Douglas Vegas Bets

This weekend at UFC Vegas 55, we see the return of one of the most prolific fighters in Women's MMA history as former UFC Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm (-250) returns from a long layoff to take on rising Brazilian contender Ketlen Vieira (+190) in the main event. Before that, we have a full card of sneaky good fights to break down, including a Welterweight fight between Santiago Ponzinibbio (+100) and Michel Pereira (-128) sure to produce fireworks and a couple of Middleweight bouts where I disagree with the oddsmakers. 

   *All Odds Provided by Stake.com Accurate as of 5/18/2022 4:15 PM EST 
   
## Holly Holm -250 Ketlen Vieira +190

In the main event, we see a matchup that gives us some ugly betting lines to work with at first glance, with a 40-year-old Holm sitting as a heavy favorite against her much younger foe. I usually find it very difficult to back a fighter of this age who is also on a rather long layoff; however, after looking at each of these fighters' recent body of work, I find myself surprisingly confident in Holm to get the job done. The numbers may suggest playing a fighter in her position has not been a profitable venture in the past, but numbers don't always tell the whole story. Holm has been a mainstay at the top of the division since her rise to the top, capped off with her famous (infamous?) head kick of Ronda Rousey. She has only lost to the best of the best in Cris Cyborg, Amanda Nunes, Germaine de Randamie, and Valentina Shevchenko and has shown to be a step ahead of the rest of the division behind her. Viera is 2-2 in her last four, and her only wins come over an aged Miesha Tate and Sjara Eubanks, which is not an impressive run by any stretch. I have a tough time seeing her path to victory over five rounds against Holm, as grappling will be challenging to implement and taxing on cardio over a long fight. 
    
The only reason to not bet Holm in this fight is the age difference and layoff, which I believe is negated because she has had late pullouts and has not been out of camp for long during this layoff. Take Holm, but with the ML at that price, I think the decision is the play at -116. 
 
 Pick: Holm ML -250 (DougLasVegasBets.net Best Bet)
 O/U: Over 4.5 -256

## Santiago Ponzinibbio +100 Michel Pereira -128

Just a few years ago, Ponzinibbio was the next big thing at Welterweight, and now we can get him at underdog money against an unranked opponent? This is surprising to me as I understand the momentum beginning to build behind Pereira with his last win already aging very well; however, he is a very flawed fighter, to say the least, with a tendency to gas out in the later stages of fights due to his wild style and lack of pacing. Ponzinibbio is still a legit talent and was favored his last time out against Geoff Neal in what turned out to be a very close fight that could have gone either way. 
    
Getting Ponzinibbio at an underdog price here is enough for me to be willing to take a chance, as we have seen that he can adjust in fights like the Baeza fight, and I can confidently say if this goes to a third-round, Ponzinibbio will be the fresher fighter in a good position to take a potentially deciding round. 
    
Pick: Ponzinibbio ML +100 (DougLasVegasBets.net Play)
O/U: Over 2.5 -175 (DougLasVegasBets.net Play)

## Chidi Njokuani -233 Dusko Todorovic +175

Chidi Njokuani makes his second octagon appearance after his incredible debut KO over Marc-Andre Barriault as he takes on Dusko Todorovic. Njokuani will look to keep this one standing as he will have a clear advantage in the stand-up portion of this fight. The question is will he be able to defend the grappling of Todorovic?
    
I believe he will, but I am not confident enough to put my money on this fight. We haven't seen much from Njokuani to suggest he is worth being this size a favorite over Todorovic, who has seen a lot of respect from oddsmakers throughout his UFC career, having never closed as an underdog to this point. 
    
Pick: Chidi Njokuani ML -233
O/U: Under 1.5 +127 
 
## Polyana Viana +103 Tabatha Ricci -132

Here we have a women's Strawweight fight that is lined pretty evenly, and I think that's fair as this fight could easily go either way. Both women have high finishing rates for the division. Still, each of their grappling credentials makes them tough to submit, and I believe this fight will take place mainly on the mat resulting in limited striking opportunities. 
    
This is a fight where I feel either woman could win on their best day, so I will lean with the underdog, but I see no value in putting my money on this virtual coin flip. 

Pick: Viana ML +103
O/U: Over 2.5 -167

## Eryk Anders +165 Jun Yong Park -217

This line caught my eye, to say the least, as Eryk Anders comes in a sizeable underdog against The Iron Turtle in this Middleweight scrap. Anders was at a similar price in his last fight against Andre Muniz, who I am very high on. Yes, he lost that fight badly, but that speaks much more to Muniz than Anders, and I think we know what we are getting from Anders based on his prior UFC fights. As for the Park side, where has all the respect come from on this line? He has had a very mediocre UFC run, to say the least, going 3-2 with relatively weak competition in my eyes. 
    
Anders is in one of my favorite fight camps at Fight Ready, and I believe they will have him more than ready to go out and win this fight. Take Anders at this high price tag.
      
Pick: Anders ML +165 (DougLasVegasBets.net Play)
O/U: Over 2.5 -213

## Joseph Holmes -204 Alen Amedovski +160
	
Here we have a Middleweight bout between Ugly Man Joesph Holmes and Alen Amedovski. Holmes looked pretty bad in his last fight against Jamie Pickett, and I immediately find him impossible to back at this price against nearly anyone in the UFC. On the other hand, Amedovski has been off for over two years and is coming off a first-round loss to the very unimpressive John Phillips. 
    
Holmes has decent experience before that Pickett fight in which he was favored, and he has a very high finishing rate, so I would expect him to be able to get the finish, but there is no way I am risking my money on him in any fight after his last performance. 
    
Pick: Holmes ML -204
O/U: Under 1.5 +105
    
## Parker Porter +400 Jailton Almeida -625

There has been some interesting line movement on this one as we have seen Almeida go from -667 on Monday to -714 on Tuesday back to -625 on Wednesday at Stake.com. This line may be justified as Almeida has a lot of quick finishes to back up his hype train, and despite the recent win streak from Parker Porter, he is nowhere near the level of grappler that Almeida is, and he does not pose much of a threat on the feet either. 
    
It's tough to get value from Almeida because his advantage is clear, and the bookies know this. We must also account for the statistical randomness of Heavyweight fights, and with that, this fight is one to proceed with extreme caution when betting on.
    
