With UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez out with an injury UFC 180 in Mexico City will now feature a main event for the UFC Heavyweight Interim title.
MMA betting fans will also be able to get action on TUF Sportsbook Kevin Gastelum as he sets out to make his name in the UFC Welterweight division, as well as a key Featherweight battle between two of the best at 145 pounds.
Fabricio Werdum will still get his chance at UFC gold despite Cain Velasquez’s injury but he will have to beat the hard-hitting Mark Hunt to become Interim champion. Currently a UFC odds -420 favorite, Werdum is expected to control the fight and use his grappling skills to dominate Hunt for what should be either a decision or a submission win.
Some better value may be found in the Sportsbook prop bets. Werdum wins inside the distance is currently set at -210, and if you think the fight will go the distance Werdum by decision will pay +460. Hunt always has a puncher’s chance, and opting for the Hunt inside the distance at UFC 180 odds of +432 looks like a good way to hedge a couple of MMA betting units on the upset.
UFC 180 betting odds (check updates at Sportsbook):
Marlon Vera -245 Marco Antonio Beltran +225 Jessica Eye -235 Leslie Smith +215 Edgar Garcia -190 Hector Urbina +175 Augusto Montano -210 Chris Heatherly +190 Henry Briones -115 Guido Cannetti +105 Gabriel Benitez -355 Humberto Brown +320 Leonardo Morales +150 Yair Rodriguez -160 Masio Fullen -160 Alexander Torres +120 Kelvin Gastelum -192 Jake Ellenberger +177 Dennis Bermudez -170 Ricardo Lamas +160 Alejandro Perez +200 Jose Quinonez -220 Fabricio Werdum -410 Mark Hunt +365
Jake Ellenberger will need a win over rising star Kevin Gastelum to remain relevant in the UFC Welterweight division, but he will be facing a very talented grappler. Current UFC 180 odds at Sportsbook have Ellenberger listed as the +190 underdog, but we think he will spend most of the fight on his back and like the -230 option on Gastelum.
In a three-rounder one has to like the UFC 180 odds on Gastelum winning via decision at +182. The OVER 2.5 rounds at -140 is another good value option.
Dennis Bermudez will look to make it eight straight Octagon wins with a win over Ricardo Lamas. Current odds at Sportsbook offer a -170 price on Bermudez and a +150 payday on Lamas. These two fighters are hungry and should put on an aggressive battle, making the fight doesn’t go to a decision at +140 a good value bet.
