When it comes to pay-per-view cards, this Saturday’s UFC 210 is…fine. It’s definitely not as stacked as fight fans would like, considering that it’s gonna set you back $60, but it’s just so shallow beyond the main and co-main.
Thankfully, the light heavyweight title match between Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson and the high-stakes middleweight clash between former champion Chris Weidman and the surging Gegard Mousasi is worth the price of admission. And there’s still money to be made on the rest of the card.
Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu – which lets you bet on MMA and cash out your winnings at any time – and make a few Cherry Picks and roll the dice on an Underdog Special.
Cherry Picks Record: 28-12-1
Underdog Specials Record: 3-1
Anthony Johnson (-120) vs Daniel Cormier (+100)
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over -156, under +131
Same Matchup, Different Result?
We know exactly what both men want to do: DC wants to break Rumble’s will, while Rumble wants to break DC’s face. The last time they met, it was Cormier who was able to impose his game. But a lot has changed since that May 2015 encounter.
First, DC is 38 years old and is having a tough time staying healthy. While he’s shown no signs of decline, his age is a question that is always going to come up. Especially since he’s fighting a guy that’s a lot bigger than him. But this is the King of the Grind we’re talking about here, his clinch-heavy, wrestling-centric approach is the perfect style to stfile Johnson’s explosive striking.
As for Rumble, I’ll just leave this here:
He’s had three fights since losing to DC, and each ended with his opponent knocked brutally senseless. He’s like the Picasso of knockout artists.
How You Should Bet
Let’s protect your money and go with the over on 1.5 rounds at -145. It’s not too much more expensive than picking a winner, and DC is a guy that’s never been knocked out – with a style that eats up clock. Plus, 1.5 rounds is the lowest possible total, giving you a short window to get past.
Cormier has surprisingly gone from approximate a -110 favorite to a +100 underdog in the past few days. The betting public has clearly fallen in love with Johnson’s power, but that makes Cormier a great (slight) underdog pick.
Cherry Pick: Over 1.5 rounds at -145
Underdog Special: Cormier to win at +100
Chris Weidman (-102) vs Gegard Mousasi (-118)Â
Over 2.5 rounds, over -185, under +155
 Can Weidman Stop the Bleeding?
You’ve got to wonder where Weidman’s head is at. In May 2015, he was an undefeated champion. Then he got knocked out in back-to-back fights. The last one was particularly brutal, as Romero rearranged his face and left him leaking blood in front of a hometown crowd filled with family and friends. A third straight loss would move him out of the title mix entirely.
Meanwhile, Mousasi’s won four straight, with his last three coming by TKO. But you’ve got to consider the competition here: Weidman lost to Rockhold and Souza, Mousasi’s beating guys like Vitor Belfort and Uriah Hall. Still, his confidence has got to be at an all-time high and he’s finally looking like the title contender the UFC expected when they signed him years ago.
How You Should Bet
Mousasi’s 60% takedown defense likely isn’t going to cut it against one of the division’s premier wrestlers. That’s the key statistic, as Weidman is smart enough to know that his best chance of winning comes through his takedowns. Weidman’s recent slide accounts for his underdog fight odds at BookMaker.eu, making him a good upset play.
Cherry Pick: Chris Weidman -102
Patrick Cote (-165) vs Thiago Alves (+140)Â
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -185, under +155
Whose Striking Reigns Supreme?
Alves is a powerhouse Muay Thai fighter, while Cote is more a volume-based kickboxer. Both men have found wins hard to come by recently. What we can look at here is that Alves has had trouble against rangy, technical strikers, like Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann, and Cote falls into that category.
How You Should Bet
While the fight projects to be close, Cote has been performing at a higher level. Take the Canadian to win.
Cherry Pick: Cote to win at -165
Will Brooks (-255) vs Charles Oliveira (+210)
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -130, under +110
Let’s Give Brooks a Break
Former Strikeforce champion Will Brooks took the L in his last outing, but he was facing a guy that missed weight by like 10 pounds. That’s asking a lot. Now, he gets another fighter whose had weight issues. But if Oliveira kills himself to make 155, Brooks has the patient, well-rounded skillset to wear down the more explosive Brazilian.
How You Should Bet
Oliveira is no doubt the more explosive fighter, but he relies far too much on haymakers instead of trying to force a grappling match. Brooks is too experienced to be forced to make the kind of mistakes the Brazilian needs to win.
However, the best value here is the over on 2.5 rounds at -130, which pays out much better than Brooks to win. Oliveira should have more energy without having to cut to 145, and Brooks regularly fights to the final bell.
Cherry Pick: Over 2.5 rounds -130
