SMUGGLING DUDS UFC 279 GAMBLING GUIDE

Combat sports is a funny old game, isn’t it? The best but most random sport in the world. It was only Thursday night we uploaded our initial picks and during that time a mass brawl broke out, one half of the main event missed weight (as well as two more fighters further down the card), and pretty much the whole of the main card has been switched around. We aren’t complaining though!

Main Card (BT Sports)

Nate Diaz Vs Tony Ferguson (Welterweight)

Nate Diaz is a fighter that in recent years has been doubted by the fans and media, and in return, shocked the world. He did it when he submitted the then untouchable Conor McGregor in their first bout and almost it did it against the now welterweight champ, Leon Edwards. Could he have done it against his original opponent Khamzat Chimaev? Probably not. Can he beat his new opponent? For sure! This new main event will be much more competitive and far more entertaining. All we ask is that both walk away safely and with a FON bonus.

WINNER: Diaz

METHOD: KO/TKO

 

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Kevin Holland (Catchweight 180lbs)

Holland came into his original bout with Daniel Rodriquez as the favourite but he now finds himself up against an overweight monster in Chimaev. Hats off to Holland for accepting this and we hope he gets a nice thank you bonus but saving card will come at a hard price for him and we don’t think he is big enough to handle the storm coming his way. His only hope is that Chimaev gasses (which is possible) and he lands a golden punch to the beard. Add in the animosity these two have with each other and their camps, this is still a super exciting bout!

WINNER: Chimaev

METHOD: Submission

 

Li Jingliang vs. Daniel Rodriguez (Catchweight 180lbs)

The third set of fighters to be handed new opponents with 24 hours to go! This one should be a right scrap with both preferring to stand and bang. We actually picked D-Rod to beat Kevin Holland, but think the last-minute change favours Li Jinliang.

WINNER: Li Jinliang

METHOD: KO/TKO

 

Irene Aldana vs. Macy Chiasson (Women’s Bantamweight)

As far as women’s bouts go this is genuinely tough to call. We’ll go with the bigger Chiasson to edge herself a decision victory. Don’t expect many fireworks in this one though.

WINNER: Chiasson

METHOD: Decision

 

Johnny Walker vs. Ion Cutelaba (Light Heavyweight)

We’ve picked Walker in this one purely because he needs a win to stay relevant and it would be crazy to think he hasn’t got a strategy to win coming into to this one. He should beat Cutelaba but probably won’t as the one-time prospect is just too unpredictable! We’ll go for broke but suggest staying away from this one on your accumulator.

WINNER: Walker

METHOD: KO/TKO

 

Preliminary Card (BT Sports)

Denis Tiuliulin vs. Jamie Pickett (Middleweight)

The up-and-coming Russian star failed miserably in his UFC debut and will be looking to erase any evidence of that against Pickett, an athlete who has arguably underperformed since officially joining the UFC

 

WINNER: Tiuliulin

METHOD: KO/TKO

 

Jake Collier vs. Chris Barnett (Heavyweight)

A battle of the blubber at the highest level which to be honest, probably won’t result in the knockouts we have become accustomed to in the heavyweight division. We still aren’t sure why Collier made the move to heavyweight but he should have the better ring craft against Barnett, who tends to not take bouts seriously enough to win.

WINNER: Collier

METHOD: Decision

 

Early Prelims (UFC Fight Pass)

Norma Dumont vs. Danyelle Wolf (Featherweight)

After a few attempts to make the US Olympic team, former boxer Wolf finally decided to make the move to professional MMA. A unanimous decision victory on DWCS means the Pennsylvanian gets a shot in the big leagues. At 39 years of age, against an opponent with five UFC bouts in the bag already, this might be a bit too much of a task for the debut fighter.

WINNER: Dumont

METHOD: Decision

 

 

Hakeem Dawodu vs. Julian Erosa (Featherweight)

‘Juicy J’ is back to winning ways and will be looking to go 3 in a row against Dawodu and whilst we almost went with Erosa for this one, the likely hood is a decision win by Dawodu. This card will bring with it some highlight reel knockouts, but we don’t think it will be in this one.

WINNER: Dawodu

METHOD: Decision

 

Chad Anheliger vs. Ataleng Heili (Bantamweight)

If this one doesn’t end with the referee diving in and waving it off as one fighter looks at him asking ‘what happened?’ we shall be very surprised indeed.

WINNER: Anheliger

METHOD: KO/TKO

 

Melissa Martinez vs. Elise Reed (Women’s Straweight)

Mexican native Martinez makes her debut with a decent back catalogue of performances. Can she be the warrior nation’s next star? We believe so.

WINNER: Martinez

METHOD: KO/TKO

 

Darian Weeks vs. Yohan Lainesse (Welterweight)

Weeks just about held his own against Garry and whilst on a slide, might just hand DWCS star Yohan Lainesse his second loss in the organization. It’ll be tough but definitely possible so early on in Lainesse’s UFC career.

WINNER: Weeks

METHOD: Decision

 

 

UFC 279 WILDCARD BET: Kevin Holland to defeat Khamzat Chimaev via KO/TKO