Going head-to-head with the UFC isn’t necessarily the best way to draw in a big crowd, but that’s exactly what World Series of Fighting will be doing this Saturday. WSOF 32 will give fans a chance to catch a pair of title bouts in two of the promotion’s better divisions. The main event will be a rematch of the February 2015 bout between current bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes and Josh Hill, where Hill gave the champion his toughest test. Moraes now has a 9-0 record since joining WSOF, while Hill has posted four straight victories in the 17 months since Moraes handed him his only career loss. The co-main event is another title bout rematch, but in the featherweight division. Former champion Lance Palmer lost his belt to Alexandre de Almeida as a -500 favorite back at WSOF 26 in December. Neither man has competed since, and now they will run it back in an immediate rematch. The odds will be significantly different this time around, as the first fight dictated. The other two bouts on the WSOF 32 main card are noteworthy as well, but for very different reasons. First, Ben Fodor (or… Phoenix Jones, if you want to be THAT guy) is taking on his brother, Caros Fodor. This is like WSOF’s version of Ken Shamrock vs. Frank Shamrock, but it’s actually happening. With the pair being local to the Washingtn area where this card is taking place, this fight should help fill the arena. The opening main card bout is relevant because Phil Hawes is a serious prospect in MMA, and he’ll be facing a significant step up in Louis Taylor. Not many 4-0 prospects face guys with 12-3 records who have Bellator and Strikeforce experience, so this will be a good indication of where Hawes’ game is at. MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting odds for the main card of WSOF 32 today at Several Bookmakers. Take a look: ——————– MAIN CARD (NBC Sports Network, 9pm ET)
——————– Brad’s Analysis: Last time when Moraes fought Hill I was very confident in the Over 2.5. I didn’t expect to get anywhere near the same number this time around, but I do expect the fight to be competitive like it was last time, and likely go the distance. Moraes should still be favored, but not in the nearly 9-to-1 range that he climbed up to last time. Hill’s problem in this matchup is that while he has the technical striking, speed, and power to hang with Moraes early, he can’t keep up the same volume late, and that’s where Moraes will differentiate himself in this fight. Lance Palmer looked absolutely lost against Alexandre de Almeida in their first meeting. Perhaps it was the loss of Duane Ludwig as his striking and head coach, or simply not being familiar enough with his opponent, but Palmer could do nothing on the feet against the Brazilian. Unless he’s more willing to pursue his wrestling, or has made massive improvements in his striking it’s hard to see much changing for Palmer. Either guy as a big dog in this fight is worth a play, but the moving elements from the first bout make it difficult for me to predict outright. Not fading Ben Fodor against Emmanuel Walo was one of my biggest mistakes in betting last year. Luckily, Fodor is facing another competent opponent in a spot where the line may be close. Of course, with the dynamic of this fight it’s extremely tough to bet. Who knows how hard these guys will want to go against one another? What do they know about each other from training? From a technical perspective Caros is the better fighter, but even still, he’d be difficult to lay juice on given the situation. Louis Taylor doesn’t always react well when fighters put pressure on him, and with Phil Hawes’ wrestling he’s definitely going to face some pressure in this fight. However, Taylor is the more complete fighter here and could give the extremely green Hawes some problems. I think Hawes is able to overpower him early and make Taylor wilt, but I’m not supremely confident in it. Still, at the price I think you have to like the prospect.