Posted on: December 2, 2022, 07:13h.
Final up to date on: December 2, 2022, 07:13h.
UFC Battle Evening is on for tomorrow in Orlando, FL, and a stellar lineup will see Stephen Thompson going through Kevin Holland within the welterweight division. That’s simply one of many many fights out there to bettors, except they stay in Ontario, Canada.
Stephen Thompson delivers a kick to Belal Muhammad of their struggle a yr in the past. Thompson is again within the UFC octagon on Saturday towards Kevin Holland. (Picture: Zuffa)
Thompson (16-6-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) will search to interrupt a shedding streak of two consecutive losses at UFC Orlando. These got here towards Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad, two skilled heavyweight prospects. In each circumstances, Thompson was introduced down by superior wrestling from his opponents. He’s not going to make that mistake once more, and has been training his wrestling strategies forward of the match.
Tomorrow’s preliminary and foremost playing cards are jam-packed with bouts in all classes. Nevertheless, struggle followers can be disenchanted to be taught that Derek Brunson and Jack Hermansson gained’t be doing battle, as Brunson is out attributable to harm.
Thompson Anticipating Hassle
39-year-old Thompson, who has additionally appeared within the Netflix present Cobra Kai, has been in fight sports activities nearly his complete life. He was an achieved kickboxer earlier than transitioning to the MMA. There, he shortly rose within the ranks. Though he missed two alternatives to say the welterweight gold, he’s all the time a favourite succeed.
The 2 fights he misplaced towards Burns and Muhammad, got here solely as a result of his opponents outmaneuvered him, not essentially as a result of they dominated him. His solely KO was in March 2019, when he misplaced to Anthony Pettis.
After shedding two consecutive fights, Thompson actually must win this struggle towards Holland (23-8 MMA, 10-5 UFC). He already threatened to retire as soon as earlier than returning for tomorrow’s match. Sadly for him, DraftKings has Holland in entrance at -170 to his +145.
If he loses, that may very well be the top of his profession. Nevertheless, maybe with the ability to stroll out with actor and musician Jack Black will pump him up and lead him to a win.
Holland, a seven-year vet, is extraordinarily versatile. He prefers to assault together with his legs, but additionally is aware of when to by in some jabs to catch his opponents off guard. One strong hit discovering its goal, and it’s throughout for Thompson.
Additionally on faucet for tomorrow, Marcelo Rojo, certainly one of Argentina’s premier MMA fighters, returns to the UFC octagon. He’s coming into a troublesome match towards an undefeated MMA fighter, Francis Marshall.
With two consecutive losses towards Charles Jourdain and Kyller Phillips, “El Pitbull” can be in command of welcoming Marshall to the UFC. Rojo must enchantment to his best expertise towards the undefeated 6-0 rival.
DraftKings offers this bout to Marshall at -155. Rojo is somewhat rusty, which is why he’s getting +135.
UFC Wins With LaLiga, Fails With Canada
LaLiga North America and UFC introduced a promotional partnership this week. The association will profit each, offering alternatives to interact with followers by social media collaborations, on-site protection, digital content material creation, activations with athletes and extra.
The creation of this partnership stems from an preliminary collaboration between the 2 as Spain’s present LaLiga season was getting underway. UFC fighters Brandon Moreno and Ilia Topuria inaugurated the partnership, touring to Spain to observe a LaLiga match, meet with gamers from Valencia CF and Atlético de Madrid and create content material. That content material later made its technique to the social media channels of LaLiga, the soccer golf equipment and athletic platforms in Europe and North America.
Current considerations that match-fixing is perhaps happening in UFC have value sportsbooks. Canada’s province of Ontario has briefly suspended all sports activities betting on UFC fights, successfully instantly.
The Alcohol and Gaming Fee of Ontario (AGCO) introduced the order yesterday. Because the provincial gaming regulator, it has full management over all the betting exercise that takes place. It isn’t clear how lengthy the suspension will stay in impact.
