UFC 255: Figueiredo vs. Perez takes place on Saturday, November 21 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The offshore sportsbooks recently opened up the betting odds for the event, and MMAOB staff writer Adam Martin takes a look at the opening odds below.
UFC 255 Odds
Deiveson Figueiredo -210
Alex Perez +180
Valentina Shevchenko -750
Jennifer Maia +550
Mike Perry -150
Tim Means +130
Cynthia Calvillo -156
Katlyn Chookagian +134
Paul Craig -182
Mauricio Rua +151
Brandon Moreno -213
Brandon Royval +176
Joaquin Buckley -182
Jordan Wright +151
Antonina Shevchenko -109
Ariane Lipski -110
Kyle Daukaus -152
Dustin Stoltzfus +126
Alan Jouban -145
Jared Gooden +125
Louis Cosce -365
Sasha Palatnikov +275
Daniel Rodriguez -230
Nicolas Dalby +195
Here are my initial thoughts on the UFC 255 Opening Odds:
- The main event is an outstanding UFC men’s flyweight title bout between Deiveson Figueiredo (19-1) and Alex Perez (24-5). Figueiredo is coming off of four straight wins including back-to-back stoppage victories over Joseph Benavidez. Outside of a decision loss to Jussier Formiga, Figueiredo is 8-1 overall in the UFC and looks like someone who could potentially hold the belt for a long time. Then again, you can’t discount Perez, who is a very experienced fighter and who has looked great in the UFC as well. Perez is 6-1 overall in the UFC and overall he has won 11 of his last 12 fights. However, his lone UFC loss came against Benavidez. MMA math doesn’t always work but remember how easy it was for Figueiredo to get by Benavidez whereas Perez struggled and got finished. Based on that alone, you can see why the line opened with Figueiredo as the favorite. But remember, MMA math doesn’t always work out.
- The co-main event sees UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (19-3) put her belt on the line against Jennifer Maia (18-6-1) in a fight that many consider being a mismatch. Shevchenko is outstanding and she has won all five of her fights at 125lbs in dominant fashion. As for Maia, she is coming off of a submission win over Joanne Calderwood, but overall is just 3-2 in the UFC with several weight misses. This looks like another mismatch for the champion, and Shevchenko should be able to finish this fight.
- Also on the main card, welterweight Tim Means (30-12-1, 1 NC) steps up on short notice for the injured Robbie Lawler when he takes on Mike Perry (14-6). Means can look amazing at times but at age 36 he is starting to have a hard time stringing wins together, with his last win streak coming in 2016. As for Perry, he has been dealing with numerous legal issues outside the cage and has struggled inside of it to be consistent, though he did beat Mickey Gall in his last outing. This is a close fight but Perry is seven years younger and that could be the key.
- Also on the main card, we have a rematch between light heavyweights Mauricio Rua (27-11-1) and Paul Craig (13-4-1). We saw these two go at it last November and they fought to a split draw. Since then, Rua defeated Antonio Rogerio Nogueira by split decision while Craig tapped out Gadzhimurad Antigulov. This is a close fight once gain, but my lean is to Craig this time.
