A number of UFC fights were announced over the last 24 hours, and for today’s MMA Odds and Ends I’ll list all the bouts and give my thoughts on them. Milana Dudieva vs. Elizabeth Phillips, UFC Fight Night 48 A women’s bantamweight bout between Milana Dudieva and Elizabeth Phillips was added to UFC Fight Night 48, which takes place August 23 at CotaiArena in Macau, Japan. Kind of strange this fight is on the China card but perhaps the UFC is trying to build an audience for Dudieva in Eurasia. This should be a competitive fight but Dudieva will likely be a slight favorite heading into it. Ruslan Magomedov vs. Richard Odoms, UFC 177 A heavyweight bout between Ruslan Magomedov and Richard Odoms was added to UFC 177, which takes place August 30 at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California. Magomedov picked up a win over Viktor Pesta in his UFC debut back in May while Odoms, who is 39, is making his UFC debut. Although Odoms is a tough guy, Magomedov is more talented and this is his fight to win or lose. Look for the Russian to be the favorite heading into the bout. Joe Riggs vs. Paulo Thiago, UFC Fight Night 51 A welterweight bout between Paulo Thiago and Joe Riggs, who is returning to the UFC, will take place at UFC Fight Night 51, which is set for September 13 at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brasil. Although Riggs was the butt-end of jokes after his signing was announced, he stands a good chance to beat Thiago on his home turf here. I do think Thiago will be a slight favorite but Riggs is certainly a live dog. Johnny Bedford vs. Rani Yahya, UFC Fight Night 51 As well, a bantamweight bout between Johnny Bedford and Rani Yahya was added to UFC Fight Night 51. These two fought to a No Contest earlier this year but anyone who watched the fight knows Bedford was likely well on his way to winning. Yahya was the favorite the first time around but the odds will be closer this time around and the line could possibly even be flipped in Bedford’s favor. Dashon Johnson vs. Godofredo Pepey, UFC Fight Night 51 And a featherweight bout between Dashon Johnson and Godofredo Pepey was added to UFC Fight Night 51. Johnson was dominated by Jake Matthews in his UFC debut but dropping down to 145lbs should help him. That being said, Pepey had one of the best knockouts of the year over Noad Lahat in his last fight and could very well pick up another win here in Brazil. The line should be close but Pepey deserves to be the slight favorite heading into this one. Michinori Tanaka vs. Kyung Ho Kang, UFC Fight Night 52 A bantamweight bout between Michinori Tanaka and Kyung Ho Kang was added to UFC Fight Night 52, which is set to take place September 20 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Both Tanaka and Kang are excellent prospects in the bantamweight division and this should be a very competitive fight when it goes down. I lean slightly to Tanaka here but it’s very, very close and I expect it to be a Pick ’em in the odds. Amir Sadollah vs. Nico Musoke, UFC Fight Night 53 And finally, a welterweight bout between Amir Sadollah and Nico Musoke was added to UFC Fight Night 53, which takes place October 4 at Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. Sadollah is coming off a two-year layoff while Musoke looked solid in a losing effort to Kelvin Gastelum in his last fight and has overall performed above expectations in the UFC. Although Sadollah is a talented striker, the layoff is scary and this looks like a set-up fight for Musoke, who should be favored heading into the bout.
