SMUGGLING DUDS UFC 237 GAMBLING GUIDE

Feels like it has been a while since we dropped a gambling guide on you so we hope you enjoy it! Taking place in Brazil this is a card that features a lot of seasoned vets going against each other but also some rising stars taking on ageing former superstars. We can’t wait! Bring on the underdogs!

Main Card (ESPN)
Rose Namajunas (c) vs. Jéssica Andrade (Women's Strawweight)
Namajunas has defied the odds throughout her career and like many, we are guilty of not giving her enough credit. She’s the champ but she’s the underdog in this one and this purely based on her opponent being on a tear and her opponent being from Brazil. ‘Thug Rose’ is well and truly in enemy territory against an absolute savage (a particularly difficult one to submit or knockout!), but don’t be surprise if she stops Andrade well and truly in her tracks. We won’t be.
WINNER: Namajunas
METHOD: Decision

Jared Cannonier vs. Anderson Silva (Middleweight)
No disrespect but when we heard ‘The Spider’ was stepping back in to the octagon once again our first thought was ‘bet against the other guy’. Silva isn’t the fighter he once was and is almost ready to bring the curtain down on an amazing career. We think he gets the win here and if he does, will announce his retirement in Brazil.
WINNER: Silva
METHOD: Decision

José Aldo vs. Alexander Volkanovski (Featherweight)
Volkanovski has brought home the bacon for the Smuggling Duds team on many occasion so it would be wrong for us to bet against him…..BUT…..we’ve gone with Aldo. A decision victory is probably more likely but Aldo has been on fire of late and he’ll be looking to put on a show for the Brazilian crowd.
WINNER: Aldo
METHOD: KO/TKO

Thiago Alves vs. Laureano Staropoli (Welterweight)
Fan favourite Alves just can’t seem to put a win streak together and his performance is often decided on how injured he is either coming in to the fight or after the first round! He’ll struggle to get his hand raised against the Argentinian prospect.
WINNER: Staropoli
METHOD: Decision

Francisco Trinaldo vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira (Lightweight)
This won’t be the most exciting of bouts but it’s got to be a win for Ferreira in another battle of the veterans.
WINNER: Diego Ferreira
METHOD: Decision

Preliminary card (ESPN)
Antônio Rogério Nogueira vs. Ryan Spann (Light Heavyweight)
A classic encounter of young rising star against an old war horse. We know who we want to win and wouldn’t be surprise if he proves doubters wrong once again.
WINNER: Rogerio Nogueira
METHOD: KO/TKO

Thiago Moises vs. Kurt Holobaugh (Lightweight)
Moises is yet another example of a fighter given a UFC contract via Dana White’s Contender Series and falling flat on his debut. He’ll make sure his last UFC outing is erased here.
WINNER: Moises
METHOD: KO/TKO

Irene Aldana vs. Bethe Correia (Women's Bantamweight)
Although not at the end of her career by any means, Correia really needs a win over Aldana to convince match makers she’s not ready to become a gate keeper for her division just yet. It’s a tough task as Aldena has certainly improved in the last 12 months.
WINNER: Correia
METHOD: Decision

B.J. Penn vs. Clay Guida (Lightweight)
At 40 years of age, a 6 fight UFC losing streak and carrying a lot of battle scars, Penn surely has to think about leaving the 4oz’s on the octagon floor if he loses this one. Guida is no spring chicken but still has cardio for days and will grind out a UD.
WINNER: Guida
METHOD: Decision

Early Preliminary card (UFC Fight Pass)
Luana Carolina vs. Priscila Cachoeira (Women's Flyweight)
We tend not to go with a fighter making their debut off the back of Dana White’s Contender Series but to be honest, Cachoeira doesn’t pose that much of a threat and might end up on the wrong side of a decision
WINNER: Carolina
METHOD: Decision

Warlley Alves vs. Sérgio Moraes (Welterweight)
A real tough one to call so early on in the card. Maybe swerve this one on your acca but if we had to give a pick it would probably be Alves.
WINNER: Alves
METHOD: Decision

Talita Bernardo vs. Melissa Gatto (Women's Bantamweight)
Although more experienced in the UFC, Bernardo has never really found her feet and might be sent packing via debutant Gatto
WINNER: Gatto
METHOD: Submission