UFC Fight Night Odds, Prediction: Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns
After taking a weekend off, the UFC is back in action this Saturday night from the organization’s Apex facility in Las Vegas for a Fight Night card headlined by a welterweight matchup between Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns. That bout likely will begin around 11:30 p.m. ET. Here is a look at the UFC odds and some predictions for the main event.
The UFC is based out of Las Vegas and this will be the first card there since action resumed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The previous three cards all took place in Jacksonville, Fla., with no fans in attendance. That will be the case again Saturday and for the foreseeable future.
Kamaru Usman is the current welterweight champion with Woodley ranked No. 1 in the division and Burns sixth. Woodley is a -200 favourite on the UFC odds board with Burns at +150.
UFC on ESPN 9 Odds: Gilbert Burns vs. Tyron Woodley
The 38-year-old Woodley (19-4-1), an American, is a former welterweight champion. He beat Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 in July 2016 to earn that belt and defended it four times – once drawing against Stephen Thompson. They fought again and Woodley escaped with a majority decision. “The Chosen One” lost the belt in March 2019 in a unanimous decision defeat to Usman.
Woodley was supposed to fight Lawler again in June 2019 but had to pull out with an injury. He was then set to face Leon Edwards this past March but the coronavirus scuttled that. Woodley has won 37 per cent of his fights by KO/TKO and decision, with the other five by submission. Three of his four defeats were by decision. He is +205 to beat Burns by KO, TKO or disqualification, +220 by points and +1400 by submission. Woodley lands 2.50 significant strikes per minute and 1.21 takedowns per 15 minutes. His takedown defence is an excellent 92 per cent.
Burns (18-3), 33, is from Brazil. He has never gotten a title shot in the UFC but might earn one with an upset Saturday. Since losing to Dan Hooker via first-round knockout (punch) at UFC 226, Burns has won five straight. “Durinho” was last in the Octagon in March and beat Demian Maia by first-round TKO (punches).
The majority of Burns’ wins are by submission (44 per cent), while two of his three losses are via decision. His favoured method of victory Saturday at +415 is by submission, with decision at +440 and KO, TKO or disqualification at +525. Burns lands 3.13 significant strikes per minute and averages 2.39 takedowns per 15. Burns’ takedown defence is just 44 per cent.
UFC Fight Night Predictions: Burns vs. Woodley
The over/under for rounds is 4.5, with the under a -125 favourite. That the fight does go the distance is +120 with no at -155. Woodley is an inch shorter than Burns but will have a three-inch reach advantage. Back Woodley by decision.
