One of the bouts at WSOF 10 is a three-round featherweight fight between Lance “The Party” Palmer and Nick Lobosco. The current betting line for the fight at Several Bookmakers lists Palmer as a -525 favorite (bet $525 to win $100) while Lobosco is a +415 underdog (bet $100 to win $415). MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas originally opened up Palmer at -600 and Lobosco at +400, and there has been marginal action on the dog Lobosco as the lines have tightened. I think the line on Palmer is just about right and although the betting public is a bit weary of him in this sport I do think he wins this fight. Here’s why. Palmer (7-1) is another stud wrestler out of the Team Alpha Male camp. Only 26 years of age, Palmer looked like he was the next big thing at 145lbs until his last outing, where he lost to Georgi Karakhanyan via third-round submission to lose his chance at capturing the WSOF featherweight title. But with that fight in the rear-view mirror, Palmer now looks to get back on track and he has a golden opportunity to do so this weekend against Lobosco at WSOF 10. With his combination of power wrestling, powerful ground and pound, slick submissions, and improving striking, Palmer is a deserved favorite heading into this weekend’s fight and it’s no surprise his line is where it’s at. Lobosco (7-0) is making his sophomore appearance in the WSOF cage after earning a head kick knockout against Fabio Mello at WSOF 6 last October. Just 29 years of age, Lobosco is a talented striker with knockout power in all limbs and he also has an underrated submission game. The thing is, he hasn’t fought anywhere near Palmer’s level yet and this is by far the biggest test of his young career to date. Although he looks like a promising prospect and although he could win some more fights in the WSOF cage, Palmer seems like a big step up for him and it’s not shocking at all that he enters the fight as a huge underdog. But can he pull off the upset? We’ll have to wait and find out. I think Palmer will use his wrestling in this one to take Lobosco down to the ground and grind him out en route to either a decision victory on the judges’ scorecards or possibly even get a submission victory. At -525 the line on Palmer is high but if it drops down a bit on fight day I would consider parlaying him. I know he disappointed in his last fight but he really is a stud prospect and should get by Lobosco. As well, I lean towards OVER 1.5 rounds at -160 as I believe this fight will go over the seven-and-a-half minute mark.
