A woman’s main event takes centre stage this weekend, when Holly Holm returns against rising contender Ketlen Viera. In the co-main, Santiago Ponzinibbio faces Michel Pereira in a fight sure sure to provide fireworks and Chidi Njokuani and Dusko Todorovic square off in what should be a main card war. We take a look at my best three bets on this weekend's UFC card below.
UFC Fight Night Betting Tips
Holly Holm vs Ketlan Viera
Holly Holm has been a perennial title contender who now finds herself more of a gatekeeper for the women’s elite. This fight is a pretty linear equation. If the fight takes place on the ground Viera wins and if it stays on the feet Holm wins. With that being said, I see Holm being able to keep this on the feet and completely dominate her foe. ‘The Preachers Daughter’ is incredibly strong and boasts a near 80% takedown defense and should be able to keep it at range and punish Viera as she attempts to close the distance.
Just because Viera beat Miesha Tate I am not getting the party hats out. In her fight before that she was beaten by Yana Kunitskaya. Holm may be coming off a long layoff into this fight but I find it hard to believe that she doesn’t completely pick apart the Brazilian.
Value:
By Submission/KO/TKO ($4.33 at Bet365)
Chase Hooper vs Felipe Colares
I will admit this tip may be biassed as I am a jiu jitsu lover but I believe Chase Hooper will be able to get Colares out of there.
Chase Hooper is now 2-2 in the UFC after going on an impressive run on the regional scene. Hooper has excellent jiu jitsu but lacks the striking and wrestling to get the fight to the mat. For mine his biggest flaw is his wrestling not his striking. Hooper has an 18% takedown success rate and has been left frustrated by mediocre opposition in Steven Peterson and Alex Caceres. That being said Colares is an ultra-aggressive fighter who is likely to engage Hooper on the mat. While he is well averse on the ground, with half of his professional MMA wins coming via submission, that is recipe for disaster against the creative and awkward Hooper.
Back Hooper to get the stoppage at great odds.
Chase Hooper by SUB/KO
$4.00
Jonathan Martinez vs Vince Morales
Jonathan Martinez is on quite the run, winning six of his last eight fights and matches up perfectly against his opponent here in Vince Morales.
Morales will need to get in tight to win this fight, something that he struggled to do against a very similar opponent to Martinez in Chris Gutierrez. Expect a patient Martinez to chip away at Morales’ lead leg on route to a rather comfortable decision victory.
Jonathan Martinez by decision
$2.20