Pick: Aleida ML -625
O/U: Under 1.5 -152

## Omar Morales -156 Uros Medic +130

This should be an entertaining fight between two talented strikers who will be willing to stand across from each other. Medic will be forcing the action here, but I am not sure it will work for him as it has in his past wins as Morales has much more experience. I expect that to be the difference as Medic has never gone the distance while Morales has spent many rounds in the octagon against the higher-level competition.
    
I believe Morales is a justified favorite and should be able to use his experience to avoid the pressure of Medic and land more effective strikes; however, he has not gotten a finish in the UFC, and with none of Medic's fights having gone the distance something has to break if Morales is going to win this fight. I am not willing to bet against those trends at this price. 

Pick: Morales ML -167
O/U: Under 2.5 -172

## Johnathan Martinez -227 Vince Morales +175

Bantamweight is the best division in the UFC, and this is an excellent example of that as two unranked fighters with plenty of experience go at it early on the card. Martinez uses a very kick-heavy game which has been a problem for Morales, as we saw in the Gutierrez fight, and for this reason, I think Martinez has a clear advantage in this fight and is a well-justified favorite. 
    
At the current ML price, it's difficult to play Martinez straight, but I will be using him as a critical piece in my card parlay.

Pick: Johnathan Martinez ML -227
O/U: Over 2.5 -238

## Chase Hooper +143 Felipe Colares -185

Here we see Chase Hooper return for the first time in 10 months against Felipe Colares, who returns to the Featherweight division once again. Hooper was very hyped after an impressive debut at a very young age. Still, since then, Hooper has shown his lack of experience and has proven to be a grappling specialist who needs a clear grappling advantage to win. Colares comes into this one as a favorite for the first time in his up and down UFC career, which has had one consistency: all of his fights have gone the distance. Colares is also a grappler with black belt credentials, and his submission defense was shown when Domingo Pilarte was glued to his back for a round and could not take advantage of that control time. 
    
This one will be very grappling-heavy, and I expect Hooper to accept worse positions to attempt submissions resulting in him being controlled for the majority of the fight and Colares leaving with a decision victory. 
    
Pick: Felipe Colares -185 (DougLasVegasBets.net Play) 
O/U: Over 2.5 -167

## Elise Reed -179 Sam Hughes +138

An interesting bout to start the night off here sees two Strawweights who have had their respective struggles in the UFC but are coming off good wins. Last time we saw Reed was UFC London, where she was a considerable underdog but was able to pull out a split decision victory to the surprise of many, myself included. Hughes looked to be on the way out before turning things around late in her last fight to win the majority decision to keep her UFC dream alive.
    
To be blunt, neither of these women are very high caliber, and I'm certainly not willing to risk my money on either of them, but with the grappling defense and competent striking that we saw from Reed her last time out, she should be able to win this fight. 
    
Pick: Elise Reed -179
O/U: Over 2.5 -370
    
## Parlay

Personally, I do not believe parlays are a great path to long-term profit. However, there are some great opportunities to create value on this card, so let's try to do this the smart way. We have a few big favorites on this card that I am unwilling to play at their ML price, but I still believe these fighters have clear advantages and are safe plays. Let's combine these three sizeable favorites to get better value from each line.

Martinez, Almeida -149
Martinez, Almeida, Holm +134

The Betting Preview for UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Viera

Taylor Dow

Paul "Semtex" Daley, 39, competed in his final bout this past weekend, scoring a 2nd round knockout against Wendell Giácomo at Bellator 281. "Semtex" went into the fight in his home country knowing it would be his final appearance.


> It will be my retirement fight. After many years in the game, the hours on the road, hours in the gym, the years have caught up with me and now every morning I wake up with a bad back, and I’m just tired. - Daley said to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour in January 

 

```twitter 

https://twitter.com/ScottCoker/status/1525220465932832768 

``` 


After an impressive 64 professional fights, “Semtex” has fought in every top promotion throughout the years including Cage Warriors, Strikeforce, EliteXC, Cage Rage, UFC, Bellator. He fought the who’s who of the Welterweights in the process. To celebrate an exciting career, we take a dive into the life of Paul “Semtex” Daley.  


“Semtex”, born in London, England to Caribbean parents, moved to Nottingham at an early age of 8 where he played soccer for Nottingham Forest FC. He began training Karate before transitioning to Muay Thai. "Semtex" is also a former member of the British Army, serving as a reconnaissance driver for the Household Cavalry. 

![14463_qvmtdzhtgr_vlarge_medium.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/19fda626-56ec-4d75-9b18-aa176b678200/pub "Paul Daley with his Cage Rage Championship Belt") 

He began training in MMA at the age of 18 and made his pro debut at 20, winning by knockout. Later that year he would also debut as a professional Kickboxer, again winning by knockout. Daley would continue fighting professionally for a total of 19 years and battle the likes of Jorge Masvidal, Nick Diaz, Duane Ludwig, Jake Shields, Josh Koscheck, Tyron Woodley, Rory McDonald, Lorenz Larkin, Jon Fitch and MVP to name a few, finishing with a record of 44-18-2 (35 KOs).  


After racking up a 22-8 record, "Semtex" would make his UFC debut in September of 2009 where he scored two first round KOs to start off his tenure. 

![20100102084922_img_1567.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/89390e2f-19f9-4ed9-7525-6c198ba7b200/pub "Paul Daley putting the final blow on Dustin Hazelett at UFC 108. Credits to: Sherdog") 

The promotion would put him into a title eliminator bout against Josh Koscheck shortly after where the winner would fight Georges St-Pierre for the Welterweight title. During the first round of the fight Koscheck appeared to simulate being hit with an illegal knee which resulted in a point deduction for Daley, after which Koscheck would use his wrestling to control the remainder of the fight and win a unanimous decision. After the end of the third and final round, Daley approached Koscheck from behind and attempted to hit him in the head with a left hook.

![PaulDaley_crop_exact.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d77cce10-5569-4640-4ed3-d67fda104800/pub "Paul Daley would have challenged Georges St-Pierre for the Welterweight title had he defeated Koscheck. Credits to: Getty Images") 

Referee Dan Miragliotta pinned Daley against the fence to subdue him. In an interview at the conclusion of the event, UFC president Dana White announced that he was banishing Daley from the UFC for life.  
  

