Live Dogs for UFC Fight Night 81

UFC Fight Night 81 Date: January 17, 2016 Arena: TD Garden City: Boston, MA The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will be making it’s return to the TD Garden in Boston, MA on Sunday, January 17th for UFC Fight Night 81: Dillashaw vs Cruz. The first Fight Night card of the year, UFC Fight Night 81 comes stacked with a 12-fight card that guarantees fireworks from start to finish. Preliminary action for this fight card will get underway at 6pm ET on UFC Fight Pass and will continue at 8pm ET on FOX Sports 1, with main card action to follow at 10pm ET on the same channel. If interested in wagering on these plays, or any plays for this fight card, all betting lines will be made available at Several Bookmakerss. Here are my live dogs: Bantamweight title bout: TJ Dillashaw (-135) vs Dominick Cruz (+115) Gabe’s Thoughts: Simply put, I believe Cruz is the superior fighter of the two, and I think he is going to find a way to get his hand raised in this five round title fight. His fight IQ will likely be the difference, as I see him outsmarting Dillashaw and outpointing Dillashaw for five rounds of action for a unanimous decision victory on the judges’ scorecards. I think Cruz will reclaim his UFC bantamweight title and again take over the division that was once his. A finish would not surprise me in the least, especially considering what he was able to do with Takeya Mizugaki, but I favor a win on the cards more so than a T/KO or submission. Gabe’s Call: Cruz by Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Cruz (+115) 5u to win 5.75u Lightweight bout: Chris Wade (+250) vs Mairbek Taisumov (-300) Gabe’s Thoughts: This is a classic “striker vs grappler” match-up between the wrestler Wade and the striker Taisumov. Taisumov is an excellent striker with knockout power and will certainly have the advantage in both striking and power heading into this 155-pound contest. I think what this fight will come down to is whether Taisumov can keep this fight on the feet long enough to either secure two out of three rounds or score a knockout. Personally, I see Wade’s wrestling as being the difference and think he will indeed find success with his takedowns. I think he will hang on the feet and manage to score takedowns and using his wrestling to control Taisumov and win rounds. I think this fight is a lot closer than the betting odds currently suggest and personally think Wade should be a -140 betting favorite heading into this contest, so at his current underdog tag of +250, I love him for a wager. Gabe’s Call: Wade by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Wade (+250) 4u to win 10u