The UFC returns to the Apex Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada for this Fight Night card. Headlining the card is Alistair Overeem and Alexander Volkov, who both come into this fight on a winning streak. With a win over each other here they are likely one more fight away from either a title shot or a title eliminator fight.
In the co-main there is an enticing Bantamweight clash between Cory Sandhagen and Frankie Edgar and there are plenty more intriguing bouts on the card that are worth tuning in for. We take a look at some of the key match ups below.
UFC Fight Night Betting Tips
Alistair Overeem vs Alexander Volkov
This is a fascinating fight as both men have been top level strikers for many years. Overeem has a decorated striking background but his inability to stay safe for the full 25 minutes has seen him in the highlight reels of many of the Heavyweight division’s top fighters. However, Overeem has finally decided to take more fights to the ground of late and this has resulted in back to back wins. It is a no brainer he will try to take this to the ground as he does have a distinct advantage there but considering only one man has finished Volkov and that was a Derick Lewis bomb on the feet, I don’t see Overeem being able to stop him if he does indeed get him down. Now that if is a big if as the height of Volkov greatly helps him keep his fights standing. His opponents must shoot from range or up against the fence which he is more often than not able to successfully defend. Realistically if Overeem gets Volkov down repeatedly he wins the fight, but I just don’t see that happening. Volkov keeps it on the feet and lands one on the chin of the 40-year-old, making himself onto another fighter’s highlight reel.
Volkov via TKO/KO ($2.25)
Ode Osbourne vs Jerome Rivera
I was quite excited to see Osbourne’s UFC debut after scoring four straight first round finishes, but he was locked up in a guillotine in the first by Brian Kelleher to make it a rather forgettable debut. This will be his first fight since, just over 2 years later. Osbourne was originally set to meet Denys Bondar which would have been a tough test but now meets the not so well-rounded Jerome Rivera. Rivera is quite limited on the feet and while he does have ground skills to finish opponents, it is nothing that Osbourne can’t safely outmanoeuvre. Simply put Osbourne disposes of Rivera with a straight cross some point in the first two rounds to get his UFC career back on track.
Prelim Multi
Joselyne Edwards vs Karol Rosa
I was against Edwards against Wu and while she did look better than I expected, I cannot see her beating a solid fighter like Rosa. Rosa will be too busy on the feet and has so many weapons that allow her to control the fight wherever it goes. Expect a wide decision vision for Karol Rosa and pair her with a Zalal win for better odds.
Seung Woo Choi vs Youssef Zalal
Zalal steps in as a replacement which is bad news for Choi. He will be able to take Choi down at will and Choi doesn’t have the advantage on the feet by any stretch so this should be comfortable work for Zalal regardless of where this fight takes place.
