The UFC announced a number of new matchups last night, so let’s take a look at them this morning as I briefly break them all down in today’s MMA Odds and Ends. Ed Herman vs. Thales Leites, UFC 167 The first new fight announcement is a middleweight bout at UFC 167 between Ed Herman and Thales Leites, who took the fight on short notice after Rafael Natal was pulled from the card. Herman vs. Leities is a very good matchup between two veteran 185 pounders and it should be a lot of fun while it lasts. In my mind, this is a very close fight, but based on what I’ve read on forums and social media, the public likes Leites a little bit more. So don’t be surprised if Leites opens as a slight favorite here, but in my mind this fight is close to a Pick ’em. Robert Whittaker vs. Brian Melancon, UFC Fight Night 33 Next up is a welterweight bout between Robert Whittaker and Brian Melancon, which was added to UFC Fight Night 33 in Whittaker’s native Australia. This is a fun fight but I lean Whittaker very strongly in this one, and I think if he opens at anything -200 or under, he will almost certainly be worth I bet. In saying that, I do respect Melancon’s power and Whittaker’s chin hasn’t really been tested, but if Kelvin Gastelum can rock Melancon then I think Whittaker can as well and that’s why my initial thoughts are that he wins this fight. Jim Miller vs. Fabricio Camoes, UFC 168 Jim Miller is going to fight once more before the year 2013 is up, as the former lightweight contender has been tabbed to face Fabricio Camoes at UFC 168. This is a gimme matchup for Miller and it’s more or less a way for the UFC to get him back on track after his No Contest to Pat Healy at UFC 159. Miller is going to be a big fav here, probably in the vicinity of -400 but I could see that number even hit -500 if he’s parlayed by everyone as I expect him to be. Roger Bowling vs. Abel Trujilo, UFC on FOX 9 And finally, the UFC booked a rematch between Roger Bowling and Abel Trujilo after the pair fought to a controversial no contest at UFC Fight Night 27. Bowling was winning the fight up until the second of the second round, when Trujilo finished him with an illegal knee. However, for some reason, Trujilo got off with a NC instead of losing by DQ. I’m not a huge fan of Trujilo because I believe he lacks in the sportsmanship department but he is a strong guy and will give Bowling fits again. Still, since Bowling was looking better in the first fight I believe he should open as a slight favorite, perhaps around -140. But it’s a close fight either way.
