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Former UFC champion Vitor Belfort is one of the biggest underdogs at UFC 204

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:12 p.m. ET

Jonathan Bradley

Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort might be a former champion with 18 career KO victories and wins over the likes of Dan Henderson, Luke Rockhold, Michael Bisping and Anthony Johnson, but that impressive resume won’t matter much come Saturday night as Belfort enters UFC 204 as the second biggest underdog on the card.

Belfort, who sits at fifth in the middleweight rankings, is slated to face off against ninth-ranked Gegard Mousasi in front of a packed house in Manchester on Saturday. According to oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag and SportsBetting.ag, Belfort is a +275 underdog against Mousasi (-325), despite his four-spot advantage in the rankings. The only fighter with worse odds is Russell Doane (+500), who accepted a short-notice fight with Mirsad Bektic (-700) on Tuesday.

Those same oddsmakers actually think 46-year-old middleweight Dan Henderson (+180), winner of just three of his last nine, has a better chance of beating current champion Michael Bisping (-210) than Belfort has of beating Mousasi.

The Brazilian legend, Belfort, has lost two of his last three fights but showed in the lone win during that stretch that he still has the ability to end a fight on a moment’s notice. Mousasi, however, has some of the best boxing in the division, and if anyone can effectively evade and counter Belfort’s power punches, it’s him.

If Mousasi is able to survive the early onslaught, which oddsmakers predict he will, he could put on yet another striking clinic, similar to his last four wins in the Octagon.

Here’s how the betting lines for the rest of UFC 204 stack up.

Michael Bisping (-210) vs. Dan Henderson (+180)

Vitor Belfort (+275) vs. Gegard Mousasi (-325)

Ovince Saint Preux (-145) vs. Jimi Manuwa (+125)

Stefan Struve (-180) vs. Daniel Omielanczuk (+155)

Mirsad Bektic (-700) vs. Russell Doane (+525)

Rob Font (-300) vs. Ian Entwistle (+250)

Albert Tumenov (-260) vs. Leon Edwards (+220)

Danny Roberts (-148) vs. Mike Perry (+128)

Adriano Martins (-215) vs. Leonardo Santos (+185)

Marc Diakiese (-210) vs. Lukasz Sajewski (+175)

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