With UFC 200 just a few days away, let’s take a look at some of the expert MMA odds picks and winning predictions that you can use as you research your wagers on this primo event.
Closer Look at the UFC 200 Expert Betting Picks and Winning Predictions
Daniel Cormier vs Jon Jones
Why not start with the main event? Jones (-300) is the big favorite here, finally getting the matchup with Cormier (+230) that he was promised at UFC 197 before Cormier went down with a foot injury that scratched him from the bout. That sent Jones into a bout with Ovince Saint Preux — and his third straight unanimous decision victory. Jones had posted eight successful defenses of the light heavyweight title, until a hit-and- run incident in April 2015 caused UFC to strip him of it. Now he’s back to contend for it against Cormier, who took it with a submission victory over Anthony “Rumble” Johnson at UFC 187. Cormier prevailed in a choke submission in the third round and then defended his title at UFC 192, winning in a split decision over Alexander Gustafsson. Cormier is a wrestler, preferring to get his opponent to the ground, while Jones prefers to stand and fight. I like Jones to take his title back in this one, winning by stoppage.
Miesha Tate vs Amanda Nunes
Tate (-250) is the women’s bantamweight title holder in the UFC, but she hasn’t had the title for long — she stripped it from Holly Holm at UFC 196, applying a rear-naked choke in the last round. Nunes (+195) comes in with three straight wins, beating Shayna Baszier and Sara McMann via stoppage and beating Valentina Shevchenko in a unanimous decision. Nunes is the better striker in this bout, capable of applying a great deal of punishment to her opponent. However, she tends to start big with a flurry of blows and then wears down as the fight goes along. Tate is good at waiting out those opening storms and then finding her opportunity when her opponents gets weary. I like Tate to win this one by unanimous decision.
Jose Aldo vs Frankie Edgar
Two top featherweights will enter the Octagon for a long-awaited rematch. Aldo beat Edgar way back at UFC 156 in La Vegas, over three years ago, Now Aldo (-105) enters as a slight underdog to Edgar (-125), most likely due to his loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 194, going down via knockout in just 13 seconds. McGregor has left the weight class, focusing on welterweight bouts, so this will be a fight for the interim title. Edgar comes in with five straight wins after dropping from lightweight to featherweight; taking consecutive beatings from Benson Henderson motivated him to pursue a different weight class. However, Aldo had not lost a fight in more than ten years, winning 18 bouts in a row. Even though he comes in as a slight underdog, I like Aldo to win this one by unanimous decision.
