The Ultimate Fighting Championship looks to continue a strong start to 2016 later this month (Sunday, January 17) with a thrilling free event which features a bantamweight title bout as well as a battle of top lightweight contenders. The bantamweight title bout features champion TJ Dillashaw against challenger and former champ Dominick Cruz. Cruz never lost the belt, but was instead stripped of his title after suffering multiple devastating knee injuries. He has only fought once since 2011, but looked very impressive in destroying Takeya Mizugaki in the first round. Dillashaw took the title from Renan Barao and has defended it twice, most recently beating Barao again in dominant fashion. The lightweight contender bout features former champion Anthony Pettis against former Bellator champ Eddie Alvarez. Both men are still in their athletic primes and are looking to potentially earn a crack at the UFC title. Pettis in particular could get right back in the picture with a win. Also on tap will be some very fun scraps between Matt Mitrione and Travis Browne as well as a lightweight bout between veterans Ross Pearson and Francisco Trinaldo. Oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting lines for UFC Fight Night 81’s full card today at Several Bookmakers. The main card starts at 10pm ET. ——————– UFC Fight Night 81: Dillashaw vs. Cruz January 17, 2016 | TD Garden | Boston, Massachusetts MAIN CARD FOX Sports 1, 10 p.m. ET *Bantamweight Title* Dominick Cruz +120 T.J. Dillashaw -150 Over 4.5 -175 Under 4.5 +135 — Eddie Alvarez +210 Anthony Pettis -290 Over 2.5 -140 Under 2.5 +100 — Matt Mitrione +150 Travis Browne -190 Over 1.5 +115 Under 1.5 -155 — Francisco Trinaldo +130 Ross Pearson -170 Over 2.5 -165 Under 2.5 +125 — PRELIMINARY CARD FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET Patrick Cote +115 Ben Saunders -155 Over 2.5 +120 Under 2.5 -160 — Chris Wade -290 Mehdi Baghdad +210 Over 2.5 -190 Under 2.5 +150 — Luke Sanders +120 Maximo Blanco -160 Over 2.5 -190 Under 2.5 +150 — Daron Cruickshank +170 Paul Felder -230 Over 1.5 -180 Under 1.5 +140 — PRELIMINARY CARD UFC Fight Pass, 6 p.m. ET Ed Herman +150 Tim Boetsch -190 Over 2.5 +110 Under 2.5 -150 — Augusto Mendes +185 Charles Rosa -265 Over 2.5 +125 Under 2.5 -165 — Sean O’Connell +160 Ilir Latifi -210 Over 1.5 -175 Under 1.5 +135 — Joey Gomez +165 Rob Font -215 Over 1.5 -165 Under 1.5 +125 — Francimar Barroso +125 Elvis Mutapcic -165 Over 2.5 -110 Under 2.5 -130 ——————– Click below to bet the fights now! 
