With the UFC hurting for stars, they managed to coax one of the MMA’s all-time greats out of retirement earlier this year. It took some time to get a date settled for his return, but Georges St-Pierre will be back in the Octagon this Saturday, vying to become just the fourth fighter in UFC history to hold belts in multiple weight classes (joining Randy Couture, BJ Penn, and Conor McGregor). To do so however, he’ll have to get through a man many never expected to be champion: Michael Bisping.
The Brit was the breakout star who allowed the UFC to expand into the UK a decade ago, but always seemed to come up short in the biggest fights. That changed last year, when he knocked out Luke Rockhold on short notice to become UFC champion. He has deftly managed his title run thus far, first getting a measure of revenge against 45-year-old Dan Henderson in his lone title defense, and now facing a former welterweight coming out of a three year retirement. This should also prove to be the biggest payday Bisping has received in his MMA career, something he has been angling for since becoming champion.
UFC 217 features a pair of additional title bouts as well. Bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt defends his belt against former champion (and his former teammate) TJ Dillashaw in what is one of the best matchups the UFC can put together on paper. Longstanding strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk also puts her gold on the line as she looks for her sixth title defense against Rose Namajunas.
The two remaining main card bouts are nearly as intriguing, as welterweights Stephen Thompson and Jorge Masvidal vie for a 170lb title shot, and undefeated prospect Paulo Borrachinha faces something of a step up in his career against former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks. The betting lines for each of those main card bouts was previously released at Several Bookmakers.
Today, MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas focused on the preliminary card, which has some gems in its own right. The featured bout is in the lightweight division, as talented strikers Joe Duffy and James Vick do battle and attempt to join the top 15 in one of the UFC’s deepest divisions. Each fighter has picked up a pair of wins since their first shot against a top 15 opponent was unsuccessful. Duffy dropped a hard fought decision to Dustin Poirier in his bid, while Vick was knocked out by Beneil Dariush.
In another preliminary bout of note, 26-year-old heavyweight prospect Curtis Blaydes aims to add to his three-fight winning streak (unless you’re from Texas, then he’s only on a two-fight winning streak) against one of the craftiest heavyweights in the world, Oleksiy Oliynyk. The 40-year-old has managed a 4-1 record in the UFC, including pulling off the No-Gi Ezekiel Choke from being bottom mounted, in one of the finest displays of “heavyweight MMA stuff” in recorded history. Other prospects in action at UFC 217 include welterweights Mickey Gall and Randy Brown who should have very different gameplans when they match up, Ion Cutelaba welcomes Poland’s Michal Oleksiejczuk to the Octagon, and GSP’s Tristar teammate Aiemann Zahabi takes on Brazilian Ricardo Ramos.
Given the rather stacked nature of this card, former light heavyweight title challenger and sixth-ranked 205er Ovince Saint Preux faces #7 Corey Anderson in the second bout of the evening, because there can only be one _SP on the main card.
Kalikas opened the betting lines for each of the seven preliminary bouts today at Several Bookmakers. Keep scrolling to check those out.
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UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre
NOVEMBER 4, 2017
Madison Square Garden | New York, New York
Main Card – (PPV, 10PM ET)
Middleweight Title
Michael Bisping +140
Georges St-Pierre -170
Over 4.5 -165
Under 4.5 +125
–
Bantamweight Title
T.J. Dillashaw +105
Cody Garbrandt -135
Over 3.5 -165
Under 3.5 +125
–
Women’s Strawweight Title
Rose Namajunas +295
Joanna Jedrzejczyk -385
Over 3.5 -165
Under 3.5 +125
–
Jorge Masvidal +120
Stephen Thompson -160
Over 2.5 -170
Under 2.5 +130
–
Johny Hendricks +155
Paulo Borrachinha -185
Over 1.5 -105
Under 1.5 -135
–
Preliminary Card – (FS1, 8PM ET)
James Vick +100
Joseph Duffy -140
Over 1.5 -160
Under 1.5 +120
–
Mark Godbeer +235
Walt Harris -315
Over 1.5 -115
Under 1.5 -125
–
Michal Oleksiejczuk +200
Ion Cutelaba -300
Over 1.5 -150
Under 1.5 +110
–
Mickey Gall +110
Randy Brown -150
Over 1.5 -155
Under 1.5 +115
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Preliminary Card – (UFC Fight Pass, 6:30PM ET)
Aleksei Oleinik +170
Curtis Blaydes -230
Over 1.5 -135
Under 1.5 -105
–
Corey Anderson +125
Ovince Saint Preux -165
Over 1.5 -180
Under 1.5 +140
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Aiemann Zahabi -110
Ricardo Ramos -130
Over 2.5 -150
Under 2.5 +110
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