> There's no excuse for that. These guys are professional athletes. You don't ever hit a guy blatantly after the bell like that, whether you're frustrated or not. I don't care if he fights in every show all over the world and becomes the best and everybody thinks he's the pound for pound best in the world, he will never fight in the UFC ever again - Dana White at the post fight press conference at UFC 113

  
Following the incident, Daley apologized for his actions, stating there was "no excuse." After a 30-day suspension, he started his journey outside the UFC and knocked out Daniel Acacio at Impact FC 2 and then won a unanimous decision over Jorge Masvidal to get a Strikeforce contract where he would spend the rest of his career employed by Scott Coker in Strikeforce, BAMMA, and then finally Bellator.  

  

![8158ce5b8a914e3dcc017ff8a96a8d08-1062587.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8e88e19e-33d6-4153-e68b-9be4c4636d00/pub "Paul Daley wearing the iconic red Bellator gloves. Credits to: BellatorMMA") 

  
  

"Semtex" is adamant on making this retirement stick and doesn't want to be one of those fighters on the receiving end of a losing streak. Going out on a high with a huge KO in his retirement bout is the cherry on top of an already incredible career. Daley had this to say about a potential follow-up fight: 

  

> In my head, I’m finished with all combat sports. There’s always enticing offers that come out the woodwork but for me, I’m thinking the whole fight thing is done, I’m a guy with no ego, If worst comes to worst and what I’ve got planned doesn’t work out, I’ll get myself a weekend job at Tesco and stack some shelves for a little bit of change. - Daley told talkSPORT. 
  

Daley implies he has some big things planned for retirement and really does not want to compete as a professional anymore. You have to admire him wanting to go out on a high and pulling it off, not many fighters have done that. 

So, respect, Paul "Semtex" Daley, ride off into the sunset with your head held high; it really could not have ended any more poetic for someone whose made a career by earning KO after KO.
 
![paul-daley-ko-punch.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/62649df7-2aff-4879-9ed4-2421b8aa9b00/pub "Paul Daley and Wendell Giacomo trade blows. Credits to: BellatorMMA")

A Look Back At The Highs and Lows of the Career of Paul Daley

ROUNDHOUSE MMA

UFC Vegas 54 was a card that flew under the radar but ended up delivering. The UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada featured a main event between the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz taking on surging contender Aleksandar Rakic. Let’s recap what went down.


## Aleksandar Rakic blows out his knee

![1397298054.0.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/695f9064-4fb5-4002-22b4-6881fad01300/pub "Aleksander Rakic grabbing his damaged knee. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images")

The main event ended under unfortunate circumstances as Aleksandar Rakic blew out his knee in the 3rd round which resulted in a TKO win for Jan Blachowicz. The judges and the Verdict Community both had Blachowicz and Rakic tied at 1-1 heading into the 3rd round, with an advantage leaning towards Rakic. After the fight, Rakic revealed that he suffered a significant knee injury three weeks prior to his fight against Blachowicz. It was evident that he was having a lot of trouble managing his knee prior to the stoppage. It looks like a torn ACL, as you could visibily see Rakic's knee separating in the replay. Many expected the winner of this fight to be the next challenger for the UFC Light Heavyweight title. It looks like Blachowicz will be next.


## “Superman” Defeats “The Hulk”

![65721CD6-1E24-4118-A712-E61E55BF7407.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ac8fc142-c1db-4931-d191-2ea87f48c300/pub "Ryan Spann getting his hand raised. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images")


In a fight where a lot of people expected Ion Cutelaba to crack his way into the UFC Light Heavyweight rankings, Ryan Spann scored a quick submission win against Cutelaba in the 1st round. Cutelaba was controlling the 1st round with three takedowns, but an aggressive overhand right led to a stumble by Cutelana that Ryan Spann capitalized on and finished the fight with a guillotine choke. Spann was a +190 underdog compared to Cutelaba who was a significant -235 favorite. Only 1.57% of The Verdict Community predicted this fight perfectly, and it was the first time in ten years that Cutelaba has lost a fight by submission. Spann will be looking for a big fight next in the Light Heavyweight division.


## Katlyn Chookagian and Amanda Ribas put on a show

![F0C7FFD9-6C56-4B86-8ABA-7D6DB75A0403.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1b15c1eb-6490-42b7-0d83-cfea1e858700/pub "Katlyn Chookagian earns a close split decision win against Amanda Ribas. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images")

Katlyn Chookagian and Amanda Ribas put on a show at the UFC APEX as they competed to a split decision in a bout that earned fight of the night honors. Ribas showed up to fight, but it appeared that Chookagian did more damage with significant strikes, despite Ribas having a lot of success with the leg kicks, takedowns, and top control. The Verdict Community had Ribas winning the 1st and 3rd rounds, with Chookagian winning the 2nd. The fight was close, but Chookagian earned her 18th professional win and her 15th by decision. Despite not being a finisher, Katlyn knows how to win, even if it means going to the judges’ scorecards. 


## Tatsuro Taira Shines In His UFC Debut

![29E38803-5DE3-4567-BC1C-27E4A6A1B07B.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e6179a78-0083-47ec-8629-b1aec0126200/pub  "Tatsuro Taira about to enter the Octagon for the first time. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images")

There was a lot of buzz around 22-year-old Tatsuro Taira from Japan who made his UFC debut against Carlos Candelario. Taira, who dominated the Japanese regional scene, competing in Shooto, got the call from the UFC to make his first appearance this weekend. Despite not getting the finish, which he is certainly known for, Taira scored a knockdown and controlled the fight. Taira was impressive and won all three rounds on the judges’ scorecards with one judge giving a 10-8. This young fighter has a very bright future and has the potential to become the next big star out of Japan. 


## Underdogs Spoil The Party

![C7291B91-B1DD-437D-9F4C-913757E4A9CA.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/cd32b7fb-8052-4549-49fc-efe0f3a82900/pub "Andre Petroski celebrates his win against Nick Maximov. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images")

It was quite the night for a lot of underdogs this weekend, as multiple parlays were ruined due to some surprising performances. Jan Blachowicz and Ryan Spann were +150 and +175 odds according to DraftKings, but Allan Nascimento (+170) and Andre Petroski (+330) also scored very impressive wins over Jake Hadley and Nick Maximov, respectively, who both suffered their first career losses. Jake Hadley was a Dana White’s Contender Series standout, and earned a contract with a 2nd round submission win against Mitch Raposo, but suffered defeat to the more experienced submission specialist in Nascimento.

