UFC Fight Night 54 Date: October 4, 2014 Arena: Scotiabank Centre City: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns with another double-header on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 53 in Sweden and UFC Fight Night 54 in Nova Scotia. UFC Fight Night 54 will be live from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with a 12-fight card, including a main card that will be live on FOX Sports 1 at 10pm ET. Preliminary action will be getting going on UFC Fight Pass at 7pm ET, then following on FOX Sports 2 at 8pm ET. If interested in wagering on these proposition plays, or any other plays for this fight card, you may do so at Several Bookmakerss. My live dogs for UFC Fight Night 54 in Nova Scotia are: Welterweight bout: Rory MacDonald (-430) vs Tarec Saffiedine (+380) Gabe’s Thoughts: I am in complete disagreement with these betting odds and think Saffiedine has a very good chance of winning this fight. Contrary to popular opinion, I do not think MacDonald is going to dominate him. In fact, I favor the former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion to pick up the victory, almost surely via decision on the judges’ scorecards. While both of these 170-pounders are amongst the best technical strikers in the division, I believe it is Saffiedine who possesses more tools in his striking arsenal. MacDonald will have the size and reach advantage over him, but the fact that I think he is the more sound and versatile technical striker makes me give him the edge on the feet. On the mat, the edge would have to go to the Canadian, as I believe he is the superior grappler of the two. Saffiedine has solid takedown defense and he will need to make sure that holds up in this bout, as he would need to keep things on the feet for a shot at getting his hand raised. I think he will find success in doing so, and favor him to edge MacDonald on the feet for the majority of 25 minutes of action to take the nod from the judges’ over the heavy, heavy hometown favorite. Gabe’s Call: Saffiedine by Unanimous Decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Tarec Saffiedine (+380) 5u to win 19u Lightweight bout: Chad Laprise (-265) vs Yosdenis Cedeno (+245) Gabe’s Thoughts: This is another match-up in which I do not agree with the betting odds, as I think it should be a very close fight. In my opinion, this fight is a real coin-flip, so I have to favor the underdog for a wager, especially at the current betting price of +245. I think there is plenty of value there. Both of these 155-pounders are talented strikers and I don’t believe Laprise is superior to Cedeno in that department; certainly not enough to be a -265 favorite. I could be proven wrong, but I expect this to be a closely contested battle that plays out on the feet for 15 minutes of action en route to a judges’ decision. I feel it really could go either way, but I am going to pick Cedeno to upset the TUF Nations winner. Gabe’s Call: Cedeno by Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Yosdenis Cedeno (+245) 2.35u to win 5.75u
