The UFC heads to Austin, Texas for this weekend’s UFC card headlined by Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett in what should be a Featherweight barnburner. Lightweight legends Joe Lauzon and Donald Cerrone also go head-to-head in the co-main and a new and improved Kevin Holland puts his undefeated 170-pound record on the line when he faces Tim Means. We take a look at my three best bets on this weekend’s UFC card below.
UFC Fight Night Betting Tips
Calvin Kattar vs Josh Emmett
Oh how impressive Calvin Kattar was winning by decision against Giga Chikadze in January. He went into that bout as a sizeable underdog on the back of a loss to former champion Max Holloway. Kattar is now 7-3 inside the Octagon and has extremely polished striking that causes problems to every man not named Max Holloway.
Despite being a high school wrestler Kattar’s boxing is quick and sharp and will likely cause serious problems for Josh Emmett. Emmett is currently on a four-fight winning streak and he has been criminally underrated in so many of his UFC fights to date. He packs some serious power in his strikes despite much like Kattar coming from a wrestling background. In his last seven fights, Emmett has eleven knockdowns to his name.
While Emmett does have that X-Factor power to put Kattar to sleep he has never been the most active and therefore I believe if this fight goes the distance Kattar inevitably gets the decision. Considering his last three fights went the full five rounds and Emmett has never gone past three, the smart money is with the Boston Brawler and that is the way I will be playing.
Kattar to win
$1.44 (3 Units)
Donald Cerrone vs Joe Lauzon
This is both a sad and entertaining fight as both these men should really have retired some time ago and neither have the chin to take a clean shot anymore.
Not that long ago Cowboy Cerrone looked to have found a new lease on life after becoming a father and started to push for a title shot. Now he finds himself winless in his last six fights and taking a big step down in competition against Joe Lauzon. Lauzon is a knockout or bust type of fighter, but as his career has worn on his all or nothing style has started to increasingly fail him.
Cerrone struggles to deal with pressure boxers who push him up against the cage but I don’t believe Lauzon will be able to dictate in such a way, so therefore I will back Cerrone to register the knockout win.
Cerrone to win by KO/TKO
$2.70 (2 Units)
Phil Hawes vs Deron Winn
Phil Hawes looks like he is carved out of stone and is incredibly strong, which is bad news for Winn who relies on double leg takedowns and his low centre of gravity to win fights.
Really Winn only is able to win when he is able to just maul inferior wrestlers. Hawes is a decent enough wrestler witj the strength to shrug off anything Winn throws his way and the speed and power to shut his lights out when his wrestle heavy attack saps his gas tank.
Expect Hawes to lay out Winn as he inevitably slows as the fight wears on.
Hawes to win by KO/TKO/SUB
$2.37 (4 Units)
