UFC 237 Namajunas vs. Andrade Fight Card Predictions, Odds
Every once in a while, the UFC has a women’s title fight highlight a big event, and that’s the case on Saturday night from Brazil as Rose Namajunas puts her strawweight belt on the line against Jessica Andrade. The main card is expected to begin at 10 p.m. ET. Here’s a look at it and the Sports Interaction odds.
Rose Namajunas (8-3) vs. Jessica Andrade (19-6)
Division: Women’s strawweight
UFC Betting Odds: Andrade -140, Namajunas +110
Prediction: Namajunas by submission
Namajunas, a 26-year-old from Wisconsin, fought for the inaugural UFC strawweight title in her promotional debut in 2014 but lost to Carla Esparza. Namajunas got another shot at the title in November 2017 at UFC 217 and “Thug Rose” capitalized by beating Joanna Jedrzejczyk by first-round TKO (punches). Those two fought again last April and Namajunas again prevailed, but by unanimous decision. Namajunas allowed Esparza to land five takedowns in their fight, but since then Namajunas has surrendered only one takedown. Andrade, a 27-year-old from Brazil, also has a fight with Jedrzejczyk on her CV, losing by unanimous decision at UFC 211 for the strawweight title. Andrade has won three straight since, last by first-round knockout of Karolina Kowalkiewicz in September 2018. Andrade is a volume striker but also has seven wins by submission.
Jared Cannonier (11-4) vs. Anderson Silva (34-9)
Division: Middleweight
UFC Betting Odds: Cannonier -150, Silva +115
Prediction: Cannonier by KO/TKO
Silva is an all-time MMA great and probably the best middleweight in UFC history as held the title forever. However, the Brazilian – one of that country’s biggest non-soccer sports stars – is 44 these days and way past his prime. The “Spider” has just one victory in his past seven bouts and is coming off a unanimous decision loss to rising star Israel Adesanya in February; had Silva pulled the upset, he was reportedly promised another shot at the middleweight title. Cannonier, a 35-year-old Alaskan, has lost three of his past five and makes a huge step up in terms of name recognition for his opponent.
Jose Aldo (28-4) vs. Alexander Volkanovski (19-1)
Division: Featherweight
UFC Betting Odds: Aldo -130, Volkanovski +100
Prediction: Aldo by TKO
Speaking of Brazilian legends, the 32-year-old Aldo is one of the greatest featherweight fighters in MMA history. He won the UFC title in November 2009 and held it until losing to Conor McGregor in December 2015. “Scarface” won it back at UFC 200 with a win over Frankie Edgar but then followed with back-to-back losses to current featherweight champ Max Holloway. Aldo has since won two straight fights, both by TKO. Volkanovski is a 30-year-old Aussie who is 6-0 since joining the UFC but certainly taking a step up in competition.
Thiago Alves (23-13) vs. Laureano Staropoli (8-1)
Division: Welterweight
UFC Betting Odds: Alves -120, Staropoli -110
Prediction: Alves by decision
Alves, 35, is another perhaps past-his prime Brazilian as he has lost four of his past six. He comes off a split-decision victory over Max Griffin in February. The crowd no doubt will be all over Staropoli as he’s from Argentina and that’s Brazil’s biggest country rival. The 26-year-old made his UFC debut last November and beat Hector Aldana by unanimous decision.
Francisco Trinaldo (23-6) vs. Diego Ferreira (15-2)
Division: Lightweight
UFC Betting Odds: Ferreira -160, Trinaldo +120
Prediction: Ferreira by decision
Both these guys are from Brazil. They fight deep into old age in that country, apparently, as Trinaldo is 40. He has split his past four in the Octagon, last fighting in September of last year and beating Evan Dunham by second-round knockout. It was Trinaldo’s first KO win since 2011. Ferreira, 34, has won four in a row since back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier and Beneil Dariush. Ferreira was last in the Octagon in February and beat Rustam Khabilov by unanimous decision.