On the other hand, Nick Maximov, who is famously known for training with the Diaz brothers, suffered defeat to the TUF 29 Semifinalist Andre Petroski. These two met on the first fight of the card, but Andre scored a slick anaconda choke only one minute and sixteen seconds into the fight. 

It was an eventful Saturday night at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, where we saw finishes, standout performances, upsets, and more. The UFC is back at the APEX next weekend for a women’s Bantamweight showcase featuring Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira. 

UFC Vegas 54 flies under the radar but delivers

Akash Hothi

The UFC is bringing us yet another action-packed fight card. It all goes down in the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event features former Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz taking on Aleksandar "Rocket" Rakic, in a fight that comes with huge future title fight implications.

The rest of the card features 10 solid fights with prospects to watch out for such as the Diaz Brothers prodigy Nick Maximov taking on Andre Petroski. Another fighter to look forward to is 22-year-old phenom Tatsuro Taira. Now let's dive into where we can find ourselves the best value. All odds will be provided by our friends at Stake.

## Jan Blachowicz vs Aleksandar Rakic

This headliner as much as it is awesome, it also provides us betting heads with solid value. Rakic as of now is sitting at a 1.54 (-185) favorite which is a little steep against a former Champion. This is in large part due to Blachowicz's recent title fight performance against Glover Teixeira. I am not going to look too deep into that, but I was impressed with Blachowicz's performance against Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya. Rakic is a great striker at range and solid with his kicks, but he sometimes likes to play that game and not engage with his hands. This is where I see Jan capitalizing, as not only is Jan solid with his kicks offensively, he does a great job blocking kicks defensively. This is where I see the key difference between the two. Both have solid striking games, but I favor the former champion with his experience not only in title fights, but the fact he has gone five rounds before. This is Rakic's first fight that will be a five-rounder. I see a lot of value in the former champion at 2.49 (+150) and there is also a lean I have which I would recommend is a slight shot at Jan by decision the value is incredible at 4.40 (+440). That would be the play Jan outright or a little shot at Jan by decision. 

## Ryan Spann vs Ion Cutelaba

The co-main event should be straight fireworks. Expect a finish from these two wild men. Personally, I'm on the Cutelaba train for this fight. I doubt the durability of Ryan Spann and Cutelaba features some solid power. Cutelaba is favored at 1.43 (-230) which is yes a little steep, but a parlay could provide some value. Another possible play here is the under 1.5 valued at 1.79 (-125) I could see this going through, but might advise taking the safe bet in Ion Cutelaba outright. 

## Davey Grant vs Louis Smolka 

I'm going to be brutally honest here, I am heavily on the Davey Grant side here. I find it hard to see a way where Louis has the advantage. The odds however are too pricey on Davey Grant at 1.34 (-300). I would advise you to stay away from this one. My only piece of advice would be to maybe see a potential shot at taking the over 2.5 valued at 2.60 (+160) this could potentially cash, but all in all I would stay away from this one and just enjoy the action. 

## Katlyn Chookagian vs Amanda RIbas

I think this going to be a solid fight, but that being said I favor Chookagian in this one. Her size and length should be too much for Ribas here. Ribas is the natural Strawweight and that will be noticeable here. I am going heavy on the Chookagian line valued at 1.65 (-155). I think Chookagian's reach advantage and output will be too much for Ribas to overcome. Another play here is the Chookagian special which is a win by decision valued at 2.16 (+115), but to be safe take Chookagian outright. 

## Frank Camacho vs Manuel Torres

This fight should be fun while it lasts. I for one am staying far away from this fight. I think Frank is a solid fighter, but he's won only 1 of his past 5 fights and has been finished in 3 of them. The damage is a concern for me. Manuel Torres is a fun fighter to watch and is a finisher so a possible shot here is at Manuel Torres at 1.68 (-145). If you feel confident taking Torres by the finish, I'd say that's a good idea.

## Jake Hadley vs Allan Nascimento

Lastly, we get to finally see the UFC debut of Jake Hadley. I personally am high on this kid and think he takes this one and puts on a solid performance. That being said, Allan is a solid fighter with some good experience and can test Hadley, but I think Hadley will pass this test. The odds however are steep on Hadley at 1.45 (-220), but I still think this a good bet and am going to be on this big time. 

UFC Fight Night Parlay

Jake Hadley, Katlyn Chookagian and Davey Grant are valued at 3.21 (+220) it pays $220 at a $100 bet. Enjoy the fights!


UFC Fight Night: Blachowicz vs. Rakic Betting Preview

During the broadcast of UFC 274, the promotion announced that former UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame at international fight week this July. Cormier will join his longtime friend and training partner Khabib Nurmagomedov as an inductee.

![993558716.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4eb1a8f9-edb0-4995-3f47-f45703680000/pub "Cormier celebrating his Heavyweight title clinching win against Stipe Miocic. Credits to Sam Wasson-Getty Images")


Cormier became a prominent figure in the MMA world when he won the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix in 2012 as an alternate. It was in the tournament where he finished Anontio "Bigfoot" Silva by knockout and defeated former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett. Wins against the likes of these men legitimized him as one of the most promising prospects in the sport.

![E-76xFHX0AMiZ2Y.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/c5ed8bab-6abc-46aa-eed8-62fae8daf700/pub "Cormier landing the final blows against Bigfoot Silva. Credits to Esther Lin-MMAFighting")


Cormier would find his home in the UFC after Zuffa acquired Strikeforce. After competing in two Heavyweight fights in the Octagon, Cormier made his Light Heavyweight debut with his sights set on Jon Jones. The two went on to have one of the biggest box office rivalries in UFC history.

![i.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d6fd8991-53c0-48da-fe08-9ecdf02c5200/pub "Jones and Cormier during their first fight at UFC 182. Credits to Jeff Bottari-Getty Images")


In July of 2018, Cormier joined an elite group of fighters as he became one of four UFC fighters to hold two Championship titles simultaneously, after defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 226.


