The UFC Heavyweight title is on the line tonight as current belt holder Junior Dos Santos faces former champion Cain Velazquez at UFC 155 in Las Vegas, Nevada (MGM Grand Garden Arena). Start time in this evening’s proceedings, which can be seen live on Pay-Per-View, is set for 10:00pm ET. The latest UFC 155: Dos Santos vs. Velasquez Fight Predictions and Odds have the reigning champ listed as a -200 money line favorite ($200 wins $100). Velasquez is drawing +160 odds ($100 wins $160) to regain the heavyweight championship strap.
Junior Dos Santos enters tonight’s scrap with a 15-1 professional record, but he has yet to lose fighting under the UFC banner, posting a 9-0 record inside the Octagon.
The Santa Catarina, Brazil native conquered a host of big name opponents en route to the UFC title, beating the likes of Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve, Mirko Cro Cop, Roy Nelson, and Shane Carwin before taking the belt from Velasquez (first round knockout) in November of 2011.
Dos Santos, who has since defended his title with a second round KO of former champion Frank Mir, owns a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but it is not his ground game opponents fear. The 28 year old possesses a lethal set of hands and has earned 11 of his 15 career victories by way of TKO/KO (six in the UFC).
Despite the result of their first encounter, Velasquez is a major threat to Dos Santos belt. The former Arizona State wrestler is 10-1 as a professional (9-1 UFC) and he is also well versed in the art of scrambling brains.
Velasquez, who endured an extensive rehab period (shoulder surgery) prior to his first meeting with Dos Santos, scored his ninth TKO/KO victory in his most recent fight, a first round destruction of Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva back in May.
With both fighters completely healthy, tonight’s main event showcase should provide the type of evenly matched battle most fight fans anticipated when Dos Santos and Velasquez squared off last November.
Free Pick: Take Velasquez +160. Dos Santos is a deadly knockout artist, but he has not faced a fighter like a healthy Velasquez. Velasquez was Dos Santos prior to their first fight with many questioning who had the tools to beat him. Here’s predicting he regains the belt, providing a nice return for his backers in the process.
UFC 155: Dos Santos vs. Velasquez Fight Predictions and Odds -
Junior Dos Santos -200 vs. Cain Velasquez +160
Jim Miller -200 vs. Joe Lauzon +160
Tim Boetsch -130 vs. Constantinos Philippou +100
Yushin Okami -115 vs. Alan Belcher -115
Chris Leben -170 vs. Derek Brunson +140
Brad Pickett -115 vs. Eddie Wineland -115
Melvin Guillard -140 vs. Jamie Varner +110
Michael Johnson -220 vs. Myles Jury +170
Erik Perez -400 vs. Byron Bloodworth +300
Max Holloway -340 vs. Leonard Garcia +260
Todd Duffee -340 vs. Philip De Fries +260
John Moraga -175 vs. Chris Cariaso +145