If you are a regular reader of the MMA Odds and Ends here on MMAoddsbreaker.com, you would have read yesterday that a source told me the UFC was planning on matching up Matt Brown and Tarec Saffiedine in a welterweight showdown. Well, looks like my source was correct as Mike Chiappetta of FOXSports.com has confirmed that Brown will meet Saffiedine at a December UFC event, presumably either UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2, or maybe on the year-end FOX card. Either way, regardless of what card the fight is placed on, this is a terrific matchup between two vicious strikers that is likely to be a “Fight of the Year” candidate when it’s all said and done. And the winner is going to take a big step up in the division, possibly even finding themselves in a title eliminator. This is a very tough fight to call because both guys are very well-rounded. In Saffiedine, you have one of the most technical kickboxers in the entire welterweight division and a fighter who has excellent takedown defense as well. In Brown, you have the most aggressive fighter at 170 pounds. He’s a multi-skilled beast who, at age 32, has emerged as a legitimate contender as he’s recorded six-straight wins, including a sub-minute KO over tough vet Mike Pyle in his last outing at UFC Fight Night 26. Call me crazy but I’m going to say that Brown deserves to open as a small favorite in the -130 range, with the comeback on Saffiedine around even money. I’m going to be looking for the “fight goes to decision” prop here as my play, though, as I believe both fighters are tough enough to go the full 15 minutes with one another. Cabral vs. Mitchell Added To UFC Fight Night 29 The UFC yesterday added a welterweight bout between Yan Cabral and David Mitchell to UFC Fight Night 29, which takes place this October in Brazil. MMAFighting.com first reported the matchup. I really thought the UFC would cut Mitchell and his 1-3 record but they are giving him one more chance in the Octagon. Cabral, meanwhile, is a DREAM vet and was a member of TUF Brazil 2, and it’s a bit surprising he’s been given another chance, too, since he didn’t win the show, making this seem like a loser-leaves-town matchup to me. Mitchell is one of the worst welterweights in the UFC so I’m going to say that Cabral deserves to be a -150 favorite here despite his lack of Octagon experience, with the comeback on Mitchell at +120. And if that’s the case, it might be a good idea to bet on the Brazilian in Brazil.