Although Cormier retired from competition in 2020, he has remained involved in the sport as a play-byplay commentator and ESPN Analyst. When he's not training, commentating, working with ESPN or spending time with his family, you’ll find him teaching the next generation of Olympic Wrestlers at Gilroy High School.

![BNG-L-CORMIER2.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/015a5156-229b-4f69-6029-c2e1c086d500/pub "Cormier taking his students through some drills. Credits to Darren Sabedra-Bay Area News Group")


Daniel embraced the grind as much as any fighter to ever step foot in the Octagon. You will never see him complain, you will never see him quit, you will only see him work.

> Daniel Cormier is one of the most badass competitors of all time, DC faced the greatest athletes in the world on every level of wrestling and MMA. He is also the ultimate professional. As an active fighter, he always took time for the media, which led him to become one of the best TV analysts in all of sports. DC
is one of the greatest ambassadors UFC has ever had, and it’s going to be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer - UFC President Dana White on Cormier entering the Hall of Fame

Whether it be lessons in the gym, or dominance in the Octagon, Daniel Cormier is inspiring the future of combat sports and although he doesn’t qualify for the “Pioneer’s Wing”, he's helped pave the way for MMA to be where it is today.

Daniel Cormier takes rightful spot in the UFC Hall of Fame

Despite their fight being lacklustre at UFC 274, Carla Esparza defeated Rose Namajunas to once again become the UFC Strawweight Champion.


The fight was controversial because there was not a lot of action throughout the initial rounds, and it's been argued by many that the 1st round should have been scored 10-10. 

![1396032165.0.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/58352472-fae6-4a77-464e-1704e2fad100/pub "Carla Esparza winning her 2nd UFC Championship. Credits to Christian Petersen-Getty Images")

Esparza regained her Strawweight title for a second time, becoming the second women's fighter to win a UFC title on multiple occasions. Ironically, Namajunas was the first to do so.


We went ahead and took a look at five potential fights to make in the Strawweight division, following the aftermath of UFC 274.


## Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili/Joanna Jedrzejczyk winner


The rematch of one of the greatest fights in UFC history will go down on June 11th at UFC 275 in Singapore, and the winner, according to Dana White, will receive the next Strawweight title shot. Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, both former Strawweight champions, put on an all time classic when they first competed UFC 248. Marina Rodriguez was another likely candidate to receive the next title shot, as she is currently on a four fight win streak, but White has said that the winner of the UFC 275 featured bout will receive the next crack at the 115 pound title. Rodriguez has already faced the current champion Esparza, and lost by split decision. This potential fight between Esparza and the winner of Zhang and Joanna, is almost certain to happen next, likely this fall or winter. 


## Rose Namajunas vs Marina Rodriguez

With the winner of Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk likely to get a title shot, that leaves Marina Rodriguez without a fight. Many believe that Rodriguez has already done enough to earn a title shot, but the current Champion Carla Esparza holds a win against her from July of 2020. This means that Rodriguez has more work to do. A fight between Rose Namajunas and Marina Rodriguez would be a great stylistic matchup. It would give Namajunas a chance to get back into the win column and would give Rodriguez an opportunity to compete against a former Champion.

## Mackenzie Dern vs Jessica Andrade


Jessica Andrade burst back onto the Strawweight scene, and became a title contender in a little over 3 minutes, as she scored an impressive standing arm triangle submission against Amanda Lemos in April of 2022.  Andrade, who is the former Strawweight Champion has always been an entertaining fighter to watch. I would love to see her matched up against Mackenzie Dern next, who is coming off of a win against Tecia Torres. This would be a true striker versus grappler matchup, Andrade is an excellent submission artist herself, and would likely have the striking and wrestling advantage over Dern’s grappling, but Dern has proved that nobody can match her on the ground, which makes this fight so interesting. The winner would definitely insert themselves into title contention.

## Yan Xiaonan vs Michelle Waterson


Another fight I’d be interested to see is Yan Xiaonan vs. Michelle Waterson. Both fighters are on bad runs right now, with Xiaonan on a two fight losing streak, and Waterson having lost 3 of her last 4. Both fighters are in need of a win, and a fight like this is the perfect opportunity to get either woman back on track towards the top of the division. Xiaonan is certainly hungry for a win after getting pummeled by Carla Esparza, and losing a close split decision to Marina Rodriguez. Waterson is a decorated striker, and has not been able to put together a winning streak in a long time. Waterson has fought the best the division has to offer, and a matchup with Xiaonan, who isn’t ranked high in the strawweight rankings, would be a great chance for both to see where they lie within the 115 pound division, and would also make for a great fight between two elite strikers. 


## Tecia Torres vs Amanda Lemos


This is matchup between two talented strikers that intrigues me. Tecia Torres has fought the best the strawweight division has to offer, and is still a formidable opponent. She rebounded from a four fight losing streak, and came back to win three in a row before dropping a close split decision to Mackenzie Dern last month. Lemos, on the other hand is coming off of a 1st round submission loss to Jessica Andrade, but is still talented and a dangerous opponent for anyone. Her ability to finish a fights is rare for a Strawweight, as 9 of her 11 wins have come by a stoppage. Both fighters have a potential in this division, and can capitalize on that with a win to set them back on track. 

## In Conclusion

The women’s strawweight division is undoubtedly the most intriguing female division in the UFC, with countless former champions and women that would like the opportunity to touch gold down the line. The return of Joanna Jedrzejczyk, the former Strawweight queen, will be so interesting to watch, as we will get to see where she lies within a murderers row of contenders. A new era in the division has begun with Carla Esparza as champion, and so these are 5 fights I would love to see get booked down the line. 

5 Fights to Make Next In The UFC's Strawweight Division

Verdict MMA

UFC 274 emanated from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. It was an event that we’ll look back on for a long time for a variety of reasons. Let’s discuss.

## Charles Oliveira looks unstoppable

![Charles-Oliveira-vs-Justin-Gaethje-UFC-274-05.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5fea771c-ee14-40e2-e930-8d033500d200/pub "Charles Oliveira finishing Justin Gaethje with a rear-naked choke. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)")

Every time Charles Oliveira fights, he seems to be reaching a new level. Justin Gaethje had extreme confidence heading into this fight. He believed that Charles Oliveira would crumble under his pressure. However, it was ultimately Justin Gaethje who crumbled under the pressure of Charles Oliveira. We knew the fight would start off fast and that’s what happened. Oliviera rocked Gaethje with a right hand just 9 seconds into the fight. Gaethje recovered and began to land leg kicks and even dropped Oliveira. It was towards the end of the 1st round that Oliveira dropped Gaethje with a right hand and then immediately took the fight to the grappling realm. Oliveira quickly transitioned from an armbar to a rear-naked choke and submitted Gaethje. Only 2.59% of the Verdict Community predicted a 1st round submission for Oliveira.

