UFC 203 betting could be a lucrative opportunity. This Saturday, the UFC touches down for the first time in Cleveland, Ohio. Native heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic defends his belt against Dutch wrecking machine Alistair Overeem. Plus, WWE superstar CM Punk makes his MMA debut. This card is full of a lot of interesting match ups, many of which you could put some money on.
Stipe Miocic vs Alistair Overeem
At the top of, we have a very difficult fight to pick. Miocic, the champion, comes to us as a -125 favorite while Overeem sits as a slight +105 underdog. As with most heavyweight fights, this one may be one to skip over. Both possess the ability to knock each other out and have looked sensational recently.
Miocic is one of the most athletic fighters on the heavyweight roster. His quick footwork allows him to attack in swarms from multiple angles. He has one-punch knockout power too, even on the back foot which is what he showed against Fabricio Werdum. He has an underrated wrestling game that could help mix things up too.
Overeem on the other hand is a very decorated Dutch kickboxer who was forced to evolve after a rough patch of losses. He was getting knocked out by lesser-skilled strikers, and came to the realization that he had to be a bit more cautious. Now, we see a very economical Overeem who is patient on the outside. He attacks with calculated, varied attacks that all possess fight-stopping power. He is also difficult to takedown and punishes failed takedown attempts. Overeem comes in with a four-fight win streak.
Even though I want to see Miocic win in his home town, I’m leaning toward Overeem. I’m not sure how Miocic will handle fighting with his family and friends all there in attendance – the pressure could be too much for a guy new to the spotlight. Overeem however has been on the biggest stages in combat sports, and I expect him to thrive under it at UFC 203.
Fabricio Werdum vs Travis Browne
In the co-main event slot, we have another heavyweight fight. Werdum sits at a -200 favorite while “Hapa” Browne is a +170 underdog. This is a rematch bout as the two last fought in 2014; Werdum defeated Browne by unanimous decision by completely outclassing him on the feet. This makes me heavily lean towards Werdum again. Since their first fight, Werdum went on to become the UFC champion while Browne has been on the decline. Not to mention Browne also is coming in on short notice as he is replacing Ben Rothwell. Werdum did get KO’d in his last fight, but he most likely got too excited and under-looked Stipe Miocic.
Werdum was able to out-strike Browne badly in the first fight, and even if we don’t see the same thing happening, he still has his fantastic BJJ to fall back on. Plus, now that Werdum has had that belt taken away, he won’t be as likely to over-look any aspect of this fight. Browne is fired up to get revenge, but I just don’t see him making the necessary changes he needs to get the win. A 2-to-1 favorite Werdum isn’t a bad pick by any means for your UFC 203 betting.
CM Punk vs Mickey Gall
Now we get to the most high-profile fight of the night. CM Punk is making his long-awaited MMA debut after taking up training for about a year and a half. It has been long time coming. He meets the very green Mickey Gall who is just 2-0 as a pro and 2-0 as an amateur. Even though Gall is the more seasoned fighter, it’s not like we’re comparing a veteran to a newcomer. Both fighters are very green, so don’t expect a technical masterpiece.
Because of that, I say do NOT bet on this fight. It’s too unpredictable. Even though Gall will probably win because he has been training for so much longer and actually wants to be an accomplished MMA fighter, -475 is too steep for UFC 203 betting. That being said, I don’t advise betting on CM Punk either. +380 has a nice look, but you don’t train for a year and a half and become a good fighter. There are just far too many question marks surrounding this fight to even seriously consider betting on.
Urijah Faber vs Jimmie Rivera
Long-time veteran Urijah Faber comes in at a shocking +160 underdog against the rising prospect, -180 favorite Jimmie Rivera. Even though Rivera has looked great in this three UFC outtings, he is taking a big step up in competition against Urijah Faber. I’ll admit it, Faber seems to be slowing down and doesn’t nearly look as good as he used to, but he’s still good enough to be in the top 5 of the bantamweight division.
Faber has never lost a bantamweight fight that wasn’t a title fight. That should right away give you some reason for this UFC 203 betting pick. Rivera could definitely come in and shock the world, but to me that would be a massive upset. You have to go with Urijah Faber here.
Jessica Andrade vs Joanne Calderwood
Starting off the main card is a women’s strawweight bout between -140 favorite Jessica Andrade and +120 underdog “Jojo” Calderwood. This is another match up that has me scratching my head at the odds. Andrade looked good in her last fight when she dominated Jessica Penne. It was a good win, but Calderwood demolished title challenger Valerie Letourneau in her last outting.
Andrade is a very physically strong fighter who does her best work by bullying her opponents. Calderwood is a skilled striker who wants to stay on the outside. Stylistically, I see why Andrade is a slight favorite. She could very well take Calderwood out of her element and smash her on the ground. Calderwood has a lot of momentum now though and I think she’ll turn some heads by beating Andrade. She’s light on her feet, and should be capable of stuffing takedowns, and chopping Andrade up on the feet. Calderwood makes a great pick.
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