The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is back home in Las Vegas, NV for International Fight Week with The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale: Johnson vs. Gaethje on Friday night (July 7, 2017) and UFC 213: Nunes vs. Shevchenko II on Saturday night (July 8, 2017). If interested in wagering on any bouts for these fight cards, all betting lines are available at Several Bookmakers.
Here is my cross-card parlay for the TUF 25 Finale and UFC 213…
Welterweight bout: Jesse Taylor (-210) vs. Dhiego Lima (+160)
Gabe’s Thoughts: I predicted Taylor would win this show from the beginning of the season, and here we are. He is undoubtedly the superior wrestler heading into this 170-pound contest, and I see him finding success with his takedowns and getting the better of Lima on the mat. The title of this season of the show is “Redemption,” and I think it will be real redemption for Taylor to come out on top and win the show he should have won nearly a decade ago. I do think this is Taylor’s fight to lose, and I favor him to come out on top. I see “JT Money” redeeming himself by becoming The Ultimate Fighter Season 25 winner and taking home $250,000.
Gabe’s Call: Taylor by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Light Heavyweight bout: Jordan Johnson (-240) vs. Marcel Fortuna (+200)
Gabe’s Thoughts: Fortuna knocked Anthony Hamilton out in his promotional debut at heavyweight, and he now drops back down to his natural weight class of light heavyweight, where he will be greeted by Johnson, who earned a unanimous decision victory over Luis Henrique da Silva in his UFC debut. I could see Johnson winning this fight inside the distance, but I do think a win on the scorecards is slightly more likely due to how tough Fortuna is and how hard he is to put away. In order to win this fight, I think Fortuna needs to do what he did in his previous bout — catch Johnson. Outside of catching him flush with a strike or a slick submission, I don’t see him getting his hand raised. I think this is Jordan’s fight to lose, and I see him getting it done against Fortuna.
Gabe’s Call: Johnson by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Heavyweight bout: Curtis Blaydes (-900) vs. Daniel Omielanczuk (+600)
Gabe’s Thoughts: As the betting lines suggest, I expect this fight to be a walk in the park for Blaydes. I believe his wrestling will make the difference, and I do see him scoring takedowns at will. I expect him to use his superior wrestling to dominate the Pole on the mat in this heavyweight contest, though I do not favor a finish. I think there is a good chance he finishes the fight, but I believe a victory on the scorecards is more likely.
Gabe’s Call: Blaydes by Unanimous Decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25)
Gabe’s Recommended Parlays: 1) Taylor (-210), Johnson (-240) and Blaydes (-900) at +132 and 2) Taylor (-210), Johnson (-240) and Blaydes/Omielanczuk Over 1.5 rounds (-130) at +270
