The UFC 184 card scheduled for Las Vegas, Nevada this Saturday is the first UFC event to feature women’s bantamweight bouts in the main and co-main event. The feature men’s fight comes in the welterweight division as Jake Ellenberger faces Josh Koschek. Ellenberger is coming in a (-200) favorite for the fight, with Koscheck returning (+170). The over/under is at 1.5 rounds, with the over paying (-170) and the under at (+140).
Everything here points to the end for Josh Koscheck. Despite being a veteran of the UFC for ten years now, he has lost his last three fights and when he enters the octagon for this fight, it will have been 15 months since we last saw him. Ellenberger is eight years younger at 29 and though he has also lost three fights in a row and has not shown an ability to change his game much over his career, Ellenberger is a fresher athlete at this point in his career. But Koschek’s sturdiness and Ellenberger’s penchant for tiring in fights could give Koschek a chance. Ellenberger is known for his explosive finishing power, but two months removed from his 30th birthday, he may no longer be able to count on that same explosion.
Also at welterweight, Alan Jouban is a solid (-440) favorite over rival Richard Walsh, who is retuning at (+350). The over/under for that bout is at 2.5 rounds with the over at (-130) and the under at (+100).
The opening bout of the UFC PPV will be at Lightweight, as the “TUF 13” season winner Tony Ferguson continues his measured ascent with another step up fight, as he takes on Gleison Tibau. Ferguson is sitting as a (-200) favorite, with Tibau returning at (+170), and the over/under is set at 2.5 rounds, with the over at (-145) and the under at (+115).
Ferguson is looking to add to a current four fight winning streak, and a win over Tibau would qualify as his best UFC win to date. The veteran Brazilian has won three fights in a row, and is an astounding (17-8) record in what is now a nine year UFC career. He has tended to lose fights when in this position, but he is a solid measuring stick for where Ferguson is at this point in his development.
