UFC returned for a televised event today (Saturday, December 3rd, 2016). The card was headlined by a flyweight title bout between Demetrious Johnson and Tim Elliott. All in all, five favorites won, while six upsets occurred and there were two pick’em fights. Here’s how everything played out based on the Several Bookmakers closing odds: Favorites That Won In the main event of the evening, Demetrious Johnson looked to defend his flyweight title against TUF 24 winner Tim Elliott and he got all he could handle. Elliott came out like a man possessed, securing top position and winging shots with his unorthodox style, but Johnson went to a tried and true top control grappling strategy while constantly threatening with submissions to retain his belt via unanimous decision. Johnson was victorious as a -840 (Bet $840 to win $100) betting favorite while Elliott lost at +660. In a flyweight co-main event, Henry Cejudo dropped Joseph Benavidez early but then lost a point due to repeated groin strikes. This fight was a complete barnburner as both men threw serious heat at each other for three straight rounds, where the judges ultimately sided with Benavidez via split decision. Benavidez was victorious as a -190 favorite while Cejudo lost at +175. In a welterweight bout, Jorge Masvidal started strong against Jake Ellenberger with some big flurries and then was the beneficiary of a strange situation where Ellenberger’s foot got stuck in the fence and he was unable to defend himself, losing via TKO. Masvidal was a -200 favorite while Ellenberger lost as a +185 dog. In a bantamweight contest, Sara McMann dominated the returning Alexis Davis, overpowering Davis with takedowns and top position before eventually sinking in a nasty arm triangle choke to earn a second round submission victory. McMann was -150 while Davis was a +140 underdog. In a flyweight fight, Brandon Moreno proved he belonged in the top 15 by outclassing Ryan Benoit in every facet of mixed martial arts. Moreno scored multiple takedowns in the first two rounds while also working over Benoit with combinations and kicks from distance. Moreno got a little sloppy late but held on to win a split decision. Moreno was a -185 favorite while Benoit was +170. In a featherweight scrap, Ryan Hall frustrated Gray Maynard over the course of three rounds with leg locks on the ground, kicks from distance and repeatedly dropping into guard whenever Maynard tried to get something going on the feet. The judges sided with Hall when it was all said and done via unanimous decision. Hall held serve as a -160 favorite while Maynard was +150. In a bantamweight contest, Rob Font was simply too big, too strong and too powerful for late notice replacement Matt Schnell, who moved up a weight class for his UFC debut. Font scored an early takedown and then plastered Schnell with a nasty head kick and knee to set up a first round finish. Font picked up the win as a -260 favorite while Schnell lost as a +240 underdog. In a lightweight bout, Dong Hyum “Maestro” Kim utilized his size and surprising grappling to win the first two rounds against Brendan O’Reilly, doing enough to win a unanimous decision. Kim was victorious as a -145 favorite while O’Reilly lost at +135. In a middleweight fight, Elvis Mutapcic started very strong against Anthony Smith, doing big damage from top position in the first round, but Smith pulverized him in the second frame with a tremendous series of power punches. Smith won as a -110 favorite while Mutapcic was +100. In the opening bout of the evening, light heavyweights Devin Clark and Josh Stansbury threw down. Clark landed a takedown early and then simply outpaced Stansbury, landing the bigger shots down the stretch to win a decision. Clark was a -110 favorite while Stansbury closed as a +100 dog. Underdogs That Won In a light heavyweight battle, Ion Cutelaba started strong against Jared Cannonier, but he ran out of steam. Cannonier turned the tables in round two, landing heavy shots on the feet and then scoring a late takedown before dominating Cutelaba with superior footwork and striking in the third to win the decision. Cannonier was victorious as a +200 (Bet $100 to win $200) underdog while Cutelaba was -220. In a strawweight bout, Jamie Moyle started strong with a high volume of strikes against Kailin Curran and then survived Curran’s late push as well as a nasty cut on her eye to walk away with a unanimous decision. Moyle was a +105 underdog while Curran was a -115 betting favorite.
