UFC on FOX 22: VanZant vs Waterson Date: December 17, 2016 Arena: Golden 1 Center City: Sacramento, CA The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Sacramento, CA for the fifth time in promotional history with UFC on FOX 22: VanZant vs Waterson. The 13-fight card is set to kick off with Fight Pass prelims at 3:30pm ET, and prelminary action will continue on FOX Sports 1 at 5pm. The main card will be live on FOX at 8pm. If interested in wagering on this parlay, or any bouts for this fight card, all betting lines are currently made available at Several Bookmakers. Here are my plays: Welterweight bout: Colby Covington (-360) vs Bryan Barberena (+300) Gabe’s Thoughts: Barberena currently enjoys a two-fight winning streak heading into this contest, with two big upset victories over Sage Northcutt and Warlley Alves. He has been making some noise in the UFC’s 170-pound division and looks to continue with a win over American Top Team’s Covington, who enjoys a two-fight winning streak of his own heading into this contest. I believe Covington is the superior athlete of the two heading into this welterweight match-up and I see his superior wrestling being the difference. I think Covington finds success in taking this fight to the mat, where I think he be in control for the majority of 15 minutes en route to picking up a unanimous decision victory on the judges’ scorecards, potentially stopping The MMA Lab fighter along the way. I believe this is Covington’s fight to lose and I see him getting the job done this Saturday night. Gabe’s Call: Covington by Submission (rear naked choke, 2:49 round 2) Lightweight bout: Josh Emmett (-180) vs Scott Holtzman (+158) Gabe’s Thoughts: Sacramento native Emmett is coming off a split decision victory over Jon Tuck in what was his short notice UFC debut and will now try to make it two straight by taking out Holtzman. Holtzman is coming off a unanimous decision win over Cody Pfister and is also looking to make it two in a row inside the Octagon for himself. I believe Emmett is the superior mixed martial artist of the two heading into this 155-pound contest and I see him getting the betting of Holtzman both on the feet and on the mat. Emmett has the better wrestling, and on the feet, he hits harder and pushes a pace Holtzman may end up crumbling under. I believe Emmett is a level or two above Holtzman and could potentially crack the division’s top 15, while I don’t see Holtzman getting that far. I think this is Emmett’s fight to lose and I see him getting his hand raised in his hometown of Sacramento this Saturday night, ultimately remaining undefeated as a pro. Gabe’s Call: Emmett by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Welterweight bout: Bojan Velickovic (-160) vs Sultan Aliev (+140) Gabe’s Thoughts: Aliev is coming off the first official loss of his professional mixed martial arts career, which was also his UFC debut and took place two years ago at UFC on FOX 14, where he was knocked out by Kenny Robertson inside of the very first round of action. Velickovic last saw action nearly five months ago at UFC 201, where he fought to a Majority Draw against undefeated American Top Team product Michael Graves. This is a match-up of technical striker vs power puncher, though I think the technical striker has a better chance of recording a T/KO. I favor Elevation Fight Team’s Velickovic to outstrike Aliev over the course of three rounds to pick up a unanimous decision victory on the judges’ scorecards in this 170-pound contest, though I won’t not be surprised to see him put the Dagestani fighter away inside of the 15 scheduled minutes of action. Gabe’s Call: Velickovic by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Gabe’s Recommeded Parlay: Covington (-360), Emmett (-180) and Velickovic (-160) at +223 4.6u to win 10.25u All of my content and plays are free. Your support is greatly appreciated. 
