There will be a new champion crowned in the main event of UFC 152 on September 22nd, 2012, in Toronto, Canada. Who are the UFC odds makers backing, and how can we profit the most with our UFC betting picks?
How can I be so sure that we will see a new champion in UFC 152?
That’s because this will be the first ever flyweight championship bout, the
division was just recently added to the UFC roster. Joseph Benavidez and
Demetrious Johnson are the lucky contestants who get to go to battle for 25
minutes to determine who is the best 125 pound fighter in the world. Both fighters
had to get past a previous opponent to earn their spot in this fight;
Benavidez’s path was just a tad bit easier.
The Fighters
Joseph
Benavidez, who currently trains with UFC fighters Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes and
Danny Castillo at Team Alpha Male in California, rolled through Yasuhiro
Urushitani by way of second round TKO back in March to earn his entry into the
title fight. That marked his fourth victory in a row following his split
decision loss to Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.
On the other
hand, Demetrious Johnson needed to fight eight hard rounds to secure his ticket
to the dance. He was put up against scrappy veteran Ian McCall; winner goes to
the title fight. In my eyes McCall did just enough to pick up the victory and
move on, but the judges of the fight saw it differently. They were so torn on
this fight that it was judged as a draw. The two men would have to go to war
once again. So three months later they met inside the octagon again, but this
time they had five rounds to figure out a way to win instead of just three.
Like the first fight, these men battled from bell to bell, and once again we
were going to the judges. This time it was an easy decision as Demetrious
Johnson was dominant in all five rounds, and locked up his spot with a
unanimous decision victory.
How they matchup
With both
men’s lengthy background and success in the WEC, I’m surprised their paths have
yet to cross. Both fighters have just two losses each in 18 professional
fights. Joey B has suffered both of his
losses to the same man, Bantamweight champ, Dominick Cruz. Johnson also has a
loss on his resume to Cruz, and he also lost his first fight in the WEC against
tough as nails fighter, Brad Pickett.
Both men
have relied on their wrestling for much of their careers. Joey B was a state
champion in High School wrestling as just a sophomore. He went on the wrestle
for one year collegiately before moving back to California where he started
training MMA. Johnson was also a high school wrestler, although he never won a
state title, he was a very tough competitor. That being said, both guys have great wrestling, which leads me to
believe that wrestling won’t be a factor in this fight.
Betting odds & predictions
When two
fighters have the same style of fighting it usually leads to a nullification of
said style and forces fighters to fight out of their element. So who will be
the fighter to adapt the best? UFC odds makers are saying Benavidez as he is a
close to 3 to 1 favorite. But do I agree with that?
Let’s break
them down and see. Due to both fighters backgrounds, wrestling is a wash.
Johnson has a slight speed advantage while Joey B has a dominant strength
advantage. Joey B hits harder then Johnson and throws cleaner punches. Johnson
is wild and sloppy and with Joey’s fighting smarts, I doubt he turns this into
a brawl. With that said Joey B will use the clinch and dirty boxing and use his
power to out work, out box, and out point Johnson en route to a unanimous
decision victory.
Parlay- If you’re looking to juice up your bet and
don’t want to lay 3 to 1 one Joey B, then think about throwing him in a
parlay. I believe Oliveira and Dunham
will also pick up victories on that card, so a Benavidez, Oliveira, and Dunham
parlay would be a smart bet.