It’s the biggest card in mixed martial arts history Saturday night from the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for UFC 200.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship wanted to do something special for its 200th card and it sure has. There are two title fights — there were supposed to be three — on the UFC 200 fight card and Brock Lesnar will return to the Octagon as one of the most popular and feared heavyweight champions in UFC history. Bet on every fight on Sports Interaction’s MMA odds.
Miesha Tate vs. Amanda Nunes Odds
The other title on the line is the women’s bantamweight belt as champion Miesha Tate (-260) faces Amanda Nunes (+190) in what is now the headline bout of UFC 200. Tate (18-5) took the crown from Holly Holm in March on the McGregor-Diaz card. Holm was winning the fight comfortably before she was taken out by a guillotine choke. Of course Holm took the title last November from the most feared women’s fighter ever, Ronda Rousey. She’s still not physically or mentally ready to fight from that loss and may not at all in 2016. Tate is hoping for a rematch as she has lost twice to Rousey already. Nunes (12-4) has won three fights in a row since a loss to Cat Zingano.
Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt Odds
Finally, Lesnar makes a “one-time” appearance back in the UFC from his pro wrestling with the WWE. He is a +115 underdog on UFC odds against Mark Hunt (-145) in a non-title bout. Lesnar (5-3) is one of five heavyweights in UFC history to defend the heavyweight belt twice. Lesnar said he was retiring from the UFC following an upset first-round loss to Alistair Overeem in December 2011. Few believe that Lesnar won’t fight again in the UFC if he wins this bout. Hunt (12-10-1) is off back-to-back first-round wins over Frank Mir and Antonio Silva.
Daniel Cormier vs. Anderson Silva Odds
The original headline bout at UFC 200 was former pound-for-pound king Jon Jones against Daniel Cormier in a light-heavyweight unification bout. Jones was a -300 favourite on MMA odds with Cormier at +220. However, Jones, a 28-year-old American who is in the discussion with Canadian George St-Pierre and Brazilian Anderson Silva as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in MMA history, tested positive for a banned substance in an out-of-competition sample taken June 16 by USADA. The stunning news came down late Wednesday night that the Jones-Cormier bout was off.
Because UFC 200 is the biggest card in the organization’s history, UFC president Dana White had to do something to save face and he wanted to keep Cormier on the card. Silva was the solution. The Brazilian legend was going to be in Las Vegas regardless to induct his mentor Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira into the UFC Hall of Fame on Sunday. Silva reached out immediately to White once he heard the Jones news offering to fight Cormier. Because Silva is fighting on such short notice, the bout has been shortened to three rounds. It’s also a non-title fight.
The 41-year-old Silva (33-7-1) was once unbeatable, winning a UFC record 16 straight fights and defending his middleweight title 10 times. But those days are long gone as Silva hasn’t won a fight since 2012. Well, he did beat Nick Diaz at UFC 183 in January 2015 but that result was declared a no contest when Silva failed post-fight tests for steroids. Silva last was in the Octagon in February and lost by unanimous decision to Michael Bisping. “The Spider” was to fight Uriah Hall in May but had to pull out to get gallbladder surgery.
Cormier (17-1) is a 37-year-old American. He has won two straight since a unanimous decision loss to Jones at UFC 182, beating Anthony Johnson by third-round submission at UFC 187 and Alexander Gustafsson by a very controversial split decision at UFC 192 in October of last year. Cormier was once one of the best NCAA wrestlers in the United States and a former Olympian. Cormier is a heavy -380 favourite with Silva at +270 on MMA odds. There are no fight props currently available.
Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar Odds
The interim featherweight title is on the line in this bout, with Frankie Edgar at -120 on MMA odds and Jose Aldo at -110. The over/under is 4.5 rounds, with the over a slight -120 favourite.
The true featherweight champion of the world is Conor McGregor and he was originally supposed to headline UFC 200 in a rematch with Nate Diaz. McGregor stepped up in weight to face Diaz in March and was upset. However, McGregor declined to help promote his UFC 200 fight against Diaz in a contract dispute with the organization. So UFC president Dana White scrapped the bout and put Jones-Cormier in as the main event, although McGregor and Diaz will fight at UFC 202 now.
Presumably, the winner between Aldo and Edgar then would fight McGregor later this year if McGregor wants his featherweight belt back. He took it by beating the former champion Aldo in just 13 seconds in December on what Aldo (25-2) claims was a lucky punch. It was the shortest title fight in UFC history and snapped Aldo’s 18-fight winning streak dating to 2005. He had been the featherweight champion since 2009. Aldo, 29, is from Brazil.
Edgar (20-4-1), a 34-year-old American, fought Aldo at UFC 156 in February 2013 and lost by unanimous decision. The scores were fairly close, but most experts believe that Aldo deserved to win. Edgar has won five consecutive fights since, last beating Chad Mendes in December by first-round knockout. Edgar believes Aldo’s shockingly quick loss to McGregor has affected Aldo mentally.
UFC 200 Betting Predictions
Cormier by first-round submission over Silva, who admits he’s not in the best shape at the moment.
Aldo by decision over Edgar, which is +250 on Sports Interaction odds.
Tate by submission at +145 over Nunes.
Hunt by KO or TKO over Lesnar at -140. If Lesnar was in his prime, he would crush Hunt. But Lesnar’s not in his prime.
