UFC 157 produced some surprising results and some that weren’t such a surprise. Overall eight favorites won, while four underdogs cashed. The MMA Oddsbreaker crew did well on their picks and bets overall in what could be deemed a tricky card by many. UFC BETTING FAVORITES THAT WON In the main event of the evening, Ronda Rousey submitted Liz Carmouche with her patented armbar to retain the UFC women’s bantamweight championship. It was a fantastic back-and-forth fight and Carmouche nearly won it with a standing rear-naked choke, but ultimately Rousey with her armbar. Rousey was a heavy -900 favorite (bet $900 to win $100), while Carmouche was a +700 underdog (bet $100 to win $700) In the co-main event of the evening, Lyoto Machida defeated Dan Henderson via split decision to earn a title shot against Jon Jones. Machida controlled the distance, but overall it was one of the worst fights in recent memory with many dull instances throughout it. Machida closed as a -200 favorite, while Henderson was a +185 underdog. In a bantamweight fight, Urijah Faber defeated Ivan Menjivar via standing-rear naked choke in the first round. It was a fantastic fight, but ultimately Faber was able to sink in the choke and win. Faber closed as a -350 favorite, while Menjivar was a +318 underdog. In a welterweight matchup, Court McGee defeated Josh Neer via decision. McGee controlled most of the action and beat Neer up on the feet, and ultimately the judges rewarded him. McGee was a -370 favorite, while Neer was a +330 underdog. In a heavyweight bout, Brendan Schaub defeated Lavar Johnson via decision. It was a boring fight and the crowd booed, but ultimately Schaub did enough to win the fight. Schaub closed as a -120 favorite, while Johnson was a +110 underdog. In a lightweight contest, Michael Chiesa defeated Anton Kuivanen via second-round submission. It was a terrific performance by Chiesa, who closed as a -190 favorite, while Kuivanen closed as a +175 underdog. In a featherweight bout, Dennis Bermudez defeated Matt Grice via split decision in one of the best fights of the year. It was a back-and-forth affair but ultimately Bermudez won the decision. Bermudez was a -450 favorite, while Grice was a +360 underdog. In a welterweight bout, Neil Magny defeated Jon Manley via decision in a very boring affair. Magny won the fights with his takedown defense and takedowns, while Manley will likely be cut. Magny was a -145 favorite, while Manley was a +135 underdog. UFC BETTING UNDERDOGS THAT WON In the biggest upset of the night, welterweight Robbie Lawler defeated Josh Koscheck via TKO in the first round. It was a tremendous return to the Octagon for Lawler, who was a +270 underdog entering the bout. Koscheck was a -300 favorite and crushed many people’s parlays. In a lightweight contest, Sam Stout defeated Caros Fodor via split decision. It was a close fight that could have gone either way, but the judges sided with Stout. Fodor closed as a -160 favorite, while Stout closed as a +140 underdog. In a welterweight bout, Kenny Robertson defeated Brock Jardine via submission in the first round. It was a unique submission that took Jardine out, and Robertson cashed as a dog. Jardine closed as a -145 favorite, while Robertson was a +135 underdog. In the opening fight of the night, a welterweight bout, Nah-Shon Burrell defeated Yuri Villefort via unanimous decision in a back-and-forth brawl. Burrell was a +145 underdog, while Villefort was a -155 favorite.
