UFC 214 odds: Latest Vegas lines and betting guide for 'Cormier vs Jones 2'

After the ravaged dud that was UFC 213, the world largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion is pulling out all the stops this weekend when it touches down inside Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., for UFC 214.

In addition to Daniel Cormier-Jon Jones 2 in the pay-per-view (PPV) main event, the card will feature Tyron Woodley vs. Demian Maia and Cris “Cyborg” vs. Tonya Evinger for the Welterweight and women’s Featherweight titles, respectively. And even before that, there’s Robbie Lawler vs. Donald Cerrone and Jimi Manuwa vs. Volkan Oezdemir.

How could this possibly get any better? If you were to make a huge amount of money while watching, that’s how. Check out the odds behind UFC 214 below:

What Went Wrong at UFC on FOX 25?

Damn near everything. I do think Dennis Bermudez deserved the decision over Darren Elkins, but it didn’t wind up making a difference. Ryan LaFlare had one round that went perfectly according to plan, then got slept in one hit. Thomas Almeida was damn close to getting the upset win, but two judges didn’t give him round two despite a hard knockdown and more landed strikes. I don’t know. MMA is dumb.

UFC 214 Odds For The Undercard:

Jason Knight (-125) vs. Ricardo Lamas (+105)
Aljamain Sterling (-135) vs. Renan Barão (+115)
Renato Moicano (-145) vs. Brian Ortega (+125)
Andre Fili (-355) vs. Calvin Kattar (+295)
Aleksandra Albu (-160) vs. Kailin Curran (+140)
Jarred Brooks (-150) vs. Eric Shelton (+130)
Drew Dober (-350) vs. Josh Burkman (+290)

Thoughts: This is only the second time in Renan Barao’s Zuffa career that he’s been an underdog. Take advantage of this. The Brazilian hasn’t been taken down in seven years despite multiple quality wrestlers trying and his striking still outstrips Sterling’s by a fair margin. Barao will probably never crack the Featherweight elite, but this style match up favors him in a big way.

Renato Moicano and Eric Shelton are worth looks, as well. Ortega, while adept at delivering brilliant moments, has yet to show any real consistency and will be facing a height and reach disadvantage, which compounds the issues he faces with a superior boxer and wrestler. Shelton, meanwhile, has given elite Featherweight fighters everything they could handle and faces a fighter in Brooks who, though game as all get out, is undersized and still too raw in the striking.

UFC 214 Odds For The Main Card:

Jon Jones (-250) vs. Daniel Cormier (+230)
Tyron Woodley (-220) vs. Demian Maia (+180)
Cristiane Justino (-1300) vs. Tonya Evinger (+850)
Robbie Lawler (-155) vs. Donald Cerrone (+135)
Jimi Manuwa (-170) vs. Volkan Oezdemir (+150)

Thoughts: I am still not sold on Volkan Oezdemir. It’s questionable whether he deserved the nod against Ovince Saint Preux and I — who graduated from Vanderbilt with a degree in mechanical engineering — still can’t figure out the physics behind his knockout of Misha Cirkunov. Manuwa, though getting up there in age, has shown real improvement and figures to be the bigger hitter. He’s worth an investment.

UFC 214 Best Bets:

Single bet -- Renan Barao: Bet $10 to make $11.50
Single bet -- Eric Shelton: Bet $9 to make $11.70
Parlay -- Renato Moicano and Jimi Manuwa: Bet $15 to make $25.20

Three title fights, two clashes between knockout artists, and a stacked undercard to set it all up. Can’t ask for more! See you Saturday, Maniacs.

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