Ultimate Fighting Championship recently announced three huge bouts for 2020, including two championship fights. MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas has opened betting odds for all three contests in the light heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions.
The first fight is a welterweight contest featuring former two-division champion Conor McGregor and 32-fight UFC veteran Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC 246 on January 18, 2020, in Las Vegas. McGregor opened at -275 with the comeback on Cerrone +215. The current odds are McGregor at -245 with Cerrone +205. Here’s Nick’s rationale behind his odds from Adam Martin’s opening betting odds show earlier this week:
“Donald Cerrone deserves this opportunity with his incredible UFC career with this mega fight. We haven’t seen McGregor fight in so long, stylistically, this is a great match for him to come back to. The best path to victory for Cerrone is to take this down to the ground and try to submit McGregor. On the feet, Cerrone definitely has a shot, but McGregor probably picks him apart and hurts him. At this point in his career, I don’t think Cerrone can take what McGregor dishes out on the feet. I think that’s the most likely outcome, that McGregor keeps it on the feet and wins in that fashion.”
The second fight is a light heavyweight title contest featuring champion Jon Jones and top challenger Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 on February 8, 2020, in Houston, Texas. Jones opened -400 with Reyes +300. The current odds are -470 Jones and +375 Reyes. Here are Nick’s thoughts on the contest:
“You’d expect Jones to open a bit higher in most cases and he has, but realistically, this is the toughest spot Jones has been in in a while. On the feet, this is probably going to be the toughest fight Jones has had and he probably need to take Reyes to the ground and exploit him there. Reyes does have a ground game as well so that won’t be easy, but that is probably Jones’ best path to victory, kind of making this a gritty fight, taking this into deep waters and making Reyes suffer late. I think especially in the early rounds, Reyes will have some success and it’s not worth laying the chalk.”
The third fight is a lightweight title bout featuring champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and former interim lightweight champ Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 on April 18, 2020, in Brooklyn. Nurmagomedov opened -275 with the comeback on Ferguson +215. Currently, the bout is lined -230 for Nurmagomedov and +190 for Ferguson. Here are Nick’s thoughts on the fight:
“Tony Ferguson is definitely a threat for anybody and the guy just keeps on impressing. I’ve doubted Ferguson along the way. He’s a tremendous offensive fighter, but defensively, he’s hittable and he can be put on his back as well, but man, the guy is so dangerous. He overcomes, is tough as nails, and he’s probably the most dangerous fighter Khabib has ever faced. Khabib is not going to be less than 3-1 against most people these days. Tony is a legitimate threat, but you’ve got to lean Khabib because he’s shown us how dominant he is against everybody.
Kalikas released his betting lines to the sportsbooks for all three bouts – Odds below are courtesy of Several Bookmakers
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UFC 246: McGregor vs Cowboy
JANUARY 18, 2020
T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada
Welterweight
Donald Cerrone +215
Conor McGregor -275
UFC 247: Jones vs Reyes
February 8, 2020
Toyota Center | Houston, Texas
Light Heavyweight Title
Dominick Reyes +300
Jon Jones -400
UFC 249: Khabib vs Ferguson
April 18, 2020
Barclays Center | Brooklyn, New York
Lightweight Title
Tony Ferguson +215
Khabib Nurmagomedov -275
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