UFC 173 took place tonight in Las Vegas, NV, and it proved to be one of the most eventful cards of the year as a number of big underdogs came through in impressive fashion. Overall, five underdogs hit while seven favorites came through. Here’s a betting recap for UFC 173 based on the closing results at Several Bookmakers. UFC 173 Underdogs That Won In the main event of the evening, TJ Dillashaw defeated Renan Barao via fifth-round TKO (head kick and punches) to become the new UFC bantamweight champion. Dillashaw had the performance of his career as he outpointed Barao on the feet for nearly five full rounds before getting the stoppage in the last three minutes of the fight. He cashed as a huge +765 underdog (bet $100 to win $765), while Barao lost as a huge -965 favorite (bet $965 to win $100). In a lightweight bout, James Krause defeated Jamie Varner via first-round TKO (injury). Krause was lighting up Varner on the feet early on, but the former WEC lightweight champ broke his ankle and the fight was stopped after the first round was completed. Krause won at +195 while Varner lost at -215. In another lightweight bout, Mitch Clarke defeated Al Iaquinta via second-round submission (D’arce choke). Although Iaquinta was dominating the first round, Clarke got the shocking sub win in the second and cashed as a +380 dog, while Iaquinta fell as a -430 fav. In a third lightweight fight that ended in an upset, Vinc Pichel defeated Antony Njokuani via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x 2). Pichel’s wrestling was dominant and he scored as a +240 underdog while Njokuani lost as a -260 favorite. And in a welterweight bout, Jingliang Li defeated David Michaud vis split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27). Li controlled the fight with his wrestling to earn a close decision win. He cashed as a +115 dog while Michaud lost as a -125 fav. UFC 173 Favorites That Won In a light heavyweight bout, Daniel Cormier defeated Dan Henderson via third-round submission (rear-naked choke). Cormier dominated the fight with his wrestling and came on late to win the fight with a brilliant stoppage. He cashed as a -750 fav while Hendo lost as a +600 dog. In a welterweight bout, Robbie Lawler defeated Jake Ellenberger via third-round TKO (knee and punches). Lawler won the first two rounds and was well on his way to winning round three but decided to turn it up a notch and get the late finish. Lawler won at -170, while Ellenberger lost at +160. In a bantamweight bout, Takeya Mizugaki defeated Francisco Rivera via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x 2). Mizugaki’s striking and wrestling was better throughout and he deserved to win the decision. Rivera lost at +135 while Mizugaki cashed at -145. In a lightweight bout, Michael Chiesa defeated Francisco Trinaldo via unanimous decision (30-26 x 2, 30-27). Chiesa controlled the fight with a dominant top game to win a clear-cut decision on the judges’ scorecards. Chiesa scored at -150, while Trinaldo folded at +140. In another lightweight bout, Tony Ferguson defeated Katsunori Kikuno via first-round KO (punches). Ferguson absolutely lit up Kikuno on the feet to score a nice knockout victory. Ferguson cashed at -315 and Kikuno lost at +285. In a bantamweight bout, Chris Holdsworth defeated Chico Camus via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3). Holdsworth’s wrestling was fantastic and he dominated on the ground to win a decision. Holdsworth won as a -355 fav while Camus lost at +320. And in a featherweight bout, Sam Sicilia defeated Aaron Phillips via unanimous decision (29-28 x 2, 30-27). Sicilia’s grappling and striking were better throughout and he earned the judges’ nod on the scorecards. Sicilia closed at -140, Phillips +130.
