UFC Fight Night 124: Stephens vs. Choi
Date: January 14
Arena: Scottrade Center
City: St. Louis, MO
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is headed to St. Louis, MO for the first time in promotional history with UFC Fight Night 124: Stephens vs. Choi. The 13 fight card is scheduled to kick off with preliminary action on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. ET, with televised prelims getting going on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. and the main card following on the same channel at 10 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…
Featherweight bout: Doo Ho Choi (-160) vs. Jeremy Stephens (+140)
Gabe’s Thoughts: I see Choi outstriking Stephens in this matchup and potentially knocking him out, as his striking is very accurate. His shots are precise and he packs serious power for a featherweight, so I think he is likely to earn another T/KO victory in this contest, ultimately bouncing back to the win column following the first official loss of his professional mixed martial arts career, which came via unanimous decision against Cub Swanson more than a year ago. I think Choi should be a -210 betting favorite here, so I like him for a play at his current asking price of -160.
Gabe’s Call: Choi by T/KO (punches, 2:01 round 1)
Gabe’s Recommended Play: Choi 3.2u to win 2u
Middleweight bout: Jessica Eye (-115) vs. Kalindra Faria (-105)
Gabe’s Thoughts: Let me put it this way; Jessica Eye was +105 against Aspen Ladd before that fight was canceled on the day of. She is now -115 against Faria. I believe that Ladd is a much, much more difficult fight than Faria. I was on Ladd in that bout, as I saw value in that near coin-flip betting line, but this time around I am on Eye, because I see value in her at her near coin-flip betting line. I think she should be a -160 betting favorite here, so I have to make a move on her at her current asking price of -115. I am not confident in her because I don’t believe she is mentally strong, but nonetheless I feel there is value in her in this particular spot. If she shows up willing to put it all on the line in an effort to get her hand raised, I believe she will. If she shows up without a care like she has in her last previous fights, I will kick myself just like I did when I bet her against Bethe Correia.
Gabe’s Call: Hall by T/KO (headkick and punches, 3:06 round 1)
Gabe’s Recommended Play: Eye (-115) 1.15u to win 1u
