UFC Fight Night 171: Woodley vs Edwards Odds and Picks

*UFC Fight Night 171 has been canceled*

With the sporting world so quiet amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the UFC took center stage on Saturday, March 14, with UFC Fight Night 170 in Brasilia, Brazil in front of an empty arena. The Octagon was supposed to be set up at the O2 Arena in London, England this upcoming weekend in the same atmosphere.

However, UFC president, Dana White, announced late Saturday night that the venue will not be used and the fights will go on at an undetermined location in the United States. This also impacts cards upcoming that were tentatively scheduled at the UFC Apex facility until the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended all combat sports in the state.

Headlining the UFC Fight Night 171 card was a potential No. 1 contender bout in the welterweight division between the former champion, Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley taking on Leon “Rocky” Edwards. Now, with the fights moving to USA, Edwards, an England native, is unable to come over with the travel ban for people from the UK and will not be in the main event. 

A few fighters have thrown their hat in the ring to stand toe-to-toe with Tyron Woodley this Saturday if the fights go on, notably former interim champion and self-proclaimed peoples champion, Colby "Chaos" Covington. Additionally, Gilbert Burns who had an impressive first-round knockout win over Demain Maia last week in Brazil. Lastly, former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos also volunteered to step in on late notice. Covington has the strongest odds to collide with Woodley as seen below.

Odds as of March 16 at Sportsbook

Odds as of March 16 at Sportsbook

Odds as of March 16 at Sportsbook

Tyron Woodley vs Leon Edwards

*This fight has been canceled*

This is the first time that we are seeing the former champion since he lost his title last June against Kamaru Usman. That defeat put an end to Woodley’s (+120) seven-fight unbeaten streak dating back to 2014. Riding a long winning streak in his own right is Edwards (-150) who has won eight straight fights and hasn’t tasted defeat since he too fought Usman in 2015.

The Chosen One is typically a very patient fighter, constantly reading his opponents’ movements before exploding with his powerful strikes. He rarely pushes the pace, rather loading up on a counter strike when his opponents come to him. Woodley also has exceptional takedown defense, stuffing 92 percent of attempts and has only been taken down three times in 13 UFC fights. Rocky has a very similar feel to his fights, perhaps a little more aggressive but lacks the power that Woodley has, scoring just two T/KO wins over 12 UFC bouts. Edwards does a great job throwing straight, accurate punches, though sometimes he will keep his punches long which leaves him vulnerable to counters.

Prediction: Tyron Woodley (+120) via decision

Odds as of March 15 at Sportsbook

Danny Roberts vs Nicolas Dalby

*This fight has been canceled*

Making his return to the Octagon last September after getting cut from the UFC in 2016, Nicolas “Lokomotivo” Dalby (-160) looks to build momentum after scoring a decision win over Alex Oliveira. Also looking to get on a streak is Danny “Hot Chocolate” Roberts (+130) who snapped his two-fight losing streak his last time out with a second-round knockout win over Zelim Imadaev.

The Denmark native, Dalby, is an aggressive fighter, slowly inching toward his opponents, chopping away with leg kicks before storming in with a flurry of punches. Lokomotivo will also fire off some more high-risk movements such as spinning attacks and flying knees. Dalby does a good job level changing to bring fights to the floor and he’s great in scrambling situations as well. Meanwhile, the England native, Roberts, isn’t looking to get into many grappling exchanges, stuffing only 53 percent of takedown attempts and has landed just one takedown through his 10 UFC fights. On the feet, though, everything Roberts throws comes with bad intentions with powerful kicks and punches and eight of his 17 pro wins have been by knockout.

Prediction: Nicolas Dalby (-160) via submission

Odds as of March 15 at Sportsbook

Jack Marshman vs Kevin Holland

*This fight has been canceled*

For just the second time in his brief five-fight UFC career, Kevin “Trailblazer” Holland (-340) enters the cage coming off a loss. Holland dropped his debut on short notice against former title challenger Thiago Santos and most recently suffered a second-round submission loss to Brendan Allen last October. Also coming off a defeat is Jack “The Hammer” Marshman (+260) after he was submitted in the first round against middleweight top prospect Edmen Shahbazyan last July.

