UFC Fight Night 124 odds: Latest Vegas lines and betting guide for ‘Stephens vs Choi’

Bangfest!

Two heavy hitters attempt to crack the increasingly volatile Featherweight elite this Sunday evening (Jan. 14, 2018) when the “Korean Superboy,” Doo Ho Choi, throws down with Jeremy Stephens in St. Louis, Mo., in UFC Fight Night 124’s main event of the evening. The supporting cast on FOX Sports 1’s main card includes Uriah Hall vs. Vitor Velfort, Paige VanZant vs. Jessica Rose-Clark and Kamaru Usman vs. Emil Meek.

What better way to start the New Year than with some extra dough? Here’s how to bank some early spending money:

What Went Wrong at UFC 219?

For a night that turned a profit, quite a bit. Louis Smolka got decimated on the feet and never even tried a takedown, while Khalil Rountree gassed out in three minutes. I can’t blame the Marc Diakiese failure on an idiotic gameplan, though — I genuinely underestimated Dan Hooker. He has come a long way since getting torn to shreds by Maximo Blanco and I’m looking forward to his future in the Lightweight division.

It was a rough year, but we ended up just barely in the black. Considering how much better things went with a bigger infusion, let’s go with a bit more starting money this time around. How’s $300 sound?

UFC Fight Night 124 Odds For The Undercard:

Michael Johnson (-150) vs. Darren Elkins (+130)
James Krause (-155) vs. Alex White (+135)
Matt Frevola (-230) vs. Polo Reyes (+190)
Zak Cummings (-210) vs. Thiago Alves (+175)
Jessica Eye (-115) vs. Kalindra Faria (-105)
Irene Aldana (-230) vs. Talita Bernardo (+190)
Kyung Ho Kang (-335) vs. Guido Cannetti (+275)
J.J. Aldrich (-130) vs. Danielle Taylor (+110)
Mike Santiago (-170) vs. Mads Burnell (+150)

Thoughts: I think Thiago Alves still has some life left in him, honestly. I was ready to write him off after the Jim Miller debacle, but he looked extremely composed and effective against Patrick Cote. Cummings is a level above “The Predator,” to be sure, but he can be outmaneuvered on the feet and has yet to beat a striker of Alves’ caliber. In addition, Alves generally has rock-solid takedown defense, which should let him shut down Cummings’ wrestling offense and batter his lead leg into submission.

Besides Alves, James Krause and Kyung Ho Kang are worth a look. While Alex White is tough and gritty, Krause is better-rounded and has a two-inch height advantage. As far as Kang, he’s an exponentially better grappler than Cannetti and — while he’s coming off a huge layoff because of mandatory military service — the Argentinian hasn’t fought since 2015 and is almost 40. It’s all “Mr. Perfect” here.

UFC Fight Night 124 Odds For The Main Card:

Doo Ho Choi (-155) vs. Jeremy Stephens (+135)
Uriah Hall (-300) vs. Vitor Belfort (+250)
Jessica-Rose Clark (-125) vs. Paige VanZant (+105)
Kamaru Usman (-600) vs. Emil Meek (+450)

Thoughts: The favorites in the bottom two fights seem to be worth a look.

I honestly think things are going to get worse for Paige VanZant before they get better. The way she blatantly avoided a fight with Jessica Eye and her struggles in her last three fights are all bad signs. Further, her style is reliant on physically overpowering people in the clinch, which should be more difficult at 125 pounds.

In other words, “Jessy-Jess” is a solid investment.

Kamaru Usman might be champion material. I thoroughly believe he’d smash Colby Covington and give Tyron Woodley everything he could handle. Meek, for all his badassery, just isn’t on his level. Usman by beating.

UFC Fight Night 124 Best Bets:

• Single bet -- Thiago Alves: Bet $60 to make $105
• Parlay -- Kyung Ho Kang and James Krause: Bet $80 to make $91.20
• Parlay -- Jessica Rose-Clark and Kamaru Usman: Bet $77 to make $70.64

Jeremy Stephens vs. Doo Ho Choi is can’t-miss slobber knocker and the rest of the card is littered with quality match ups. See you Sunday, Maniacs!

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver live UFC Fight Night 124 results on fight night, which is as good a place as any to talk about all the action inside the Octagon, as well as what you’ve got riding on the sportsbook.

Initial Investment For 2017: $200 (+$400 infusion)
Final Total: $725.29