## A strange fight between Carla Esparza and Rose Namajunas

![carla-esparza-rose-namajunas-ufc-274.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a6bccac1-3077-427e-76e7-5430e948c600/pub "Carla Esparza and Rose Namajunas try to engage. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)")

When Carla Esparza and Rose Namajunas first competed in December of 2014, it was an action-packed fight that led to Esparza finishing Namajunas with a rear-naked choke. Since that fight, Namajunas reinvented herself as a fighter and became the reigning Champion while Esparza went on a winning streak that earned her another title opportunity. This was Namajunas’ opportunity to avenge her loss to the first woman that defeated her in the UFC. The Verdict Community was very confident in Namajunas, as 80% predicted her to defeat Esparza. Before we even knew it, the fight ended up in the Championship rounds without either fighter doing anything. It was a lacklustre fight where both fighters did not engage. This was a difficult fight to score because there wasn’t much to score. Esparza ultimately earned a split decision win to reclaim the Strawweight title.

## Michael Chandler sleeps Tony Ferguson

![Michael-Chandler-vs-Tony-Ferguson-UFC-274-03.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d4edaeb0-8fda-4729-cd11-5f9679402a00/pub "Michael Chandler lands a devastating front kick on Tony Ferguson. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)")

After losing 3 consecutive fights, a lot of people started to lose faith in Tony Ferguson. Not because they wanted to, but because of what they saw. Ferguson had little to no success in his last 3 fights. Coming into this fight week, Ferguson kept mentioning how structured this camp was and how serious he was taking this fight. You could see improvements immediately as Ferguson looked like his old self in the 1st round. He wobbled Chandler with a punch and kept attacking his body with kicks. It seemed hopeful that Ferguson could win again. However, all of those thoughts came to a sudden end just 17 seconds into the 2nd round when Michael Chandler brutally finished Tony Ferguson with a front kick to the face. This was the first time in his career that Ferguson went completely unconscious. UFC President Dana White called it the most vicious knockout he’d ever seen.

## Ovince Saint Preux and Shogun compete in a rematch

![Ovince-Saint-Preux-vs-Mauricio-Shogun-Rua-UFC-274-17.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6c942a5a-a43e-4539-bb47-b78413950200/pub "Fans in the arena turn on the flashlights on their phones during the fight. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)")

Their first fight in 2014 ended in just 34 seconds with OSP finishing Shogun by knockout. Whereas the first fight had action immediately, the rematch dragged out for 15 minutes. As we saw in the co-main event, OSP vs. Shogun 2 was a fight where both competitors looked hesitant to attack. The fans in the arena booed OSP and Shogun for the majority of the fight and a lot of the crowd began to turn on their flashlights on their phones at one point. OSP won the fight by split decision.

## Randy Brown and Chaos Williams put on a show

![Randy-Brown-vs-Khaos-Williams-UFC-274-24.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/849edfe0-e49f-4813-413e-9c6059b1ec00/pub "Randy Brown and Khaos Williams meet after the fight. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)")

The main card kicked off with an action-packed fight between Randy Brown and Chaos Williams. Williams dropped Brown in the 1st round and it seemed like the fight was going in the direction of Williams. However, Randy Brown made fast adjustments and looked like a new fighter when the 2nd round began. You could see the confidence in Brown’s body language as he started to land a variety of strikes against Williams. The fight came down to the 3rd round which was razor close. Randy Brown earned a split decision win.

## 43-year-old Francisco Trinaldo continues to win

![Francisco-Trinaldo-vs-Danny-RobertsUFC-274-13.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0752deec-7479-4121-c9a8-c48875ec8100/pub "Francisco Trinaldo controls Danny Robert on the mat. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)")

This fight was a late addition to Verdict after Donald Cerrone was forced to withdraw from his fight against Joe Lauzon. 43-year-old Francisco Trinaldo pushed the pace for the entire 15 minutes and earned a unanimous decision win. Trinaldo has been competing as a professional since 2006 and in the UFC since 2012.

UFC 274 Post-fight Review

The PFL wrapped up the first half of their 2022 Regular Season on May 6th in what was perhaps the biggest event in PFL history. The card featured names like Kayla Harrison, Anthony Pettis, Rory MacDonald, Ray Cooper III, and more. Let’s take a look at what took place at this event.

## Kayla Harrison goes to a decision

![7c3708e3ef0fa59fb2bdb51b9a79f1b3.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8afc97fc-51e9-446a-752a-5635fc294900/pub "Kayla Harrison attempts a front kick. (Professional Fighters League)")

After months of contract negotiations, Kayla Harrison finally made her return to action at PFL 3. Harrison competed in 4 fights in 2021 and finished every opponent she fought. Many expected her to continue the finishing streak in her 2022 return against Sambo World Champion Marina Mokhnatkina. Harrison won the fight, but she didn’t get the stoppage. The fight went all 3 rounds and saw Harrison earn a unanimous decision win. This was just the 3rd decision win of Harrison’s career. With this win, Harrison extended her professional record to a perfect 13-0.


## Carlos Leal defeats a former Champion

![53a1bee7023b485cab5739d03d615dba.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/462c6e14-67dd-473a-77d0-030bd24b1300/pub "Carlos Leal lands a knee against Ray Cooper III. (Professional Fighters League)")

Carlos Leal capitalized on the biggest fight of his career by defeating former 2x PFL Champion Ray Cooper III. Cooper got off to a bad start on fight week as he missed weight by 5.4 lbs. With that being said, Cooper was still a big favorite heading into the fight as 86% of the Verdict Community predicted him to defeat Leal. Unfortunately for the majority, Leal methodically picked Cooper apart with his striking. There were several moments in the fight where Leal hurt Cooper. Cooper had a late burst in the 3rd round, but it was too late. Leal went on to defeat Cooper by unanimous decision. Unless Cooper does something spectacular in his next fight, it looks like this could be the first time in 4+ years that he will not be qualifying for the PFL Playoffs. Carlos Leal is a fresh coat of paint in the PFL’s Welterweight division as he’s on an 11 fight winning streak and just defeated the face of the PFL’s Welterweight division. 


