UFC Fight Night 62 Date: 03/21/15 Arena: Maracanazinho Gymnasium City: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this tomorrow night (Mar. 21st, 2015) with UFC Fight Night 62. The event will feature a 12-fight card that is to be headlined by a five-round welterweight tilt between the Brazilian Demian Maia and New York native Ryan LaFlare. Main card action gets underway on FOX Sports 1 at 10pm, with preliminary action preceding it on the same television channel at 8pm and a pair of bouts coming before that on UFC Fight Pass at 7pm ET. If interesting in wagering on these plays, or any fights on this card, all lines will be made available at Several Bookmakerss. My live dogs for UFC Fight Night 62 in Brazil are: Welterweight bout: Erick Silva (-550) vs Josh Koscheck (+450) Gabe’s Thoughts: Popular opinion is that Koscheck just wants his career to be done with and is only taking this fight for the paycheck. Personally, I am not buying that. I know for a fact that he is A) wealthy enough, and B) smart enough to not agree to further diminish his legacy by potentially sustaining more brain damage for a check that isn’t going to make the slightest dent in his bank account. I believe Koscheck has a ‘Type-A’ personality and does not take well to losing, so I think that Ellenberger loss really left a sour taste in his mouth, and he wants to wash it out with Silva. Part of me thinks Koscheck isn’t done fighting. I think he wants to win this fight and use the victory to resign a new, big fat deal with the UFC. The promotion will 100% oblige, considering that they do not want to let him get scooped up by rival Bellator. I could see Koscheck winning this fight by knockout, submission or decision. I agree that he did not look great against Ellenberger, but I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and chalk that up to Octagon-rust. I think this is a coin-flip fight, and I’m gonna side with “Kos” and definitely keep my fingers crossed. I just think it’s ridiculous that he is a +450 favorite against the always overhyped Silva. Gabe’s Call: Koscheck by KO (punch, 0:35 round 1) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Koscheck (+450) 2.2u to win 9.9u Lightweight bout: Leonardo Santos (+110) vs Tony Martin (-120) Gabe’s Thoughts: If this fight hits the judges’ scorecards, I think the Brazilian will take the nod, even if he doesn’t deserve it. As long as he is somewhat competitive, I think he will take a decision. Call it a gut feeling, call it a hunch, call it what you will, but I feel like Martin needs to finish this fight of overwhelmingly dominate, if he wants to have his hand raised and return home a winner. I do think Santos can be competitive and actually earn a decision, should the fight hit the scorecards, however I think there’s a decent chance he will submit Martin in this fight, especially in later rounds. Martin’s cardio will be something to keep an eye on, and should he fade, Santos’ chances of locking up a finish to earn a tap would greatly increase. This is a close fight, but at +100, I’ll take a shot at the Brazilian veteran in Brazil. Gabe’s Call: Santos by Submission (triangle choke, 2:36 round 3) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Santos (+110) 1.5u to win 1.65u Lightweight bout: Drew Dober (+140) vs Leandro Silva (-150) Gabe’s Thoughts: I think Dober should be a -180 favorite heading into this contest, so I really like him at his current underdog betting tag of +140. I believe there’s some decent value with him in this scrap and will have to make a play. I think he easily outboxes Silva, and while Silva is generally the superior grappler on paper, I could see Dober outwrestling him. I think Dober has a fair chance at finishing Silva, most likely via T/KO, but more often than not he will take this one on the judges’ scorecards following three rounds of action. Gabe’s Call: Dober by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Dober (+140) 3.25u to win 4.55u Lightweight bout: Cain Carrizosa (+145) vs Leonardo Mafra (-155) Gabe’s Thoughts: I like Carrizosa in this spot because while he is the less experienced fighter of the two, I think he is a slightly better fighter with a much better chin. I think he should be a -130 favorite heading into this bout, so at his current underdog price of +145, I like him for a play. I could see him defeating Mafra by submission, knockout or decision, but I am favoring him to end this one inside the distance, most likely with his hands, and not allowing the judges’ to have a say in the outcome. Gabe’s Call: Carrizosa by T/KO (strikes, 1:04 round 1) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Carrizosa (+145) 2u to win 2.9u Flyweight bout: Bentley Syler (-135) vs Freddy Serrano (+125) Gabe’s Thoughts: To put it simply, I expect Serrano to use his much superior wrestling to dominate Syler on the mat for the majority, if not entirety of three rounds of action, ultimately earning his first UFC victory. That said, this fight will start out on the feet, and I give Serrano the advantage there as well, and I think he has a decent chance of knocking Syler out before even attempting a takedown. On that note, I could also see him opting to keep this fight standing and outstriking Syler for three rounds. I think he has numerous routes to victory in this match-up, and love him for a play at his current underdog tag of +125, as I think he should be a -170 favorite heading into this contest. I would have said -230, had this not been his first fight at 125-pounds. Gabe’s Call: Serrano by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Serrano (+125) 3.2u to win 4u
