Betting odds, biggest favorites and best bet at UFC 200
International Fight Week culminates with potentially the biggest event in the history of the sport as some of the UFC's biggest stars take the Octagon for 'UFC 200: Tate vs. Nunes.'
The star-studded event features two title fights, the return of one of the biggest sports stars ever in Brock Lesnar, seven former champions and a few legends to balance things out.
With big fights in Vegas, comes big bets, and there are no shortage of interesting lines out there for folks to capitalize on. Let's take a closer look at UFC 200 from a bettor's perspective.
Cain Velasquez (-305) over Travis Browne (+235)
Former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez looks to get back to his winning ways Saturday night when he takes on talented striker Travis Browne. Browne is 9-3 inside the Octagon, with seven of his wins coming by knockout.
But for as good as Browne is on the feet, Velasquez is better. The AKA fighter lands an astounding 6.32 strikes per minute (the UFC average is 2.5) and ridiculously accurate, landing 57.2% of his strikes thrown (42%).
If the Cain of old shows up on Saturday, he shouldn't have many problems with Browne.
Sage Northcutt (-335) over Enrique Marin (+255)
"Super" Sage Northcutt enters his fourth UFC fight as a significant favorite over TUF Latin America finalist Enrique Marin. Marin is an ace on the ground, having finished seven of his nine professional fights by submission, but oddsmakers see him having trouble with the superior athleticism of Northcutt.
TJ Dillashaw (-400) over Raphael Assuncao (+300)
Raphael Assuncao may have a win over TJ Dillashaw under his belt already, but much has changed since they crossed paths in 2013.
At the time, Assuncao was regarded as one of the division's brightest stars, and would go on to put on dominant performances against Pedro Munhoz and Bryan Caraway before injuries forced in to the sidelines for nearly two years.
Dillashaw, however, has been phenomenal since their first fight. He has knocked out Renan Barao twice and shown immense growth in his striking ability along the way.
Daniel Cormier (-450) over Anderson Silva (+325)
In a matter of days, Daniel Cormier went from being a significant underdog against original opponent Jon Jones to being a massive favorite against short-notice replacement Anderson Silva.
Silva is a legend in the sport and one of the most dynamic fighters to grace the Octagon. He's also a middleweight who hasn't been training for the former heavyweight and current light heavyweight champion he agreed to face on Saturday night. It'll be tough sledding against the Olympian Cormier, but then again, it is Anderson Silva ...
Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar goes the distance (-135)
Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar have a combined 36 knockouts or submissions on their record. Together, they've just been finished once, however -- Aldo's knockout loss to Conor McGregor.
Oddsmakers see this one going the distance, and I agree. Aldo should be fully recovered from his loss to McGregor, and we've yet to meet the man who can stop Edgar. They also both average over 17 minutes of fight time inside the Octagon.
They likely duke it out for five rounds, much like the first time around.
Brock Lesnar and his 80% finishing rate return to the Octagon at UFC 200 against knockout artist and eighth-ranked heavyweight Mark Hunt. The "Super Samoan" has won 75% of his 12 professional victories by knockout, so many aren't expecting this one to last too long.
Yes, fight will go the distance (+375) vs. No, fight doesn't go the distance
Oddsmakers are essentially saying there is no chance this fight goes the distance. A better would need to pony up $700 dollars just on the fight going three rounds, just to win $100 dollars
- Fight length for Lesnar vs. Hunt
- Yes, fight will go one round (+125) vs. No, fight doesn’t complete 1 round (-175)
- Yes, fight will go two rounds (+235) vs. No, fight doesn’t complete 2 rounds (-360)
- Yes, fight will go the distance (+375) vs. No, fight doesn’t go the distance (-700)
As far as the winner, sportsbooks have Hunt (-175) favored to beat Lesnar (+145). The odds get a little better if you put money on Hunt inside the distance (-155) since the “Super Samoan” is taking it to the judges (+900) is a longshot.
Lesnar is a better straight up bet than inside the distance (-190), but he is more likely to win a decision (+600) than hunt.
- Method of victory
- Hunt inside the distance -155
- Hunt by decision +900
- Lesnar inside the distance +190
- Lesnar by decision +600
- Draw +9000
