UFC Fight Night 171 Odds: Glover Teixeira vs. Anthony Smith

We have mid-week UFC action on tap Wednesday as the organization stages a Fight Night 171 card from VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The main event features Glover Teixeira vs. Anthony Smith in a non-title light heavyweight bout. The main card begins at 9 p.m. ET, and there will be no fans in attendance.

Jon Jones is the light heavyweight champion of the UFC – and the pound-for-pound king – while Smith ranks third in the division and Teixeira eighth. The American Smith is a -195 favourite on the UFC odds board with the Brazilian Teixeira at +150.

The 31-year-old Smith (33-14) is from Nebraska, and these two originally were to fight on April 25 in Lincoln, Neb., but it was pushed back due to the coronavirus. “Lionheart” fought Jones for the light heavyweight title at UFC 235 in March 2019 and surprised many by taking Jones the distance as a huge underdog (although it was fairly one-sided). Jones overcame a two-point deduction for an illegal knee to Smith’s head in the fourth round.

Smith bounced back from that last June by beating Alexander Gustafsson via fourth-round submission (rear-naked choke). The win also earned Smith a Performance of the Night bonus award. It was his fourth such award. Smith hasn’t fought since because he broke his hand in the bout. That necessitated two surgeries.

Glover Teixeira vs. Anthony Smith UFC Odds

A total of 55 per cent of Smith’s wins are by KO or TKO and 36 per cent by submission. Just two by decision. UFC odds that this fight goes the distance is +200 with no at -275. When Smith wins, his fights average 1.2 rounds. When he loses, they average 1.9.

Bettors may remember hearing a story about Smith in early April when an intruder broke into his Nebraska home and the two brawled for a good five minutes. Smith described the ordeal “as one of the toughest fights” of his life and that the invader was “no normal human.”

Teixeira (30-7) is nearing the end of a very good career at age 40. His lone title shot came back in 2014 at UFC 172 against Jones, and Teixeira lost by unanimous decision. He enters on a three-fight winning streak, last in the Octagon in September and beating Nikita Krylov by split decision in Vancouver. Teixeira wins 57 per cent of the time by KO/TKO, 27 per cent by submission and 17 per cent by decision.

He has lost four times by decision and three by KO/TKO – never by submission. Teixeira once won a fight in the Palace Fighting Championship in just five seconds by knockout. His wins average 1.2 rounds and his losses 2.7.

UFC Fight Night 171 Predictions: Teixeira vs. Smith

Smith by second-round KO/TKO.