UFC Hits Mexico City – The UFC is back in Mexico City this weekend with Ultimate Fight Night 98. The card has the spotlight firmly on the Lightweight division as former champion Rafael Dos Anjos returns for the first time since losing the title to face the challenge of Tony Ferguson, one of the hottest fighters in the division and the owner of an eight fight winning streak.
The winner of this fight is going to have to make a case for the next title shot, but they will have the strongest case. The fact is the title is on the line at 155 pounds in potentially the UFC’s biggest fight of all-time as champion and vanquisher of Dos Anjos, Eddie Alvarez faces Conor McGregor. No matter who wins between Ferguson and Dos Anjos the winner of Alvarez and McGregor could easily be moved into superfight status, especially McGregor. And unfortunately for the two current best fighters in the division, being a great fighter sometimes isn’t good enough, and neither of the two is seen as a huge draw.
Fans of the Latin American version of the UFC’s reality series will get Mexico’s Martin Bravo (10-0) facing Claudio Puelles (71) of Peru. The two lightweights are in the co-main event spot. This fight has a line of -120 for either men and is a complete toss-up. look for this one to be a fight of the night candidate.
More lightweight action sees twelve year UFC veteran Diego Sanchez return to the octagon to introduce former Bellator standout Marcin Held to the big leagues. It is the kind of job that Sanchez relishes. Held is still just 24 years old and he holds a strong 22-4 overall record in MMA. Held didn’t get to win a Bellator belt, but he is still arriving in the UFC with a future ahead of him. Sanchez will have no regard for any of that, and though Held is viewed as a leg-lock expert, Sanchez once had out of this world Jiu Jitsu and he is unlikely to get caught up in one of Held’s pretzels.
Another lightweight bout sees Beniel Dariush (13-2) taking on Rashid Magomedov (19-1). Amgomedov is a 32 year old who carries a 4-0 UFC record and has not lost a fight going on 6 years. Dariush is 7-2 in the UFC and he is coming off a June of 2016 victory where he knocked out James Vick in the opening round of their three rounder.
The lone Featherweight match on the main card sees veteran Charles Oliveira (21-6) facing Ricardo Lamas (16-5). Both men have been alternating wins and losses for their last four fights and both are looking to break that trend.
UFC Hits Mexico City
Below are the odds and over/under details for most of the main card of UFN 98. Check your local listings for start times on Fox Sports 1.
Lightweight 5 rounds – – FS1
Tony Ferguson +130 o3½ -135
Rafael dos Anjos -150 u3½ +115
Lightweight 3 rounds – – FS1
Claudio Puelles -120 o2½ -230
Martin Bravo -120 u2½ +170
Diego Sanchez +225 o2½ -155
Marcin Held -265 u2½ +135
Featherweight 3 rounds – – FS1
Charles Oliveira -135 o1½ -210
Ricardo Lamas -105 u1½ +160
Lightweight 3 rounds – – FS1
Beneil Dariush +125 o2½ -175
Rashid Magomedov -145 u2½ +155
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