ufc 210 betting tips

The UFC returns with a solid co-headliner and headliner on April 8. UFC champion Daniel Cormier and challenger Anthony Johnson square-off again in the main event rematch. The light heavyweightss had a competitive first bout at UFC 187 with heavy-hitting Johnson landing big punches early, but Olympic wrestler Cormier eventually stopping the brawler in the third round to capture the vacant title. Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman will face the streaking Gegard Mousasi, former Strikeforce and DREAM champion, in the co-main event. Betsafe has the odds as nearly pick’ems for the bouts, so there are opportunity for paybacks in both.

Let’s take a closer look at the UFC 210 card going down at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

Early Preliminary Card

Magomed Bibulatov (13-0) VS Jenel Lausa (7-2)

A pair of flyweights will kick off the card. Bibulatov is an undefeated submission specialist that has a WSOF title in his name that steps into the Octagon for the first time. The Russian fighter won’t have the stiffest competition as he faces Filipino Lausa, a regional Pacific Xtreme Combat belt.

Irene Aldana (7-3) VS Katlyn Chookagian (8-1)

Aldana was seen as a future star for Mexican MMA, but the budding star suffered an upset loss in her first UFC debut. The former Invicta FC title challenger will face Chookagian who also lost in her last outing. It’s time for Aldana to prove she belongs at the top.

Josh Emmett (11-0) VS Desmond Green (19-5)

New York native Green will have a home court advantage, but the former Titan FC featherweight champ has a tough opponent in Emmett for his UFC debut. Green has won his last five, but Emmett training at California’s Alpha Male has won all his fights including his first two in the Octagon.

Gregor Gillespie (8-0) VS Andrew Holbrook (12-1)

Gillespie beat the odds by defeating a Brazilian in Brazil in his last outing at UFC FN 95, keeping his unbeaten record. The New Yorker faces Holbrook that suffered his first loss last year by getting KO’s by Joaquim Silva. A nice matchup to end the early prelims to see who will take a step up the ranks in the lightweight division.

Preliminary Card

Jan Blachowicz (19-6) VS Patrick Cummins (8-3)

Blachowicz versus Cummins is a solid matchup for any prelim card, and would have been on the main card just a few years bck. Poland’s Blachowicz is a former KSW champion and Cummins is an elite-level wrestler. The American was looking like a potential star by winning four of five UFC bout in 2014-2015, but after two straight TKO losses he will be fighting for his job Saturday night. The 34-year-old Blachowicz has lost three of four, and needs this win to show he is still relevant in the light heavyweight division.

Shane Burgos (9-0) VS Charles Rosa (11-2)

Burgos won seven fights in a row by stoppage, before getting a UFC debut decision victory. The New Yorker will challenge the always ready and dangerous Rosa, in what will likely be a 15 minute war.

Sean Strickland (18-1) VS Kamaru Usman (9-1)

Two solid welterweights clash here and the prospects have a combined nine wins and one loss in the UFC. Strickland made a name for himself by his long-time reign as KOTC champion. The “Nigerian Nightmare” won TUF 21 and has been taking on progressively more challenging opponents in his rise, and will have his hands full with Strickland.

Mike De La Torre (14-6) VS Myles Jury (15-2)

Jury won his first six UFC bouts, but suffered uninspired first loss to Donald Cerrone and then another to Charles Oliveira after dropping down to the featherweight division. The matchup with Torre is high stakes. “El Cucuy” hasn’t won since 2015, and it’s a long shot that he will beat “Fury” Saturday night.

Main Card

Will Brooks (18-2) VS Charles Oliveira (21-7)

Oliveira might be one of the most talented fighters around, but a series of overweight blunders and mental mistakes has left the Brazilian with losses in three of his four past bouts. Brooks lost to Alex Oliveira, no relation, in the former Bellator champion’s last bout. The upset was shocking and snapped the American’s nine fight winning streak. Look for Brooks to keep this fight on the feet and avoid the submission-lethal Oliveira on the ground.

Thiago Alves (21-11) VS Patrick Cote (23-10)

Alves tried to cut down to the lightweight division for his last bout, but never came close. So, the one time welterweight title challenger will be back at the 170 pound limit as he faces a one-time light heavyweight competitor in Cote. At 37-years-old Cote still has his power and a pep in his step, unlike his younger opponent. I like the Canadian to put down the warn-down Alves.

Cynthia Calvillo (4-0) VS Pearl Gonzalez (6-1)

Calvin will only have 35 days between her UFC 209 debut and this UFC 210 fight, as she scored a quick submission and is ready to go for more. The hype continues to grow for the California-based grappler and the promotion has put her on the main card for a reason. Gonzalez will make her promotional debut, but likely will end up on the losing end of the quickly building highlight reel of Calvillo.

Gegard Mousasi (41-6-2) VS Chris Weidman (13-2)

Former UFC middleweight champion Weidman will return to the Octagon against the always dangerous Gegard Mousasi. The “All American” was undefeated before losing his title at UFC 194 to Luke Rockhold. Most recently the man that twice beat the GOAT, Anderson Silva, was brutally KO’s by Yoel Romero at UFC 205 for another loss.

Mousasi called out Weidman for this high-profile showdown. The odds are even, and I see momentum on the side of the “The Dreamcatcher” giving him the edge. Mousasi racked up three TKO stoppages in the last half of 2016, and he will take one step closer to a title shot with a win over Weidman in his backyard.

Daniel Cormier (18-1) VS Anthony Johnson (22-5) – Light Heavyweight Title

Cormier defeated Johnson back at UFC 187 in May 2015 to become the light-heavyweight champion. The vacant belt was up for grabs following Jon Jones hit-and-run accident which lead to his title being stripped. The two were set to at UFC 206, but the champ withdrew due to a groin injury. “DC” is 38-years-old and won’t be inside the cage much longer as his warn-out body is ready to do more commentary work outside the cage. It’s hard to bet against an Olympic wrestler, that has only lost a decision to the former champion Jones in his 19 MMA bouts, but the time just may have come.

Johnson seems to finally have his head on straight. After fighting as low as welterweight, the powerful American striker has found his game and peaking at the right time. “Rumble” has KO’d Alexander Gustafsson, Jimi Manuwa, Ryan Bader, and Glover Teixeira in recent bouts. As DC found out, one such is all it takes for the night to end early, as it almost did in their first bout. The tide is turning, and I’d look at a play on the younger, faster, and heavier hitter to capture the belt.

About Ryan O’Leary

Ryan O’Leary is the founder of MMAViking.com, the premier source for daily mixed martial arts news in the Nordics. Established in 2008, the UFC credentialed media source has covered over 200 events cageside.