UFC Fight Night: Will aging legend Vitor Belfort pull the upset?
Â
What: UFC Fight Night 106, Vitor Belfort vs. Kelvin Gastelum Â
Where: Centro de Formacao Olimpicade Fortazela, Fortaleza, Brazil
When:Â Saturday, March 11
TV: FS1, main card starts at 10 p.m. ETÂ
Odds: Gastelum (-500), Belfort (+300)
Odds courtesy of Stratosphere sportsbook
This Saturday, a good fight in the middleweight division between Kelvin Gastelum and UFC veteran Vitor Belfort headlines a card from Fortaleza, Brazil.
Gastelum has won his last two fights, the most recent a third-round stoppage over Tim Kennedy last December.
I think oddsmakers are giving Gastelum too much credit for that win, as I feel Kennedy, who was expecting to face Rashad Evans (who was unable to obtain medical clearance to compete), just didn't seem that motivated for the fight.
CBS SPORTS: UFC 209 WAS A SETBACK FOR MMA
Gastelum, who has had trouble making weight at 170, seems to have found a home at 185, but could be in a tough spot here, facing a legend in his own home country.
Belfort, who at 39 is definitely nearing the end of his career , would love to pull off the upset in front of his home country fans.
Belfort has been finished in his last two fights, but don't put too much stock into that as none of his fights have gone to the scorecards since 2007.
Since 2013, Belfort has KO wins over Luke Rockhold, current middleweight champion Michael Bisping and two over decorated veteran Dan Henderson.
The strategy in this fight seems simple, as Belfort will try to turn this into a striking contest . Even at this point in his career, he is still extremely dangerous with both his punches and kicks.
CBS SPORTS: DANA WHITE FIRES BACK AT TYRON WOODLEY
Gastelum probably would do better getting this fight to the ground. But he likely will stand and trade with Belfort, which gives the underdog a real good chance.
Look for the Brazilian to get a huge lift from the crowd, as he is beloved in Brazil, and get the win in a fight that probably won't get out of the first round.
Pick: Belfort (+300)
Lightweights: Edson Barboza (-175) vs. Beneil Dariush (+145)
Also on the card is a fight between two really good lightweights in Edson Barboza and Beneil Dariush.
Barboza is coming of decision wins in 2016 over top lightweights Gilbert Melendez and Anthony Pettis. Barboza has an explosive striking game, but five of his last six fights have gone to the score cards, which could play well into Dariush's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu style.
This looks like a real close fight on paper, but I have to lean toward the underdog Dariush, who has won seven of his last eight fights and can probably grind out another one here.
MMA picks record in 2017: 7-8, -1.70 units
Share This Story