November 12, Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
Paddy Power offer a wide range of sports betting, including good coverage of MMA events. If you would like to place a bet on MMA or anything else, you would be greatly supporting the site by clicking on the banner above, creating a Paddy Power account and doing it there.
So, after YEARS of talking about it, we’re finally going to see UFC at the Garden. Plenty of great fights to look forward to and get some cash on.
Alvarez vs McGregor
I’m not for a second underestimating Alvarez. He’s a serious dude and I’d be happy to back him against most of the lightweight division, but I’m a self-confessed McGregor nut hugger, and so that’s where I’m going. Two weight champion, here we go.
Tyron Woodley vs Stephen Thompson
I feel a bit bad for Woodley. He’s being overlooked by many people, but the Wonderboy hype train has some well-deserved momentum. I’ve got Thompson to win his eighth straight fight and capture the Welterweight belt.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Joanna is obviously going into this bout a justifiable favourite, but at 10-0, and also because it’s an opportunity to back all three belts being contested to change hands, I’m going to take a punt on Karolina to get the upset.
Chris Weidman vs Yoel Romero
Got to back Weidman to win in New York, especially with Romero coming off his Juicing ban (tainted sample, my arse). Bisping gets the winner, so I’m hoping Weidman gets it done quickly and injury free so it’s sooner rather than later.
Kelvin Gastelum vs Donald Cerrone
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; I ALWAYS bet on Cerrone to win, as the bet’s alive till the final bell.
Miesha Tate vs Raquel Pennington
Love me a bit of Miesha, so I’m straight on that bet.
Frankie Edgar vs Jeremy Stephens
ZERO chance Frankie is losing in New York.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Michael Johnson
After winning his long-awaited return in April, Nurmagomedov is going to want to get some momentum back, especially with Tony Ferguson getting himself to the front of the queue to fight the winner of tonight’s headline fight. Johnson is a tough out for anyone, but got to back Nurmagomedov for the win.
Rashad Evans vs Tim Kennedy
I really want to back Rashad to win his middleweight debut. When he fought Teixeira in April, I backed the Brazilian and said something to the effect that Rashad hadn’t beaten a genuine 205er since 2012, but had beaten Sonnen and Hendo, who I consider large middleweights. Kennedy isn’t a bad style matchup for Rashad, and he’s been inactive for a couple of years, so what the hell, Rashad it is.
Jim Miller vs Thiago Alvez
The only other fight on the card I have an opinion on is the Fight Pass headliner. Alvez was a massive Welterweight who frequently had problems making the weight. Post-USADA and trying to make lightweight, we could see a completely different creature. I’ve been on Jim Miller in his last two outings, and I’m going to get on him again here to spoil Alvez’ return.
So I’m going for the following bets:
Bet 1 – All champs to lose – £10 returning £159.01
McGregor to beat Alvarez
Thompson to beat Woodley
Kowalkiewicz toi beat Jedrzejczyk
Bet 2 – all New Yorkers to win – £10 returning £48.46
Weidman to beat Romero
Edgar to beat Stephens
Miller to beat Alvez
Bet 3 – the rest – £10 returning £94.95
Cerrone to beat Gastelum
Tate to beat Pennington
Nurmagomedov to beat Johnson
Evans to beat Kennedy
Bet 4 – clean sweep – £3.85 (my account loose change) returning £1609.70
McGregor to beat Alvarez
Thompson to beat Woodley
Kowalkiewicz toi beat Jedrzejczyk
Weidman to beat Romero
Cerrone to beat Gastelum
Nurmagomedov to beat Johnson
Edgar to beat Stephens
Tate to beat Pennington
Evans to beat Kennedy
Miller to beat Alvez
Remember, by clicking on the Paddy Power banner at the top of this page, opening an account, and doing your sports betting there, you are supporting MMA Flashback, for which I am very grateful.
MMA Flash back encourages you to gamble responsibly and within your limits. If gambling stops being fun, stop. If you feel you have a problem with gambling, seek help from GAMCARE. They can be reached on 0808 8020 133 or http://www.gamcare.org.uk.
I’ll be watching all the build up to this event, plus the exclusive prelims on UFC Fight Pass. There’s also a fantastic collection of original shows and an incredible fight library you can lose yourself in for weeks. To support MMA Flashback, you can click on the banner below and sign up today. You won’t regret it.