## Anthony Pettis earns his first PFL win

![fc790aa03d138eddc34f2cd82b889ac4.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9cd33389-f1e2-487c-cdcf-342b2b633d00/pub "Anthony Pettis locks in a triangle choke from the top. (Professional Fighters League)")

After a lacklustre 2021 where he went 0-2 in the PFL, Anthony Pettis bounced back in a big way in his 2022 return as he finished Myles Price with a 1st round submission. As soon as the fight began, Price attempted a single leg but Pettis scrambled and dictated the action. The fight ended up back on the floor late in the 1st round and that’s when Pettis finished Price with a triangle choke. This win is going to pay dividends for Pettis as the season goes on as he earns 6 points which significantly increases his chances of entering the PFL Playoffs.


## Rory MacDonald gets off to a great start

![8267656d47bc97fc2b5e13ac46df223b.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/173ba581-0b10-49e4-75d4-f3e091254200/pub "Rory MacDonald squeezes the neck of Brett Cooper. (Professional Fighters League)")

Like his fellow former UFC colleague, Rory MacDonald earned a 1st round submission win in his return to the PFL this year by finishing Brett Cooper with a rear-naked choke. MacDonald, who was primarily known as a striker, now has more submission wins on his record than knockout wins. Given the nature of the PFL format, MacDonald’s key to success might be using his wrestling and avoiding risks where he doesn’t need to take them. MacDonald walked away from this fight unscathed and with 6 points. 


## Larissa Pacheco looks vicious 

![2926c86a9f8447d98217d2ba0b89b6f8.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/64a12054-c4f6-4337-161e-e358b82f0a00/pub "Larissa Pacheco lands a right hand. (Professional Fighters League)")

Prior to this event, Larissa Pacheco was the only fighter in history that Kayla Harrison couldn’t finish. Pacheco had a successful 2021 in the PFL as she won 2 consecutive fights by 1st round knockout. Unfortunately, her year came to a bitter end after a failed weight cut disqualified her from competing in the Playoffs. Pacheco returned to the PFL this year with the same intensity that she started 2021 off with as she finished Zamzagul Fayzallanova by 1st round knockout. As soon as Pacheco landed the 1st punch, Fayzallanova was on the retreat. Pacheco swarmed and got the stoppage just 85 seconds into the 1st round. With this win, Pacheco now has 3 consecutive 1st round knockout wins.


Kayla Harrison, Anthony Pettis, and Rory MacDonald all advance in the PFL Season

Jack MacCool

In the wake of an event that saw two important matchups take place in the Lightweight division, what better time than now to matchmake the best of the best in the UFC’s marquee division?

![Charles-Oliveira-vs-Justin-Gaethje-UFC-274-05.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5fea771c-ee14-40e2-e930-8d033500d200/pub "Charles Oliveira finishing Justin Gaethje with a rear-naked choke. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)")

At UFC 274 Charles Oliveira defeated Justin Gaethje by first round submission, however due to a weight miss of just 0.5 lbs the day before, Oliveira was stripped of the title upon the start of the match making Gaethje the only athlete eligible to win the title. Ultimately, it didn’t matter as Oliveira secured his spot in the next vacant title fight as he finished Justin Gaethje with a 1st round submission.  Joining Oliveira in the Lightweight win column was Michael Chandler who disposed of Tony Ferguson with one of the most vicious knockouts in the history of the promotion. With only exciting potential bouts on the horizon let’s play matchmaker for the UFC lightweights.

These are 5 possible fights in the Lightweight division.

## Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev

Charles Oliveira continues to make his case for the top of the pound-for-pound ladder with his recent string of victories.  He’s now won 11 in a row, 10 of which came by way of stoppage, and there doesn’t necessarily appear to be a true number one contender to join the former champion in the next title bout as of right now.  However, if Charles wants to remain active and have the best opponent standing across from him when the first round starts, then Islam Makhachev is the most deserving candidate.  Islam holds an impressive ten-fight winning streak of his own and has finished his last four opponents.  Although Makhachev has not faced the level of competition in recent memory that ‘Do Bronx’ has faced, he is clearly a promising talent that could reign over this division for some time if he got a hold of the title. Makhachev and Oliveira would be an amazing matchup for fans of grappling and should be the two athletes facing off for the vacant title hopefully later this year.  

## Michael Chandler vs Dustin Poirier

Michael Chandler has quickly become one of the most beloved fighters in the UFC.  The combination of his obscenely entertaining fighting style mixed with his knack for cutting promos has allowed Chandler to make a splash in his short four-fight UFC career.  Coming off two straight losses, he needed an emphatic victory to reassert himself in the lightweight title picture, and he did just that when he knocked Tony Ferguson out cold at UFC 274 with a picture perfect front kick. Dustin Poirier on the other hand has not fought since his title loss to Oliveira in December of 2021. Poirier has recently expressed his interest in putting on high-profile fights with the other big names at 155 and 170 and boy would a fight with Chandler check that box. To put it simply, Poirier and Chandler both appear to be allergic to boring fights, and a matchup between the two sluggers would make for some amazing theatre. A win for either man could also lead to another shot at the undisputed title, making the stakes just another part of why this fight would be a gift to MMA fans.  

## Beneil Dariush vs Gregor Gillespie

Unfortunately for Beneil Dariush, his opportunity to earn the next title shot was lost when he suffered a broken leg just over one week before a number one contender fight with Islam Makhachev.  Dariush definitely still deserves the opportunity to fight one of the best in the division having won seven in a row with four wins coming by finish.  He’s shown elite grappling skill and improved striking throughout the win streak, and a clash with a former NCAA Division-I National Champion wrestler like Gregor Gillespie would be an awesome matchup in every area of the game. Though he has only competed once since his stunning knockout loss to Kevin Lee at Madison Square Garden in 2019, Gillespie got back in the win column with a stoppage victory over Diego Ferreira in a bout that won fight of the night honours last May. He has a 7-1 record in the UFC with six of those wins being finishes and given his age of 35 years old, he may not have that much time left to make his push towards the title.  Both men are more than ready for a step up in competition and like a Poirier and Chandler matchup, the stakes would make an already exciting matchup all the better.

