UFC heads to the desert this weekend, as the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, is set to host UFC Fight Night 167: Anderson vs Blachowicz 2. The main event is a light heavyweight rematch between Jan Blachowicz, the former KSW Light Heavyweight Champion, and Corey Anderson, the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs Team Penn in the light heavyweight decision. This is a rematch of their bout at UFC 191, when Anderson beat Blachowicz unanimously on the cards. The co-main event is a welterweight battle between Diego Sanchez and Michel Pereira. We have the full fight card for you, as well as sports betting thoughts on several of the bouts. Let’s see how These UFC 167 betting odds will be for this fight night.
UFC Fight Night 167: Anderson vs Blachowicz 2 Preview & Odds
Main Card (ESPN+)
- Corey Anderson vs Jan Blachowicz (Light Heavyweight)
- Diego Sanchez vs Michel Pereira (Welterweight)
- Montana De La Rosa vs Mara Romero Borella (Women’s Flyweight)
- Brok Weaver vs Kazula Vargas (Lightweight)
- Rogerio Bontorin vs Ray Borg (Flyweight)
- Lando Vannata vs Yancy Medeiros (Lightweight)
Preliminary Card (ESPN+)
- Tim Means vs Daniel Rodriguez (Welterweight)
- John Dodson vs Nathaniel Wood (Bantamweight)
- Jim Miller vs Scott Holtzman (Lightweight)
- Devin Clark vs Dequan Townsend (Light Heavyweight)
- Casey Kenney vs Merab Dvalishvili (Bantamweight)
- Mark De La Rosa vs Raulian Paiva (Flyweight)
Tim Means (29-11-1) vs Daniel Rodriguez (10-1) is an intriguing prelim matchup. Means dropped three of four, losing to Belal Muhammad and Sergio Moraes on the cards and then getting bombed via knockout by Niko Price. In December he delivered a guillotine finish over Thiago Alves, his fifth win via submission of the 29 in his career. He has 19 wins via knockout.
Rodriguez won four fights in a row and then got put on the Contender Series against Rico Farrington back in July. Farrington had the edge in reach and height, but Rodriguez stacked u points with takedowns and well planned attacks, and he won on the cards. Rodriguez makes his UFC debut as a substitute for Ramazan Emeev, who withdrew. Rodriguez comes in with just three weeks’ notice.
Rodriguez stood and exchanged strikes with Farrington, even though he got more points with the takedowns. He can’t do that against Means, because he slightly loses his balance when he sends an overhand left, and Means will step in and pound him. If the striking exchange extends in time, Means will simply dismantle Rodriguez’s defense. If Rodriguez has a chance, it comes on the ground, because he can mount and then drop bombs. However, Means is very hard to keep on the ground.
UFC 167 Final Prediction: Means wins via knockout
John Dodson (20-11) vs Nathaniel Wood (16-3) features the TUF 14 Bantamweight winner in Dodson, who won five of his first six UFC fights, losing only to Demetrious Johnson on the cards. Since then, though, he has dropped five of eight, including two losses in a row to Jimmie Rivera and Petr Yan. Against Wood, he yields three inches of height and reach.
Wood picked up four straight knockout victories fighting with Cage Warriors, as he defended his Bantamweight title twice and earned an invitation to UFC. Since then, he has choked out Johnny Eduardo, Andre Ewell and Jose Alberto Quinonez. Of his 16 wins, eight have come from knockout and six via submission.
Dodson’s problem is that he has still not changed his style to match the quality of his opposition. He has a huge overhand left, and it can deliver punishment. However, he does not have the versatility that Wood has, and he may not be able to work himself inside far enough to unleash that left. Wood is more likely to control the fight from a distance than Dodson is to land a bomb.
UFC 167 Final Prediction: Wood wins via decision
