Iaquinta vs. Cowboy: UFC Fight Night 151 Odds and Predictions
The main card is expected to begin at 8 p.m. ET. Here’s a look at the main event, two others involving Canadian fighters, and their Sports Interaction UFC betting odds.
Al Iaquinta vs. Donald Cerrone
Records: Iaquinta (14-4-1), Cerrone (35-11)
Division: Lightweight
UFC Odds: Iaquinta -140, Cerrone +110
Prediction: Cerrone by submission
No title fight is on the immediate horizon for the winner with Iaquinta ranked No. 4 and Cerrone No. 8 – the suspended Khabib Nurmagomedov is the champion of the lightweight division. In the fight before he won that belt over Conor McGregor, Khabib beat Iaquinta in April 2018 by unanimous decision; Khabib hasn’t fought Cerrone. The 32-year-old Iaquinta, from New York, bounced back from that loss with a very entertaining back-and-forth unanimous decision victory over Kevin Lee in December. Iaquinta’s clear weakness is on the ground as he has just one submission victory and three of his four losses are by submission.
Cerrone, 36, has won three of his past four following a three-fight losing streak that seemed to indicate the end of his excellent career. “Cowboy” was last in the Octagon in January and took out Alexander Hernandez by second-round TKO (head kick and punches). Cerrone is a terrific wrestler, with 17 of his 35 victories by submission. Cerrone’s 30 fights in the UFC are second-most all-time. It’s his seventh time headlining a card. This should be another entertaining bout as there will be little defence. If it stays standing up, Iaquinta should win. On the mat, Cerrone should.
Derek Brunson vs. Elias Theodorou
Records: Brunson (18-7), Theodorou (17-2)
Division: Middleweight
Prediction: Brunson by decision
Is Theodorou the next Canadian title hope in the UFC? Of course, Georges St-Pierre has retired, and Rory MacDonald’s career is a bit tenuous right now with a loss and draw in his past two fights over in Bellator. The UFC middleweight champ is currently Robert Whittaker and Theodorou is ranked 13th. “The Spartan” is from Mississauga and has won three straight since a unanimous decision loss to Brad Tavares in “The Ultimate Fighter 25” Finale.
Theodorou, 30, comes off a split-decision win over Eryk Anders last December. That’s seven straight bouts for Theodorou that have gone to the judges. Both his losses are by decision. The 35-year-old Brunson is No. 9 in the division. He has lost four of his past six, but against stellar competition in Israel Adesanya, Ronaldo Souza, Anderson Silva and Whittaker. A total of 11 of Brunson’s victories are by KO/TKO.
Brad Katona vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Records: Katona (8-0), Dvalishvili (8-4)
Division: Bantamweight
UFC Odds: Dvalishvili -150, Katona +120
Prediction: Katona by decision
The bantamweight title is currently vacant because champion TJ Dillashaw relinquished it after testing positive for a prohibited substance earlier this year. Dillashaw was also suspended two years. Neither Katona nor Dvalishvili are ranked. “Superman” Katona, 27, lives in Winnipeg. He has that zero in the loss column but hasn’t fought anyone of note and has made just two trips to the Octagon under the UFC banner. Five of his eight wins are by decision.
Dvalishvili, 28, stopped a two-fight losing streak last September with a unanimous decision win over Terrion Ware. Five of his eight wins are by decision.
