One of the prelims at UFC Fight Night 65 is a three-round middleweight bout between Brad Scott and Dylan Andrews. According to the current betting lines available at Several Bookmakers, Scott is a -115 favorite (bet $115 to win $100) while Andrews is a -105 underdog (bet $105 to win $100). MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened up Andrews at -130 and Scott at -110 and so far small action has come in on Scott, flipping the line. I agree that Scott should be favored here as well. Here’s why. Scott (9-3) is 1-2 in the UFC with a submission win over Michael Kuiper and decision losses to Robert Whittaker and Claudio Silva. The 25-year-old Brit is a well-rounded fighter who likes to finish his opponents. He has five career TKO wins as well as four submission wins, making him dangerous everywhere the fight goes. He has not fared great in his UFC career, showing poor wrestling and cardio, but he’s a young guy and is improving from fight to fight. He needs a win to save his UFC career here against Andrews, and going up against an older fighter with injury concerns, it might be just what the doctor ordered. Andrews (17-6, 1 NC) is 2-2 in the UFC with TKO wins over Papi Abedi and Jimmy Quinlan with TKO losses to Clint Hester and Sam Alvey. The 35-year-old New Zealander competed on TUF 17 and had a good showing on the reality show, defeating Luke Barnatt and Zak Cummings before losing to Uriah Hall, but since coming to the UFC he has been marred by inconsistencies and injuries. In both of his losses he was TKOed due to injury, which is a major red flag going forward. He is very fragile and it’s unfortunate because when healthy he is actually a pretty dangerous striker who has 12 career wins by knockout, although his grappling is definitely questionable. However, those injury concerns are huge, and they unfortunately take away from Andrews’ good qualities, which is why the public is slightly fading him against Scott. I think you have to autofade Andrews against any capable UFC middleweight, and Scott certainly qualifies. I don’t think the Englishman is great, but I do think he can beat Andrews, probably by TKO. It would not shock me at all if Andrews gets injured again and Scott wins that way. I just feel at this point you cannot put money down on Andrews due to his age and injury concerns and any time you can bet against him you have to take the risk and do it. So I do like Scott here, and think he’s worth a small play at the Pick ’em odds.
