Upcoming UFC Title Fight Odds
Anderson Silva is scheduled to return from injury on January 31. His bout with Nick Diaz at UFC 183 is just one of the fights bettors can lay money on right now.
With the cancellation of UFC 176: Aldo vs. Mendes II, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles this past Saturday, UFC fans find themselves in a rare state of limbo.
By the time UFC Fight Night rolls around on Saturday, August 16, fans will have been without a card from the premier mixed martial arts promotion for some three weeks. Considering the recent slew of events, that’s a veritable drought.
Fear not though; there’s plenty of UFC action to look forward to over the coming months and right now there’s plenty to bet on.
Over at Bovada, bettors will find a host of early bird specials to bet on, including no fewer than six title fights.
Here’s a look what’s upcoming.
*****
T.J. Dillashaw vs. Renan Barão II
UFC Bantamweight Championship title fight
Event: UFC 177
Date: Saturday, August 30
Venue: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, CA
Dillashaw shocked the world with his upset victory over Barão in May, a bout he dominated before earning a fifth round knockout victory. The UFC brass was quick to schedule a rematch which, let’s hope, could be every bit as entertaining as the first installment.
Right now: Dillashaw (-150) is a narrow favorite over Barão (+120).
*****
Demetrious Johnson vs. Chris Cariaso
UFC Flyweight Championship title fight
Event: UFC 177
Date: Saturday, August 30
Venue: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, CA
Since winning the UFC Flyweight Championship in September 2012, Johnson has run roughshod over the division. Last time out, he made easy work out of the Russian Ali Bagautinov, who looked to all intents and purposes to be a genuine threat. He wasn’t. For his fifth title defense, Johnson will square off against Chris Cariaso, a winner in three straight fights and the No. 8 contender within the division. Expect a demolition job here.
Right now: Johnson (-1400) is the runaway favorite over Cariaso (+750).
*****
Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship title fight
Event: UFC 178
Date: Saturday, September 27
Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
With injury forcing Alexander Gustafsson to pull out of his rematch with Jones, some of the luster has been wiped off the UFC 178 card. Still, Cormier makes for a solid replacement and will at least bring some interest into this bout. Can Jones win his eighth straight title defense and head home with a 12th consecutive victory or will the undefeated Cormier put an end to Jones’ three-year championship reign?
Right now: Jones (-165) is the favorite over Cormier (+135), although MMAJunkie.com think otherwise.
*****
José Aldo vs. Chad Mendes II
UFC Featherweight Championship title fight
Event: UFC 179
Date: Saturday, October 25
Venue: Ginásio do Maracanãzinho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
It’s been more than five years since Aldo entered a fight without a belt around his waist, testament to his dominance within the featherweight division, both in WEC and UFC. His next challenge – his seventh defense of the UFC strap – comes from Chad Mendes, a man Johnson knocked out in the last second of the first round when the two fought at UFC 142 in 2012. Mendes has won five straight since that night, but does he have it in him to take the title in October?
Right now: Bovada isn’t currently offering odds on this bout but Aldo (-210) opened as the favorite over Mendes (+160) when lines were released back in May.
*****
Cain Velasquez vs. FabrÃcio Werdum
UFC Heavyweight Championship title fight
Event: UFC 180
Date: Saturday, November 15
Venue: Mexico City Arena, Mexico City, Mexico
Velasquez will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon with a title defense in his hometown of Mexico City. The UFC’s first foray into Mexico sees the champ defend his UFC Heavyweight Championship against No. 1 contender FabrÃcio Werdum, undefeated since his return to UFC.
Right now: Velasquez (-450) is a heavy favorite over Werdum (+325), despite the fact that this will be his first fight in more than a year.
*****
Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort
UFC Middleweight Championship title fight
Event: UFC 181
Date: Saturday, December 6
Venue: Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, NV
Weidman’s recent victory over Lyoto Machida went someway to cementing his status as undisputed champion, but Machida’s late comeback suggested there’s still work to be done. Weidman will be in for another tough night as he faces Belfort, a winner in three straight. Can the former Light Heavyweight champion get the better of the “All Americanâ€, or will Weidman leave Las Vegas with a third consecutive successful title defense?
Right now: Weidman (-400) is a comfortable favorite over Belfort (+300), although the latter makes for a tempting pick.
*****
Anthony Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez
UFC Lightweight Championship title fight
Event: UFC 182
Date: Saturday, January 3
Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Pettis’ first defense of his lightweight title will tie in with his stint as a coach on the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter. By the time this 2015 curtain-raising pay-per-view rolls round, it will have been almost 500 days since he took the title from Benson Henderson, which will leave plenty of fans, bettors and prognosticators wondering how he’ll fare against Melendez, the No. 2 contender for the title. Melendez, a Strikeforce standout, is 1-1 since joining the UFC, the one loss coming in his debut – a championship bout with Henderson.
Right now: Pettis (-190) is the favorite over Melendez (+155).
*****
Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz
Event: UFC 183
Date: Saturday, January 31
Venue: TBA, Las Vegas, NV
Last week’s announcement that the UFC’s annual Super Bowl prelude would involve a bout between returning superstars Silva and Diaz was met with excitement from just about everybody. Silva will make his return after infamously breaking his leg against Chris Weidman. Diaz hasn’t fought since a March 2013 loss to Georges St-Pierre, a bout that was just his second in 13 months. How will the former WEC and Strikeforce champion fair in this one?
Right now: Silva (-400) is expected to take care of business when he steps into the Octagon with Diaz (+300).
*****
Your next dose of UFC action comes on Saturday, August 16, as UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. St. Preux comes live from the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine. Betting Sports will have a preview of the event next week.
