UFC Futures Opening Odds
Daniel Cormier -260
Brock Lesnar +200
And here are my thoughts on the opening line between DC and Lesnar:
What a fight this is going to be. Regardless of whether or not you think Lesnar deserves to jump the line an get a title shot, you have to admit this is one of the biggest fights the UFC has booked in years. The leadup to the bout is going to be incredible and I’m expecting a terrific fight inside the cage between two of the best heavyweights in MMA history.
Cormier (21-1, 1 NC) is undefeated in his last seven fights and just knocked out Stipe Miocic in devastating fashion to become a double champion as he currently holds both the heavyweight and light heavyweight belts in the UFC. Aside from Jon Jones, whose entire career is under suspicion due to testing positive for banned substanes numerous times, no one has been able to beat DC. His resume is amazing to look at, with wins over the likes of Miocic, Alexander Gustafsson, Anthony Johnson, Josh Barnett, Anderson Silva and Dan Henderson. He is still undefeated as a heavyweight and after smashing Miocic he looks like he could hold the belt for a very long time. Even though he’s 39, DC looks like he’s in his prime.
Lesnar (5-3, 1 NC) is one of the biggest stars the sport of MMA has ever seen. Now 40, Lesnar has not fought since a No Contest against Mark Hunt back at UFC 200 in 2016. He won that fight by decision and showed off his world-class power wrestling in that fight, but he has not fought since. In fact, Lesnar has not won a bout since submitting Shane Carwin back at UFC 116 in 2010, so it’s been a whole since he’s been in the win column. That being said, Lesnar is one of the biggest men we’ve ever seen in the Octagon and has won and defeated a solid list of opponents including the likes of Randy Couture and Frank Mir. He also has been way busier with WWE than MMA the last few years and he still has unanswered questions with USADA. That doesn’t mean he can’t win ths fight, though he’s the underdog in it. Lesnar is way bigger than Cormier, so that helps, but I still think Cormier deserves to be a big favorite in this fight as he’s simply the more well-rounded mixed martial artist of the two and has been far more active in the sport in recent years.
Aside from size and pure power I can’t think of any advantage sthat Lesnar will have in this fight. Cormier should be able to match his wrestling, Cormier has by far the better striking, Cormier has the better cardio and Cormier actually fights on the regular. Cormier is also a born winner and simply does not look to anyone not named Jones. I love the matchup because of the spectacle of it all, but I thnk Cormier outclasses Lesnar and defends the heavyweight title in this superfight.
