Five Crazy Props is a column featured on MMAOddsbreaker.com after every major MMA event that highlights the biggest underdog prop bets to cash out from that card. Here’s five crazy UFC Fight Night 88 prop bets that cashed big based on the closing odds at Several Bookmakerss. 1) Jeremy Stephens by Decision (+375) Jeremy Stephens gave former UFC Bantamweight Champion Renan Barao a cold welcome into the featherweight division. After dropping the first round, “Lil’ Heathen” got the better of the Brazilian on the feet in the second and third rounds to earn the unanimous nod from the judges’ at Octagon-side. The solid performance puts Stephans back in the win column and allows bettors who took him to win on the scorecards to cash their tickets at a smooth +375. Congrats to you if you were on that one! 2) Abel Trujillo by Decision (+349) Abel Trujillo went the distance with short notice promotional newcomer Jordan Rinaldo and picked up a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards following three back and forth rounds of action. Rinaldi had his moments in the first round but it was Trujillo who took the round, however Rinaldi turned it up in the second and dominated the round, tying things up and easily appearing to be on his way en route to a clear cut 29-28 unanimous decision victory. Rinaldi was a -275 favorite to win in live betting after the second round. Trujillo was the more fatigued fighter in the second frame, but going into the third, Rinaldi did not appear to have much left and the stiff shots “Killa” was landing on the feet were not helping either. Trujillo took advantage and got the better of him for the third round to take home the unanimous nod and allow those who wagered on him to win by decision to cash their tickets at a solid +349. If you hit that, then congratulations! 3) Jake Collier by T/KO (+435) Jake Collier survived a rough first round to defeat UFC newcomer Alberto Uda Pereira via TKO early in the second round of action. It was an impressive, come-from-behind victory for Collier, who suffered a broken nose and was nearly finished early in the opening stanza. This was without a doubt the biggest win of Collier’s professional mixed martial arts career, and after appearing to be a disappointment in the UFC, he may finally be turning things around and performing to his potential. Those who wagered on the former RFA middleweight champion to defeat Uda by T/KO saw their tickets cash at a cool +435, so congratulations are in order! 4) Erik Koch by Submission (+544) Erik Koch returned from a two-year layoff to defeat Canadian striker Shane Campbell via rear naked choke submission in the second round of action. It was a very impressive performance by Koch and a picture-perfect way for him to make his UFC return. Against a tough opponent, no less. Heading into the bout as the underdog, he looked great, appearing to have no cage rust, and managed to pull off a highlight-reel finish. Koch is back and starting to make waves in the UFC’s 155-pound division, and fight fans look forward to his next outing inside the Octagon. I personally wagered on him to defeat Campbell via T/KO +480 and had to rip my ticket up, but those who took him to take the fight by submission cashed at a beautiful +544, so congrats, baby!! 5) Bryan Caraway by Decision (+600) Bryan Caraway put an end to the Aljamain Sterling hype train by surviving a rough first round to come back and win the second and third for a split decision win on the judges’ scorecards. Personally, I scored the bout a Draw, as I thought the first round was clearly a 10-8 for Sterling, while the second and third were 10-9 rounds for Caraway. Regardless, the judges’ did not score it that way and Caraway ended up taking home the W, his second in a row inside the Octagon. Those who took him to win by decision saw their tickets cash at a very nice +600, and I must say, that was a good call, so congratulations are certainly in order! A $100 parlay on these five props would have netted $514,272.
