SMUGGLING DUDS UFC 249 GAMBLING GUIDE

Let us first begin by saying we here at Smuggling Duds HQ sincerely hope that you are all safe and well. It feels like a lifetime since we penned one of our UFC gambling guides and it came as quite the surprise to find out that after Khabib Vs Ferguson fell through closely followed by the mysterious ‘Fight Island’ also falling through, the UFC was actually going ahead with a card. Regardless of these uncertain times we are all going through, this Saturday night, we are being told we are getting a UFC – that just happens to have one of the best line ups we have ever seen. We could talk about the logistics of this whole event, our issues with it, potential problems for fighters etc but we’ll stick to what we do best and pick the results.

Main Card (BT Sport 1)
Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje (Lightweight)
What a match-up this is! Sometimes it’s difficult to predict the exact outcome of a fight but this one will categorically bring violence. Gaethje is one of the most exciting fighters MMA has ever produced. He won’t be intimidated by Ferguson and it’ll be an all-out assault from the first bell. Former TUF star Ferguson is in the prime of his career (even after serious injury!) and has an abundance of tools in his artillery. The right thing to do would be to get Gaethje to the floor and submit him but things might get a little messy and we foresee this one ending with the ref waving it off due to cuts.
WINNER: Ferguson
METHOD: TKO/KO

Henry Cejudo (c) vs. Dominick Cruz (Bantamweight)
Even though his mic skills and general banter is horrendous Cejudo is the real deal. We would argue he looked unstoppable in his descruction of Moraes and Dillashaw. Originally lined up to face Jose Aldo, Cruz has been given a huge opportunity here and we think he might just upset the bookies with a very close decision.
WINNER: Cruz
METHOD: Decision

Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (Heavyweight)
Whenever two hard hitting UFC heavyweights get matched up its hard not to go crazy. On paper this bout should result in someone’s head being taken off in the first but seasoned fans will see that this is not often the case. Will we be proved wrong or will these two savages play cat and mouse for the whole fight? Expect the unexpected.
WINNER: Ngannou
METHOD: Submission

Jeremy Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar (Featherweight)
Stephens really could do with a win here. The fact he has been such a decent company man to the UFC might mean one more after this. We hope so as Kattar seems to be getting better and better and should come out on top in this one.
WINNER: Kattar
METHOD: Decision

Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan de Castro (Heavyweight)
Controversial Hardy gets another main card slot due to his NFL background and the UFC’s hopes he will continue to generate new fans. Is this the one where Hardy shows us he is more than a huge athlete with immense KO power? Probably not.
WINNER: Hardy
METHOD: KO/TKO

Preliminary Card (BT Sport 1)
Donald Cerrone vs. Anthony Pettis (Welterweight)
A real battle of the veterans here. Both fighters absolutely in the twilight of their careers and both desperate to secure a win on a big card. Possibly the toughest bout to call. Whoever loses this one has to start thinking about calling it a day. Based on the fact this should end up in a kickboxing bout, we think Pettis stops Cowboy.
WINNER: Pettis
METHOD: KO/TKO

Aleksei Oleinik vs. Fabrício Werdum (Heavyweight)
You will see further up the card we have mentioned to expect the unexpected in bouts where the outcome seems obvious. This ones sees two amazing grapplers go head-to-head but will it actually hit the floor? We think not.
WINNER: Werdum
METHOD: KO/TKO

Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson (Women's Strawweight)
Another tough one to call as even though their styles may not be the same their level probably is. Nobody is getting stopped here and it’ll be a case of whoever appears to be working the hardest with the judges. Either grinds out a decision. Flip a coin.
WINNER: Waterson
METHOD: Decision

Uriah Hall vs. Ronaldo Souza (Middleweight)
Souza has to take this to the floor. If he doesn’t he risks losing. Simple as that. Not saying Hall will take him out but he’ll be more than happy to fight from the outside for 3 rounds.
WINNER: Souza
METHOD: Submission

Early Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass
Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price (Welterweight)
Yet another amazing match-up. Potential FOTN for sure. Luque will be on a mission to bounce back from his decision loss against Wonderboy and will be the aggressor in this one.
WINNER: Luque
METHOD: KO/TKO

Bryce Mitchell vs. Charles Rosa (Featherweight)
‘Thug Nasty’ to go 13-0 in his MMA career against seasoned veteran Rosa
WINNER: Mitchell
METHOD: Submission

Ryan Spann vs. Sam Alvey (Light Heavyweight)
Alvey has never been able to string enough solid wins together in the UFC and has become one of the division’s main gate keepers. He’s in for a rough night against ‘Superman’ Spann.
WINNER: Spann
METHOD: KO/TKO