could see Larkin taking home a decision victory if he stays on the outside and avoids his opposition's power, I think Howard unleashes his right hand, finishing the job in the first round.
UFC Fight Night 59 Odds For The Main Card:
Conor McGregor (-1100) vs. Dennis Siver (+650)
Ben Henderson (-145) vs. Donald Cerrone (+115)
Uriah Hall (-850) vs. Ron Stallings (+525)
Gleison Tibau (-150) vs. Norman Parke (+120)
Thoughts: The two major favorites -- Uriah Hall and Conor McGregor -- should both win on Sunday night, but that doesn't mean it is not worth putting down a small bet on 18-fight UFC veteran Dennis Siver. Many forget that while Siver is not the wrestler to stunt McGregor's savvy striking attack, the German himself is a pretty impressive striker in his own right. While I do believe "The Notorious" one will leave Boston with a victory, crazier things have happened in the sport than Siver defeating McGregor on Sunday night.
The only other intriguing line here is the lightweight bout between Donald Cerrone and Benson Henderson. First off, lets consider both these men wildly different -- and better -- fighters than their previous two meetings that saw "Smooth" defeat "Cowboy". Even on a six-fight win streak, Cerrone finds himself the underdog this Sunday. While it is a tough fight to call, a small bet on Cerrone would not break the bank, and could pay a pretty penny if indeed Cerrone can pull off two victories in a span of two weeks.
If Cerrone is to defeat Henderson, he will need to show off improved takedown defense, and put a beating on the former champion while standing. Considering how deadly "Cowboy" has been in the striking department as of late, it is not impossible to suggest he will dominate "Smooth" on the feet if he can stay upright.
Bottom Line: The odds for UFC Fight Night 59 are not outstanding, but there is certainly money to be made if you bet cautiously and smart. While I won't delve into my specific picks, I am confident in my locks for Joby Sanchez, Chris Wade (even at his outlandish price), Charles Rosa, and Johnny Case.
Good luck ... and enjoy the fights!