UFC on FOX 18 Bader vs Johnson Odds Review – Were it not for the return of Jon Jones, it is probable that Ryan Bader (20-4) would be fighting for the UFC Light Heavyweight title in his next bout. Instead, Bader fight Anthony Johnson (20-5) this coming weekend in the main event of UFC on FOX Sports 18.
[related_post_two]
Bader deserves credit for taking this fight, because it is a hard fight that he can lose. A loss would mean no title shot, but fighting is better than sitting and waiting, so Bader gets Johnson. Johnson is looking ato add a second win in a row after a failed bid at the title against daniel Cormer in May of 2015.
The co-feature bout comes in the Heavyweight division as Josh Barnett (34-7) faces Ben Rothwell (35-9). The winner of the fight will be right in the mix for a title shot after Stipe Miocic. For Rothwell, it would be a fourth win in a row as he breaks the spell of inconsistency that plagued him throughout his career. As for Barnett, as a former champion now 38 years old, he could be fast-tracked to a title shot with a win here.
Bantamweights will also be on the main boradcast as Iuri Alcantara (32-6) takes on Jimmy Rivera (18-1). Look for a fast-paced bout that could go wither way before the main events of the evening.
In the opening bout of the broadcast, UFC President Dana White’s new “boy toy” Sage Northcutt (7-0) takes on Bryan Barberena in a welterweight bout. Northcutt is a physical specimen, and he is just ninteen years old, so it is easy to see why the UFC has their eye on him. Barbarena is comng off a loss in his last outing. Count on the matchmakers to be giving Northcutt opponents he can beat at this point in his career.
Check out the latest video blog here, with the exact numbers and odds for the UFC on FOX 18 main card bouts.
[related_post_one]
UFC on FOX 18 Bader vs Johnson Odds Review
The rest of the card is available live via Fox Sports 1 and the UFC Fight Pass, and the sport books are carrying the entire card with less than a week to go before the fights. Interestingly, Jake Ellenberger vs Tarec Saffiedine is relegated tot he undercard in favor of Northcutt’s fight. It is also notable how far Ellenberger’s stock has fallen,, as he comes in a more than 2 to 1 underdog to Saffiedine in this one. It was just a few years ago that Ellenberger was on the cusp of a title shot, but he was not able to break through. Here, he may be passing the torch on to Saffiedine. Check out the odds for the rest of this thirteen fight card below.
Airing on Fox Sports 1:
Welterweight 3 rounds –
Jake Ellenberger +205 o2½ -225
Tarec Saffiedine -245 u2½ +185
Lightweight 3 rounds –
Olivier Aubin-Mercier -290 o2½ -220
Carlos Diego Ferreira +245 u2½ +180
Middleweight 3 rounds –
Kevin Casey +145 o2½ -155
Rafael Natal -165 u2½ +135
Flyweight 3 rounds –
Wilson Reis +180 o2½ -255
Dustin Ortiz -220 u2½ +215
Welterweight 3 rounds –
George Sullivan +110 o2½ -230
Alexander Yakovlev -130 u2½ +190
Bantamweight 3 rounds –
Alex Caceres -290 o1½ -145
Masio Fullen +245 u1½ +125
Airing on the UFC Fight Pass:
Featherweight 3 rounds –
Damon Jackson +255 o2½ -145
Levan Makashvili -310 u2½ +125
Lightweight 3 rounds –
Felipe Olivieri +155 o1½ -155
Tony Martin -175 u1½ +135
Welterweight 3 rounds –
Randy Brown -200 o1½ -115
Matt Dwyer +170 u1½ -105
