While this past weekend marked the UFC’s return from a month-long hiatus, the coming week seems like the first where the UFC is truly back. Now, UFC 215 won’t be setting any pay-per-view records, nor will it be featured on ESPN (and every other sports outlet), but it does feature the best fighter in MMA with an opportunity to re-write the history books. Demetrious Johnson could set the UFC record for consecutive title defenses if he’s able to get past Ray Borg in his 11th flyweight title defense on Saturday night.
The flyweight belt isn’t the only one on the line in Edmonton, either. Women’s bantamweights Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko will try to do it again after their scheduled bout in July was cancelled due to the sniffles. Nunes was victorious in their first meeting back at UFC 196, and used that win to catapult herself into the title picture. However, the momentum of the fight had swung to Shevchenko and many believe that she would have emerged victorious in a five round contest.
The remainder of the PPV card features a pair of former lightweight champions who have moved on to different divisions. Former UFC champ Rafael dos Anjos continues his welterweight run against Neil Magny, while ex-Strikeforce ace Gilbert Melendez makes his featherweight debut against Jeremy Stephens. The final main card slot goes to light heavyweights Tyson Pedro and Ilir Latifi.
The odds for four of the main card bouts had been previously released at Several Bookmakers, and they are headlined by Johnson appearing as a massive favorite once again. The defending champ sits at -1250 (bet $1250 to win $100), with the comeback on Borg at +800 (bet $100 to win $800). The other title fight is nearly a pick ’em, much like it was earlier in the summer.
The preliminary card for UFC 215 includes five Canadian fighters, although the headlining bouts of the prelims are in the same divisions as the top two fights on the card. Former title challengers Sara McMann, Henry Cejudo, and Wilson Reis continue their efforts to get back to title shots in their respective divisions, with Cejudo and Reis squaring off against each other.
Undefeated striker Gavin Tucker and debuting heavyweight Arjan Bhullar headline the Canadian contingent on UFC 215. Tucker turned heads in his UFC debut earlier this year, scoring a dominant victory over Sam Sicilia. Now the UFC’s resident Newfie takes on the rangy Rick Glenn. A former Commonwealth Games gold medalist and Olympian, Bhullar has transitioned to MMA and has posted a 6-0 record thus far. His debut will come against one of the young prospects of the division, 24-year-old Luis Henrique.
MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting odds for the entire UFC 215 card today at Several Bookmakers, and as always, you can find the full slate of openers below:
——————————————————-
UFC 215: Johnson vs. Borg
SEPTEMBER 9, 2017
Rogers Place | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Main Card – (PPV, 10PM ET)
UFC Flyweight Title:
Ray Borg +400
Demetrious Johnson -600
Over 4.5 -140
Under 4.5 +100
–
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Title:
Amanda Nunes +100
Valentina Shevchenko -130
Over 2.5 -140
Under 2.5 +100
–
Neil Magny +110
Rafael dos Anjos -150
Over 2.5 -180
Under 2.5 +140
–
Tyson Pedro +100
Ilir Latifi -140
Over 1.5 +115
Under 1.5 -155
–
Gilbert Melendez -105
Jeremy Stephens -135
Over 2.5 -185
Under 2.5 +145
–
Preliminary Card – (FS1, 8PM ET)
Ketlen Vieira +185
Sara McMann -265
Over 2.5 -280
Under 2.5 +200
–
Wilson Reis +325
Henry Cejudo -475
Over 2.5 -180
Under 2.5 +140
–
Sarah Moras +175
Ashlee Evans-Smith -245
Over 2.5 -260
Under 2.5 +180
–
Rick Glenn +150
Gavin Tucker -190
Over 2.5 -210
Under 2.5 +160
–
Preliminary Card – (UFC Fight Pass, 6:15PM ET)
Mitch Clarke +130
Alex White -170
Over 2.5 -115
Under 2.5 -125
–
Luis Henrique +150
Arjan Bhullar -190
Over 2.5 +115
Under 2.5 -155
–
Kajan Johnson +170
Adriano Martins -230
Over 1.5 -180
Under 1.5 +140
–
——————————————————-
Click below to bet on the fights!
