It’s not often that you get a card that is this deep with intriguing matchups that actually stays intact heading into fight week. This card not only features Jon Jones defending his light heavyweight title in the main event against a dangerous challenger in Anthony Smith, but it has the makings of being the most entertaining night of mixed martial arts that we’ll see in 2019. UFC 235 goes down this Saturday night from Las Vegas and there are no shortage of betting options for MMA enthusiasts.
How to Bet UFC 235: Odds, Predictions and Picks
Jon Jones (-800) vs. Anthony Smith (+500)
Anthony Smith has the size and length to at least make this interesting, but does he have the talent and fight IQ to have a shot at dethroning Jones. That’s what we’ll find out here. Smith barely has to cut any weight at 205 and feels like this gives him a huge boost when he makes the walk to the cage. He’s looked really good, too, but unless he can sting Jones early with a few big shots to make this a dogfight, he might find out like so many others that Jones is a different type of fighter. Take Jones to finish the fight by TKO/KO if you like the champ and take a shot with Smith scoring a KO finish if you like playing lottery tickets. Remember, nobody thought Ronda Rousey could lose when she was a -900 favourite against Holly Holm and we know how that played out.
Pick: Jones by KO.
Tyron Woodley (-190) vs. Kamaru Usman (+145)
Woodley probably doesn’t get the respect he deserves. He’s fought everyone the UFC has thrown at him in the welterweight division and has handled all comers. Woodley’s bread and butter is his wrestling, but has transformed himself into a scary striker as well. The great thing about this fight is that Kamaru Usman is the same type of fighter as Woodley, building his MMA game on the bedrock of wrestling before branching out to become a strong striker in his own right. Usman is a perfect 9-0 in the UFC and has won decisions over Emil Meek, Demian Maia, and Rafael dos Anjos ahead of this fight. This one could go to the judges.
Pick: Woodley by decision.
Robbie Lawler (+185) vs. Ben Askren (-250)
Ben Askren makes his UFC debut after coming over from One Fighting Championship and faces a stiff test here. If Robbie Lawler catches him with a clean shot, Askren might end up waking up looking at the rafters. However, Askren is obviously well aware of Lawler’s power and will take this fight to the ground.
Pick: Askren by decision.
Tecia Torres (+110) vs. Weili Zhang (-140)
Tecia Torres needs a win here. She’s coming off losses to Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jessica Andrade, both by unanimous decision. Her only other loss was to current straw weight champ Rose Namajunas, so she has a lot of experience against top-notch fighters. Maybe that experience helps her out here against Zhang, who has had just two UFC fights.
Pick: Torres by decision.
Pedro Munhoz (+150) vs. Cody Garbrandt (-190)
It wasn’t so long ago that Cody Garbrandt was walking around with the bantamweight belt. After suffering consecutive knockout losses to T.J. Dillashaw, this should be a good spot for him to get his hand raised again.
Pick: Garbrandt by KO.
