UFC 213
Date: July 8, 2017
Arena: T-Mobile Arena
City: Las Vegas, NV
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is back home in Las Vegas, NV for International Fight Week with UFC 213: Nunes vs. Shevchenko II slated for this Saturday (July 8, 2017). The 12-fight card is scheduled to kick off with preliminary action at 6:30 p.m. (ET), which will continue on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. The main card will get underway on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. If interested in wagering on any bouts for this fight card, all betting lines are available at Several Bookmakers.
Here are my top PPV plays for UFC 213…
Women’s Bantamweight title bout: Amanda Nunes (-110) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (-110)
Gabe’s Thoughts: Despite coming up short the first time around, I think Shevchenko should be favored at the sportsbooks in this rematch. She is tough to put away, and I think having the superior cardio certainly favors her in a five-round fight. At the current odds, I do like her for a play.
Gabe’s Call: Shevchenko by Submission (rear-naked choke, 3:34 round 3)
Gabe’s Recommended Play: Shevchenko (-110)
Heavyweight bout: Alistair Overeem (-125) vs. Fabricio Werdum (+105)
Gabe’s Thoughts: Overeem does not have a good chin, so unless he gets caught and finished, I think this is his fight to lose. He easily outstruck Werdum for a unanimous-decision victory the last time they met under the Strikeforce banner, and I would not be surprised to see a similar lackluster result in this bout. Werdum has greatly improved his striking since their last meeting, but I think Overeem still outmatches him on the feet. And I would expect “The Reem” to land something clean and put the former UFC heavyweight champion away within the 15 scheduled minutes of action to pick up his second consecutive victory since his own failed bid at the division’s gold last September.
Gabe’s Call: Overeem by T/KO (punch, 0:45 round 1)
Gabe’s Recommended Play: Overeem (-125)
