UFC Fight Night 40 Date: May 10, 2014 Arena: US Bank Arena City: Cincinnati, OH UFC Fight Night 40 will be live on Saturday with 13 scheduled bouts, including three fights on the UFC’s online network, Fight Pass. If interested in wagering on these fights, or any others on this fight card, these lines will be made available to you at Several Bookmakerss. Here are my plays for the Fight Pass prelims… Featherweight bout: Manny “The Anvil” Gamburyan (+280) vs Nik “The Carney” Lentz (-370) Gabe’s Prediction: I like Gamburyan’s chances in this fight because there really isn’t a threat of being finished, and he’s been focusing more on his roots in his training camp. He had previously been spending most of his training on striking, but has now moved his focus back to his judo and grappling. The only way Lentz wins this fight is if he wins a three round striking battle, which I don’t think is an easy task. Neither featherweight is a world beater on the feet. I don’t think Lentz will find success in taking Gamburyan to the mat, as “The Anvil” possesses solid takedown defense. If anything, I could see Gamburyan taking the fight to the mat and winning rounds that way. Styles make match-ups and this is one I like for Manny. I’m not worried about him being knocked out, submitted, outstruck, or outwrestled, so at +300, I love him for a play. Gabe’s Call: “The Anvil” by Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Manny Gamburyan (+330) 1.5u to win 4.95u, and Gamburyan/Lentz Over 2.5 rounds (-290) parlayed with Justin Salas (-250) for -114 3.35u to win 2.95u Lightweight bout: Ben Wall (+230) vs Justin Salas (-250) Gabe’s Prediction: Salas is the superior grappler and the more well-rounded mixed martial artist. I think his wrestling will play the difference in this bout, as he scores takedowns on Wall and beats him up for three rounds. I expect Salas to be looking for the finish, rather than laying and praying, but I think Wall’s toughness will hold up. He was finished early in the first round in his promotional debut last time out, but I think this time he hangs in there for all 15 minutes. Gabe’s Call: Salas by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Justin Salas (-250) parlayed with Gamburyan/Lentz Over 2.5 rounds (-290) for -114 3.35u to win 2.95u, and Wall/Salas Over 2.5 rounds (-245) parlayed with Albert Tumenov (-220) for +114 1.35u to win 1.55u Welterweight bout: Albert Tumenov (-220) vs Anthony Lapsley (+200) Gabe’s Prediction: This is likely loser goes home match-up for both fighter, unless they both leave it all in the cage in a war of hearts. In short, I think Tumenov is the better mixed martial artist and think he gets his hand raised more often than not. I expect him to get the better of Lapsley on the feet en route to a decision victory, if not using his heavy hands to earn a stoppage. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lapsley grind out a win, but I am not counting on it. The Russian should get his first Octagon win here more often than not, so I think he’s worth a small bit of action in a two-teamer. Gabe’s Call: Tumenov by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Albert Tumenov (-220) parlayed with Wall/Salas Over 2.5 rounds (-230) for +108 1.2u to win 1.3u
