UFC 227 Predictions: Dillashaw vs. Garbrandt 2 Main Card Odds
It’s the last major UFC card of the summer on Saturday night from Los Angeles with two title fights headlining UFC 227. The five-fight main card is expected to begin at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view. Here’s a look at those bouts and their UFC odds.
TJ Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt
Records: Dillashaw (16-3), Garbrandt (11-1)
Division: Bantamweight
UFC Odds: Dillashaw -125, Garbrandt -105
Prediction: Garbrandt by KO/TKO
It’s a rematch between these two Americans in the 135-pound division with Dillashaw putting his belt on the line against the No. 1 contender Garbrandt. It’s hard for a fight that goes less than two full rounds to be called a classic, but when these two battled at UFC 217 last November it was. Dillashaw was dropped in the first round but then battled back to win by second-round TKO (punches). These are terrific strikers and that was on display in the first fight. Garbrandt outlanded Dillashaw 15-9 on significant strikes in Round 1, but Dillashaw had the edge 11-3 in the winning round. Still, Garbrandt has now landed at least one knockdown in all seven of his UFC fights. He’s also five years younger than Dillashaw. In addition, Garbrandt beat Dominick Cruz the bout before he lost to Dillashaw, whose last loss was to Cruz in January 2016. Thus, signs point to a minor Garbrandt upset here and probably a third fight.
Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo
Records: Johnson (27-2-1), Cejudo (12-2)
Division: Flyweight
UFC Odds: Johnson -500, Cejudo +340
Prediction: Johnson by decision
If the champion Johnson wasn’t in the 125-pound flyweight division but middleweight, lightweight or heavyweight he might be the biggest-name UFC fighter out there. “Mighty Mouse” is an all-time great and he hasn’t lost since 2011 to Dominick Cruz. The UFC ranks Johnson as the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter behind light heavyweight and heavyweight dual champion Daniel Cormier. Johnson set the UFC record for most consecutive title defenses with 11 when he beat Ray Borg by submission in October. Johnson already beat Cejudo, a former USA Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, by first-round TKO in April 2016. Cejudo then lost his next fight but has won two straight to get to No. 1 in the division. There’s some talk that Johnson, if he wins, could fight the Dillashaw-Garbrandt winner next.
Cub Swanson vs. Renato Moicano
Records: Swanson (25-9), Moicano (12-1)
Division: Featherweight
UFC Odds: Moicano -340, Swanson +245
Prediction: Moicano by decision
Swanson is ranked No. 5 in the featherweight division and Moicano No. 10 with a bullet. Swanson enters off back-to-back losses, but they were to the legendary Frankie Edgar and Brian Ortega, the No. 1 contender in the division behind champion Max Holloway. The Brazilian Moicano has only lost to Ortega and that fight was close. Moicano, who already owns a victory over No. 4 ranked Jeremy Stephens, bounced back from that defeat with a unanimous decision victory over Calvin Kattar in April. Seven of Moicano’s 12 wins are by decision; 10 of Swanson’s are.
Polyana Viana vs. JJ Aldrich
Records: Viana (10-1), Aldrich (6-2)
Division: Women’s strawweight
UFC Odds: Viana -275, Aldrich +200
Prediction: Viana by submission
Neither fighter is ranked in the strawweight division but that will surely change if Viana keeps rising. “Dama de Ferro” made her UFC debut in February with a first-round submission (rear-naked choke) victory over Maia Kahaunaele-Stevenson. That’s six submission wins for the Brazilian. Aldrich, from the USA, is 2-1 since joining the UFC from Invicta FC. Four of her six wins are by decision.
Thiago Santos vs. Kevin Holland
Records: Santos (17-6), Holland (12-3)
Division: Middleweight
UFC Odds: Santos -435, Holland +300
Prediction: Santos by KO/TKO
Santos is ranked 13th in the stacked middleweight division and the American Holland is unranked. The Brazilian Santos is fun to watch because he generally either wins or loses in style. He was on the wrong end of one of those in April, falling to David Branch by first-round knockout (punches) to end a four-fight winning streak. Twelve of Santos’ wins are by KO or TKO. Holland just won Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series in June with a unanimous decision victory over Will Santiago Jr. for his fourth consecutive win. Holland hasn’t faced anyone of Santos’ caliber yet, however. This could be the most action-packed fight of the main card.