A clash of princes.
Former Lightweight ruler Frankie Edgar will look for his fifth featherweight victory and a possible title shot later this evening (Fri., Dec. 11, 2015) when he takes on Chad Mendes in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 22 Finale, which takes place inside "The Chelsea" in The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In addition, Artem Lobov faces Ryan Hall in the show's tournament final, while Tony Ferguson takes on Edson Barboza in a clash of two of the 155-pound division's most fearsome strikers.
We've got some quality match ups on tap and thankfully, some good gambling opportunities as well. Here are the numbers behind TUF 22 Finale.
Note: For the latest UFC betting lines -- and additional gambling resources -- be sure to check out OddsShark.com before showtime.
TUF 22 Finale Odds For The Undercard:
Konstantin Erokhin (-105) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (-105)
Ryan LaFlare (-225) vs. Mike Pierce (+205)
Geane Herrera (-110) vs. Joby Sanchez (-110)
Chris Gruetzemacher (-185) vs. Abner Lloveras (+155)
Thoughts: It’s a damn shame that Erokhin isn’t still an underdog, because that could have been a bargain for the ages. Still, the Russian is worth a look.
Erokhin’s punches are what meteors put posters of in their workout rooms. In a division full of men who can unleash one-hit finishes, he very nearly stands alone. I am willing to attribute his struggles with Pesta to Octagon jitters, and even if that weren’t the case, Gonzaga doesn’t have anywhere near the chin to withstand what Erokhin can dish out.
Go big on Konstantin.
TUF 22 Finale Odds For The Main Card:
Frankie Edgar (-130) vs. Chad Mendes (+110)
Artem Lobov (-175) vs. Ryan Hall (+145)
Tony Ferguson (170) vs. Edson Barboza (+160)
Evan Dunham (-200) vs. Joe Lauzon (+170)
Tatsuya Kawajiri (-240) vs. Jason Knight (+220)
Julian Erosa (-140) vs. Marcin Wrzosek (+110)
Thoughts: Evan Dunham is an above-average pressure striker. He is an absolutely amazing submission grappler. While Lauzon is more creative on the mat, Dunham’s rock-solid defensive grappling and endless gas tank both pose major threats. Dunham has the tools to break down Lauzon the way Jim Miller and others have before, so parlay him with Erokhin for big bucks.
As far as the others, I’m picking Chad Mendes and Edson Barboza, but not with the kind of confidence a bet would require. I do think Wrzosek could be worth a look, though. Erosa’s very hittable and "The Polish Zombie" has some very nice hand speed and combination work.
TUF 22 Finale Best Bets:
- Parlay -- Konstantin Erokhin and Evan Dunham: Bet $50 to make $96.50
- Single bet -- Marcin Wrzosek: Bet $30 to make $33
Terrific main event and the supporting cast ain't bad, either.
See you there, Maniacs!