The UFC’s international fight week kicks off this Wednesday, and a host of events lead into the two fight cards this weekend. While UFC 213 on Saturday is the premier card of the weekend, the TUF 25 Finale on Friday night, or at least its main event, offers the odds-on favorite for most exciting bout.
For those not familiar with former WSOF lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, they will have a chance to get to know him in a high-profile spot on Friday night. The undefeated 28-year-old is looking to immediately jump into UFC title contention, taking on fifth-ranked Michael Johnson in his Octagon debut. To this point, 15 of Gaethje’s 17 career wins have come via stoppage, 14 of those have been TKOs, and he’s put opponents away in a myriad of ways. Whether it be slugfests where he shows off his seemingly granite chin, leg-kicking opponents into submission, or just an onslaught of violence, Gaethje is must-see MMA.
However, graduating from the likes of Luis Firmino, Brian Foster and Luis Palomino to Michael Johnson will be no easy task. Despite dropping three of his past four, Johnson remains a top lightweight on the strength of victories over Edson Barboza and Dustin Poirier, and he is by far the most proficient striker Gaethje has faced. Given Gaethje’s style, Johnson should have the opportunity to test the newcomer’s chin early, which isn’t exactly an ideal introduction to the UFC.
The co-main event of this card will be the TUF 25 tournament final between Dhiego Lima and the winner of James Krause-Jesse Taylor (unless Taylor wins and starts terrorizing people in a casino before the finale again). In a bit of good news for the UFC, this season of TUF seems to have reversed the trend of declining ratings over the past few seasons. Part of that could be due to the familiar names on the show, and hopefully that carries over into the finale.
Other main card bouts on TUF 25 Finale include a pair of unbeaten lightweights putting their zeroes on the line, as Marc Diakiese takes on Drakkar Klose. Light heavyweights Steve Bosse and Jared Cannonier may be as unlikely as any duo this weekend to hear the final bell in their contest. On the flip side, middleweights Elias Theodorou and Brad Tavares may be the most likely dance partners to hear the bell at the end of the third. The main card is rounded out with light heavyweight prospect Jordan Johnson taking on Marcel Fortuna, who stepped up to heavyweight and scored the first TKO of his career in his UFC debut.
In addition to the main card, fifth-ranked strawweight Tecia Torres will be competing at this event as she faces Juliana Lima. Former title challenger Gray Maynard also continues his foray at featherweight against Teruto Ishihara, and TUF 3 runner-up Ed Herman battles TUF 7 runner-up Clarence Byron (C.B.) Dolloway — who has the distinction of being the only fighter to get submitted by the same opponent twice in the course of a single season.
MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting odds for the entire TUF 25 Finale card (save for the yet unknown TUF bout) today at Several Bookmakers. All of those lines can be seen below…
The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale: Johnson vs. Gaethje
JULY 7, 2017
T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada
FS1 Main Card – (9PM ET/6PM PT):
Michael Johnson -110
Justin Gaethje -130
Over 1.5 -185
Under 1.5 +145
–
“TUF 25” Welterweight Tournament Final
Dhiego Lima +185
Jesse Taylor -265
Over 2.5 -185
Under 2.5 +145
–
Drakkar Klose +185
Marc Diakiese -265
Over 2.5 -150
Under 2.5 +110
–
Nick Roehrick +260
Jared Cannonier -380
Over 1.5 -120
Under 1.5 -120
–
Brad Tavares +135
Elias Theodorou -175
Over 2.5 -180
Under 2.5 +140
–
Marcel Fortuna +190
Jordan Johnson -270
Over 2.5 -170
Under 2.5 +130
–
FS1 Prelims – (7PM ET/4PM PT):
Ashley Yoder +175
Angela Hill -245
Over 2.5 -140
Under 2.5 +100
–
Tom Gallicchio +250
James Krause -350
Over 2.5 -140
Under 2.5 +100
–
Ed Herman +115
C.B. Dollaway -155
Over 1.5 -165
Under 1.5 +125
–
Jessica Eye -105
Aspen Ladd -135
Over 2.5 -270
Under 2.5 +190
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UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims – (6PM ET/3PM PT):
Gray Maynard +135
Teruto Ishihara -175
Over 1.5 -165
Under 1.5 +125
–
Juliana Lima +190
Tecia Torres -270
Over 2.5 -270
Under 2.5 +190
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