UFC on FOX 26: Lawler vs. Dos Anjos
Date: December 16
Arena: Bell MTS Place
City: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is headed back to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada with UFC on FOX 26: Lawler vs. Dos Anjos. The stacked 12 fight card is set to kick off with preliminary action on UFC Fight Pass at 4 p.m. ET. Prelims will continue on FOX Sports 1 at 5 p.m., with the main card getting going on FOX at 8 p.m. If interested in wagering on any bouts for these fight cards, all betting lines are made available at Several Bookmakers.
Here are my plays…
Middleweight bout: Alessio Di Chirico (-115) vs. Oluwale Bamgbose (-105)
Gabe’s Thoughts: Di Chirico has been overwhelmingly unimpressive in the UFC, but I think this is a stylistic test that he should be able to pass with flying colors. I think he should be a -230 betting favorite heading into this 185 pound contest, so I see tremendous value in him at his current offering coin flip price of -115. I believe he has a massive grappling advantage in this bout and I see him securing takedowns with ease. I am not sure if he will be able to submit Bamgbose, but I think he will be able to dominate him for the majority, if not entirety of three rounds of action to earn a unanimous decision victory on the judges’ scorecards and save his spot on the UFC’s middleweight roster. Aside from getting caught, the only concern with Di Chirico is his cardio, but it is not much of a concern in this particular contest, as Bamgbose arguably has worse cardio than the Italian. Considering how dominant I think he will be from top position in this contest, I think Di Chirico will be wise enough to sustain energy as he cruises to a clear one sided victory; either finishing by submission, ground and pound TKO or decision. I see this as being the Italian’s fight to lose, and I believe he will get the job done in Winnipeg on Saturday night.
Gabe’s Call: Di Chirico by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Gabe’s Recommended Play: Di Chirico (-115)
Welterweight bout: Jordan Mein (-135) vs. Erick Silva (+115)
Gabe’s Thoughts: I think Mein should be anywhere between -200 and -250 in this 170 pound contest scheduled for three rounds, so I see a good amount of value in him at his current price of -135. I see this as a “loser goes home” matchup in the UFC’s welterweight division and I believe Mein will send the Brazilian packing. Mein is the superior striker of the two, and I see him finding success in keeping this fight standing and outstriking the Brazilian. I think he gets him out of there early and saves his spot on the UFC’s 170-pound roster.
Gabe’s Call: Mein by T/KO (strikes, 1:01 round 1)
Gabe’s Recommended Play: Mein (-135)
