MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas recently released the full main card betting odds for UFC 180 at Several Bookmakers. Here’s a preview of the evening’s five-fight main card. Fabricio Werdum vs. Mark Hunt The main event is a five-round heavyweight bout between Fabricio Werdum and Mark Hunt. Werdum opened as a -300 favorite, Hunt a +220 underdog. Werdum is now -550 while Hunt is +400. I do favor Werdum here but at this point I see value on Hunt as an underdog. No doubt Werdum is the more talented and complete fighter, but Hunt has crazy knockout power and can finish anyone in the world if he hits the sweet spot. I’m picking Werdum, but if the line on Hunt gets any higher I might have to take a stab on him on principle alone. Kelvin Gastelum vs. Jake Ellenberger The co-main event is a three-round welterweight bout between Kelvin Gastelum and Jake Ellenberger. Gastelum opened at -155, Ellenberger +115. Gastelum is now a -230 favorite while Ellenberger is a +170 dog. I like Gastelum and I’m picking him but the line seems a bit at this point. I mean, as good as Gastelum is, Robbie Lawler was cheaper against Ellenberger than Gastelum is, which to me doesn’t make much sense. I think Gastelum finds a way to win this fight but I wouldn’t recommend betting that much juice on him. Dennis Bermudez vs. Ricardo Lamas There is a three-round featherweight bout between Dennis Bermudez and Ricardo Lamas. Bermudez opened at -185, Lamas +145. Bermudez is now -210, while Lamas is +160. This is a competitive fight but I do lean towards Lamas slightly. I know most people like Bermudez but I guess I just haven’t been as impressed with his win streak as some others have. I believe Lamas has the better cardio and he absolutely has the BJJ skills to give Bermudez a problem should this fight hit the mat. I don’t know if I can bet him at +160, but if the line creeps any higher past +200 I’d have to stake a shot on “The Bully.” Jose Quinonez vs. Alejandro Perez The TUF Latin America Bantamweight Final is a three-rounder between Jose Quinonez and Alejandro Perez. Quinonez opened at -265, Perez +185, and the line has stayed steady so far. There seems to be a lot of hype around Quinonez and he should probably win this fight, but we’ve seen time and time again big upsets in TUF finales, which makes laying juice on these guys risky. I’ll pick Quinonez, but laying that much juice looks to be a bad idea. Yair Rodriguez vs. Leonardo Morales TUF Latin America Featherweight Final is a three-rounder between Yair Rodriguez and Leonardo Morales. Rodriguez opened at -185 with Morales at +145, and the line has remained steady so far. Same thing as the last fight, Rodriguez should win but do you want to lay this much juice on a TUF finale knowing the history of underdogs that come through? Just seems like a bad idea to me. Dog or pass.
