UFC moves to Barclays Center in Brooklyn for UFC Fight Night 143, with a flyweight championship bout between the current champ, Henry Cejudo and current bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw serving as the main event. Cejudo won the gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Olympics, but he will have his hands full against Dillashaw, looking to become the third man to hold two different division belts at the same time. Former NFL player Greg Hardy, dogged by accusations of assault, will appear in a heavyweight bout against Allen Crowder in the co-main event as part of a main card that features six bouts overall. Take a look at the full card and our UFC betting thoughts on the main event.
UFC Fight Night 143 Odds, Betting Preview & Picks
Event Info
- When: January 19, 2019. 10pm ET.
- Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
- TV: ESPN
- Live Stream: UFC Fight Pass
Main Card (ESPN+)
- Henry Cejudo vs T.J. Dillashaw (flyweight title)
- Greg Hardy vs Allen Crowder (heavyweight)
- Gregor Gillespie vs Yancy Medeiros (lightweight)
- Joseph Benavidez vs Dustin Ortiz (flyweight)
- Paige VanZant vs Rachael Ostovich (women’s flyweight)
- Glover Teixeira vs Karl Roberson (light heavyweight)
Preliminary Card (ESPN)
- Donald Cerrone vs Alexander Hernandez (lightweight)
- Joanne Calderwood vs Ariane Lipski (women’s flyweight)
- Alonzo Menifield vs Vinicius Moreira (light heavyweight)
- Mario Bautista vs Cory Sandhagen (bantamweight)
Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+)
- Dennis Bermudez vs Te Edwards (lightweight)
- Belal Muhammad vs Geoff Neal (welterweight)
- Chance Rencountre vs Kyle Stewart (welterweight)
Henry Cejudo (13-2) vs T.J. Dillashaw (16-3)
- UFC Fight Night 143 Odds: Cejudo +175 / Dillashaw -210
This is an interesting bout because rumors are swirling that the men’s flyweight division is on the way out. However, Dillashaw brought his weight down to 125 pounds. Cejudo has proven himself as a championship-level fighter, adapting from that big loss he took against Demetrious Johnson in his debut to develop a solid boxing game to go along with those Olympic wrestling skills. Dillashaw took his title the first time by delivering a huge upset of Renan Barao, but then he had to wait more than a year to deliver the rematch because of injuries to both fighters. Dillashaw then lost the title to Dominick Cruz via decision, but then he earned it back with a whipping of Cody Garbrandt — and then defended it again.
Dillashaw has a quick striking style and changes his punches up, giving him one of the tougher standup games in the division. The adjustments he made in both fights against Garbrandt showed how much he has grown as a striker. Cejudo might have the advantage of speed, and his lack of aggressiveness could frustrate Dillashaw, as Cejudo is the type to stand back and let his opponent make mistakes. If the match goes to the ground, the wrestling could be interesting, as Dillashaw also has a considerable wrestling background. Dillashaw, cutting weight, has not looked particularly healthy in recent photos, and the stress of that change could be the difference.
UFC Fight Night 143 Prediction: Cejudo wins via decision
Greg Hardy (3-0) vs Allen Crowder (9-3)
- UFC Fight Night 143 Odds: Hardy -525 / Crowder +415
Hardy brings raw aggression into the cage, and that has brought him three wins in his first three UFC bouts. Allen Crowder has a wrestling background and is one of the better heavyweights in the lower tier of the division. Hardy has not had any fights last longer than a minute because of that rush he brings into the ring, and it is unlikely that this fight will be any different. However, the lack of value in this moneyline means that there are better options for your wagering dollars.
UFC Fight Night 143 Prediction: Hardy wins via knockoutJoseph Benavidez (26-5) vs Dustin Ortiz (19-7)
- UFC Fight Night 143 Odds: Benavidez -235 / Ortiz +195
