The UFC returns to Toronto, Ontario this weekend with UFC 206. This card received early criticism, but it stands now as a promising action-packed night of fights. Don’t be afraid to put a little money down on these fights. If you do, you’ll want to see these UFC 206 betting odds:
UFC 206 Betting Odds
Prelims
Zach Makovsky (-200) vs Dustin Ortiz (+160)
Both fighters are on two-fight losing streaks, so a win is needed for both. Makovsky came to the UFC with some hype after having some success in Bellator. However, he was unable to crack the top 5. Ortiz has also been unable to crack the top 5. They both have shared losses to Jussier Formiga and Joseph Benavidez. Makovsky’s game revolves around his ability to land the takedown. When he can’t land the takedown, he typically gets out-struck on the feet. Ortiz has decent takedown defense, so on paper he stands a good chance. To me, the odds should be a bit narrower, so Ortiz at +160 is attractive. Pick: Ortiz
Rustam Khabilov (-250) vs Jason Saggo (+195)
Khabilov was once a prospect on the verge of the top 10, but now he’s building himself back up through steady competition. His sambo skills are what makes him unique; this is accentuated by his physical strength. His striking, while not very smooth or efficient, packs a whallop. Meanwhile, Saggo is 3-1 in the UFC, and has shown very well-rounded skills. Khabilov’s strength and grind is a difficult test for anybody, but Saggo is equipped to deal with it. Saggo has great jiu-jitsu, and much cleaner striking than Khabilov. It’s hard to pick against the momentum, but at nearly 2-to-1, Saggo is an attractive pick. Pick: Avoid or Saggo
Lando Vannata (-220) vs John Makdessi (+175)
Vannata gained a lot of notoriety when he stepped up on short notice against Tony Feruson earlier this year. Not only did he give Ferguson a tough fight, but he had him rocked several times throughout the fight. Now, he gets a milder opponent in Makdessi who has lost 3 of his last 5. Makdessi is a skilled kickboxer and veteran of the game, so you can’t ever count an old dog out. However, Vannata is set up to impress this weekend. I think -220 is pretty reasonable given the hype behind “Groovy”. Pick: Vannata
Mitch Gagnon (-220) vs Matthew Lopez (+175)
No surprise that Gagnon is the favorite as he has much more experience. He’s a fantastic submission fighter with some clean boxing too. He is perhaps most known for giving Renan Barao a competitive fight before getting tapped in the third round. Lopez is 0-1 in the UFC with his loss being to fellow submission specialist Rani Yahya; Gagnon is an equally tough assignment. Gagnon is the obvious pick, but his long layoff makes me shy away. Pick: Avoid
Valerie Letourneau (-285) vs Viviane Pereira (+220)
Former strawweight challenger Letourneau is on a two-fight losing streak, but still finds herself as the favorite. She has champion-caliber potential, but she showed off a weak mental game in her last fight. Pereira however comes in as a UFC newcomer. At only 5’0″ tall, she’s going to have a hell of a time against the 5’7″ Letourneau who is big for the division. Pereira only has 2 of 11 wins by submission, so closing the distance doesn’t even mean it will be effective. This fight is tailor-made for Letourneau to rebound. -285 is steep, but she’s a very safe pick. Pick: Letourneau
Olivier Aubin-Mercier (-400) vs Drew Dober (+295)
Aubin-Mercier is the biggest favorite featured for these UFC 206 betting odds. He’s a great submission fighter, extremely durable, and very physically strong for the lightweight division. Dober is a scrappy, well-rounded fighter, but has struggled beating mid-level competition. This bout is perfect for Aubin-Mercier to take home a dominant win in front of his fellow Canadians, and that’s what I think he’ll do. -400 is too much though as Dober has pulled off upsets before. Pick: Avoid
Nikita Krylov (-130) vs Misha Cirkunov (+105)
Here are some close UFC 206 betting odds. Krylov and Cirkunov are both on big win streaks; the winner might just be the next “big thing” in the light-heavyweight division. That being said, both have contrasting styles. Cirkunov is the physical specimen who will look to impose his strength advantage by putting Krylov on his back. However, Krylov is all about finishing the fight when the opportunity presents itself. He can do this on the feet, or on the ground. As it stands, I think Krylov is more equipped to win this fight, but Cirkunov is no easy out. Not much return on Cirkunov, so Krylov becomes the smart bet at only -130. Pick: Avoid or Krylov