Marshman is a very hesitant fighter, often seeing opportunities to land his strikes but pulls up or doesn’t throw at all. He waits far too long on his opponents and when they do exchange with him he tends to drop his hands leaving his chin exposed, but he is tough as nails and always keeps coming. Holland, on the other hand, is very aggressive, storming right at his counterparts from the onset of the bell looking to get into a clinch and wear on his opponents. At striking range, he does a great job using his long jab to set up his more powerful left hand. He should have a speed advantage over the Hammer as well.

Prediction: Kevin Holland (-340) via decision

Odds as of March 15 at Sportsbook

Darren Stewart vs Marvin Vettori

*This fight has been canceled*

A winning streak will come to an end as Marvin “The Italian Dream” Vettori (-170) looks to pick up his third straight victory, while Darren “The Dentist” Stewart (+140) also enters this contest having won his last two. Vettori scored two unanimous decision victories over Cezar Ferreira and Andrew Sanchez last year and Stewart had a unanimous decision win over Bevon Lewis and a split over Deron Winn.

Stewart is a very active and powerful fighter, closing the distance early in the fight not afraid to get in a brawl. He tends to lunge in with powerful straights, not exactly set up well and doesn’t always have a second punch that follows, but if he connects, you’re in deep trouble with seven of his 11 pro wins coming by knockout. Similarly, Vettori doesn’t give his opponents any room to breathe, constantly cutting off the cage and throwing barrages of punches. He’s also landed at least one takedown in five of his seven UFC fights, including two on the current middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in a split-decision loss.

Prediction: Marvin Vettori (-170) via submission

Odds as of March 15 at Sportsbook

Jack Shore vs Geraldo de Freitas Jr.

*This fight has been canceled*

Laying his perfect 12-0 record on the line, Jack “Tank” Shore (-225) looks for his second win in the Octagon after scoring a third-round submission win over Nohelin Hernandez in his UFC debut last September. Looking to put the first loss in Shore’s record and get back in the win column in his own right is Geraldo “The Spartan” de Freitas Jr. (+175) who is coming a split decision loss last August against Chris Gutierrez.

The Spartan is an up-tempo fighter backing his opponents against the cage as he swarms forward throwing big hooks. He tends to hold his hands low and especially so when he rushes in, he throws hooks and doesn’t protect himself in those situations. The Brazilian is ok with this wild approach, though, as his main attack is to get the fight to the floor, securing eight takedowns through his first two fights in the UFC. But taking Shore down may prove to not be a wise decision as seven of his 12 pro wins have been by submission. On the feet, the Wales native has really crisp striking, accurate and fast with good kicks as well.

Prediction: Jack Shore (-225) via decision

Odds as of March 15 at Sportsbook

Marc Diakiese vs Jai Herbert

*This fight has been canceled*

Set to make his Octagon debut is knockout artist Jai “The Black Country Banger” Herbert (+260) currently riding a six-fight winning streak, five of which were knockouts. Welcoming Herbert to the UFC is Marc “Bonecrusher” Diakiese (-340), who finds himself on a two-fight winning streak, most recently scoring a unanimous decision victory over Lando Vannata.

Diakiese has great striking, especially his leg kicks which he throws early and often to slow down his opponents’ movements. Getting his counterparts to worry about the kicks also opens areas to land his punches as well. More recently, he has shown off his grappling skill, earning seven takedowns over his last two fights. Herbert is very long for the lightweight division, standing 6-foot-1 and he uses his size well by throwing fast, straight punches that have real power behind them. Of his 10 pro wins, eight have been knockout, while his lone defeat came in the same manner.

Prediction: Marc Diakiese (-340) via decision

Odds as of March 15 at Sportsbook

Here’s a look at the rest of the odds for UFC Fight Night 171: Woodley vs Edwards:

Odds as of March 15 at Sportsbook

Odds as of March 15 at Sportsbook

Odds as of March 15 at Sportsbook

Odds as of March 15 at Sportsbook

Odds as of March 15 at Sportsbook

Odds as of March 15 at Sportsbook

Odds as of March 15 at Sportsbook