The UFC on Wednesday announced a ton of new fights. Here’s my initial thoughts on all of them. Carlos Condit vs. Matt Brown, UFC on FOX 9 The biggest fight announcement of the bunch is a welterweight bout at UFC on FOX 9 between No. 3-ranked Carlos Condit and the surging Matt Brown, who has won six-straight fights. This is an exceptional matchup and should be a “Fight of the Year” candidate when it’s all said and done. That being said, I really like Condit in this one and I think he’ll open as a 3-to-1 favorite, although the public historically hasn’t give him much credit. But they’ve given Brown even less. Danny Castillo vs. Edson Barboza, UFC on FOX 9 Also at UFC on FOX 9 will be a lightweight fight between Danny Castillo and Edson Barboza. This is a good matchup as far as styles go but I was really hoping the UFC would give Barboza someone higher up the ladder. Still, I like him in this fight and I think he should be a -250 or so favorite. Demetrious Johnson vs. Joseph Benavidez II, TUF 18 Finale The UFC flyweight title will be up for grabs as champion Demetrious Johnson takes on Joseph Benavidez in a rematch that will headline the TUF 18 Finale. Johnson was a big underdog against Benavidez at UFC 152, but he will be the favorite here. In my opinion, look for Johnson to open at about -140 or so to the comeback of +110 for Benavidez. And, if that’s the case, I’ll likely be betting on the dog for the upset as I’m strongly leaning Benavidez here to avenge his prior loss to “Mighty Mouse.” CB Dolloway vs. Tim Boetsch, UFC 166 An injury to Luke Rockhold has taken him out of his UFC 166 fight against Tim Boetsch and now “The Barbarian” will fight CB Dolloway. I love Boetsch in this fight and I think if he opens at -200 or so like I expect him to he will be well worth a play this October as Dolloway just really isn’t that good. Tim Elliott vs. Ali Bagautinov, UFC 167 A flyweight bout between Tim Elliott and Ali Bagautinov was booked for UFC 167 and the winner will move one step closer to a title shot at 125 pounds. This should be a good fight but I actually lean Elliott here due to his superior size and feel he should open as a slight favorite of around -150 or so. Gleison Tibau vs. Michael Johnson, UFC 168 A lightweight bout between Gleison Tibau and Michael Johnson was added to UFC 168 and, in my opinion, this is the definition of a Pick ’em fight, just like many of the matches the UFC books him in are. It’s a close fight and I’ll stay well clear of it for a bet unless either guy is available at around +150 or so. Adriano Martins vs. Daron Cruickshank, UFC Fight Night 32 And last but not least, a lightweight bout between Adriano Martins and Daron Cruickshank has been added to UFC Fight Night 32. This should be a competitive fight but I’d lean Martins slightly here, perhaps around -150 or so to a small underdog price of +120 on Cruickshank.