## Justin Gaethje vs the winner of Rafael Dos Anjos vs Rafael Fiziev

Despite the loss to Oliveira this weekend, Justin Gaethje is still one of the most exciting, if not the most exciting, fighter on the UFC roster and boy would a matchup with either Rafael be great. With RDA and Fiziev scheduled to face off July 9, it would provide ample time for Gaethje to recover and prepare for a fight with the winner.  If Dos Anjos gets through Fiziev then a matchup with Gaethje only adds to the legendary resume of RDA while also holding a lot of weight within the divisional hierarchy.  Along with how good he’s looked in his last two contests, Dos Anjos definitely has the skill set to possibly take advantage of Justin’s deficiencies. But like every opponent of Gaethje, he will have to walk through a firestorm to do it.  The fight would also provide a highly ranked and well respected opponent for Gaethje to potentially return to winning ways against.  

Alternatively, if Rafael Fiziev gets past RDA then a fight against Gaethje would be must-see TV.  Fiziev’s Muay Thai and striking acumen is more than enough to counter Justin’s power and lack of concern for self-preservation, which could make for a striking war.  After seeing how Fiziev finished Brad Riddell, MMA fans would be in for a treat if he met Gaethje in the Octagon.  Either way, it’s hard to find a fight involving Gaethje that wouldn’t be awesome and both RDA and Fiziev are fresh opponents for Justin who are wanting to return to, and enter, the illustrious lightweight top 5.  

## Tony Ferguson vs Bobby Green

To say Tony Ferguson has hit a rough patch is an understatement, as the former Interim Lightweight Champion has now lost four straight fights. Given his age and amount of damage taken, Ferguson should welcome a significant step down in competition after fighting the very best for the last half a decade.  When the updated lightweight rankings are released in the coming days he will most likely be looking at a 10-15 ranking, putting him in a position for more closely contested matches given the trajectory of his career.  That’s where Bobby Green comes into play. Green has seen success in his recent bouts, picking up two straight wins before losing to Makhachev his last time out after taking the fight on just 10 days notice. Green deserves a high-profile matchup and Ferguson provides exactly that as one of the biggest fan favourites in the sport. As well, Green isn’t known for his one punch knockout power and will in all likelihood keep the fight standing, something that could help Ferguson get back in the winner’s circle.  Both fighters are known for their exciting styles and performances so this would be the perfect scenario for each to put on a show for the adoring fans.  

Lightweight is such an exciting division filled with big names, immense talents, and a mix of former champions and championship hopefuls. Matchmaking a group like that is never easy, but regardless of the direction the UFC chooses to go, the fans are the ones really winning as they are lucky enough to get to witness these incredible athletes compete against one another.  


5 fights to make next in the UFC's Lightweight division

The UFC returns this weekend with a stacked pay-per-view headlined by Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje for UFC 274. The action goes down in Gaethje’s backyard of Phoenix, Arizona. The co-main event features a rematch between Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza who first competed in December 2014.

The rest of the card is littered with high stake fights including the return of El Cucuy Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chandler, and we also get to see a rematch of a fight that dates back to 2014, Shogun vs OSP 2. The pay-per-view kicks off with a fight between two legends Donald, “Cowboy” Cerrone vs Joe Lauzon. We’ve got a loaded card including 15 fights, so let’s get to making some money. 


## Charles Oliveira vs Justin Gaethje

The odds of this fight have shifted after Charles Oliveira failed to make weight, but even with that shift Justin Gaethje should be the play here. Sitting at 2.19 odds (+120) would pay $120 for $100 put in. He should be the better-conditioned fighter after the draining process Oliveira had to go through. I also like the leg kicks from Gaethje and that forward pressure that will weigh on Oliveira both mentally and physically. Another possible play here is the Justin Gaethje prop by knockout which pays 2.65 (+165) odds. If the line keeps creeping towards Justin as the favorite, a slight sprinkle on the former champ would not be a bad play seeing he was as high as 1.58 favourite. 

## Rose Namajunas vs Carla Esparza

I'm going to be straightforward about this one, I’m on the Namajunas express. I think she takes the win here. She is also undefeated in rematches so far in her career. Carla has been on a good run as of late and is an improved version of the one that fought Namajunas back in 2014. With that said I think Namajunas has finally put together her natural ability with the mental side of fighting and I expect we will see a career-best performance out of her. The play here is Namajunas outright at 1.45 odds (-220). That is a lot of juice to lay on her, but I think it is warranted. Another possible play is the under 4.5 which is valued at 2.36 (+135). Carla has never got five rounds, while Rose has that championship experience and I see her taking Carla into those rounds and there we see her fade and ultimately finished.  

## Michael Chandler vs Tony Ferguson

Next is the people's main event. This is a surefire barnburner and a fight I tend to stay far away from in terms of the betting perspective. Michael Chandler is a huge favourite 1.26 (-385) which provides us with little to no value. Tony Ferguson is coming off three losses in a row, but with his odds, a light sprinkle on him is worth the shot at 4.20 odds (+320). The play here is to sit and enjoy the fight, with a slight sprinkle on Tony Ferguson. 

## Mauricio Rua vs Ovince Saint Preux

PRIDE NEVER DIE! Shogun has been competing in mixed martial arts for nearly two decades which can cause a lot of wear and tear on the human body. Their first fight took place in2014 and resulted in a 34 second knockout by OSP. Eight years later I have to side with OSP here as he is the only true play. The play here is OSP at 1.40 (-250) which is a bit steep but could be thrown into parlay for extra value. To be safe, keeping far away from this fight could also be beneficial. 

## Donald Cerrone vs Joe Lauzon

Another fight where it's hard to predict what we will see out of each fighter. Both have been in the game forever, true legends and absolute warriors. I would advise staying away from this fight, but a possible play is the over 2.5 valued at 2.43 (+145). Both seem to still have some left in the gas tank and seeing they’re fighting a fellow veteran this could turn out to be a three-round brawl in which our play of over 2.5 rounds cashes.

## UFC 274 Parlay

Justin Gaethje, Rose Namajunas and over 2.5 rounds in Cerrone vs Lauzon valued at 7.72 (+670) pay $100 returns $670. Odds provided by Stake.