I decided to roll with two props on this weekend’s card that I feel are good spots for the UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden in New York.
Derek Brunson vs. Israel Adesanya
A great middleweight matchup to open up the PPV. The classic wrestler vs. striker in my opinion but, Brunson has pretty much abandoned his wrestling in the past several years. He likes to come in swinging and blitz his opponents. Sometimes it works and other times it definitely does not as he has paid the price for it by rushing straight in with his chin up to the sky. Adesanya is a fantastic striker and counter puncher. Adesanya will have plenty of opportunities to land a counter punch onto Brunson’s chin for the knockout but he may have to try and defend a takedown or two in the process IF Brunson decides to take it to the mat. I like Adesanya here to win by knockout and it could very well happen in the first round if Brunson gets too wild by rushing in with caution being thrown into the wind.
Prop: Adesanya wins by (T)KO (-115)
Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis
This is a pretty one-sided matchup for the heavyweight title in the main event as Daniel Cormier is one of the best fighters of all-time and Derrick Lewis just isn’t that great outside of great knockout power. Cormier has the huge edge in striking, cardio, wrestling, and fight IQ. Cormier probably won’t even give Derrick Lewis the chance to even hurt him as he may look to get this fight to the ground as immediately as he can. On the ground Lewis will be a fish out of water against Cormier. Cormier can pretty much do whatever he wants with him at that point. I’m not saying Lewis doesn’t have a chance here, but to win by knockout would need to come within the first or maybe second round depending how much energy he has expended. I’m picking Cormier without a doubt but to determine how he gets it done is a bit trickier. I lean by TKO as he may just punch Lewis repeatedly on the ground until he taps or the ref has to step in.
Prop: Cormier wins by (T)KO (+125)
Thanks for reading and best of luck!
