UFC Fight Night 42 Date: June 7, 2014 Arena: Tingley Coliseum City: Albuquerque, NM Lightweight bout: Jason High (+250) vs Rafael dos Anjos (-300) Fight Breakdown: The UFC Fight Night 42 main card will be featuring a lightweight match-up between Jason High and Rafael dos Anjos, with High being a +250 ($100 to win $250) betting underdog, and dos Anjos being a -300 ($300 to win $100) favorite at Several Bookmakerss. Jason High (18-7 MMA, 2-1 UFC) will be making his 155-pound debut while riding a two-fight winning streak that came in the welterweight division. He has won nine of his last 10 fights, with the only loss in the stretch coming to Erick Silva via first round submission. High is a talented wrestler who works great takedowns and makes great transitions on the mat. He has excellent top control and works solid submissions, especially chokes. He’s very good at catching the guillotine, as well as working the rear-naked-choke. Training out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, FL, “The Kansas City Bandit” has rudimentary striking but continues to improve in the department. He had good conditioning at 170-pounds, but it’s a slight question mark as to what his cardio will be like at lightweight, and he’s making his debut in the division at high-altitude, no less. Rafael dos Anjos (20-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) will be looking to pick up his 10th Octagon win in his 15th fight with the promotion as he comes off a unanimous decision loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov just over a month ago. The loss snapped a five-fight winning streak for the Brazilian, who is eager to get back in the win column with this immediate turnaround. The 29-year old is a talented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who owns eight wins by tapout. He works excellent submissions, makes beautiful transitions on the mat, and is very good at taking the backs of his opponents; a position he is quite dominant in. To compliment his great skills on the mat, he has begun to hone his striking skills, and can know hold his own on the feet with most strikers in the division. He trains out of Kings MMA in Los Angeles under the tutelage of Rafael Cordeiro and with notable training partners Fabricio Werdum and Beneil Dariush. His conditioning has been on point, so I expect it to hold up for 15 minutes in high-altitude, should the fight go the distance. Gabe’s Prediction: The Brazilian is the superior mixed martial artist but I feel High could manage to get the better of him. I lean towards dos Anjos picking up the win, but I think High is a very live dog. I think he has a decent chance of edging out a submission, and I would also not be surprised to see him catch the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in one of his very tight chokes. That said, it’s more likely dos Anjos submits High, but I think a submission on either end is a real possibility. I slightly lean with dos Anjos edging this out, but think the value is with High. Gabe’s Call: dos Anjos by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Jason High (+250) 1.5u to win 3.75u
