Indian MMA Fans Will Be Keen To Bet On These Fights On Jan 16
The UFC took a break towards Christmas and has not hosted a fight card for the last few weeks. Indian MMA fans who have been starved for action don’t have to wait anymore as the premier MMA organization in the world is set to return to action on Jan 16.
UFC Lands On Fight Island To Start 2021
The UFC will start 2021 on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, which played such a big role for the UFC in 2020 to host numerous fight cards. UFC President Dana White has scheduled three fight cards in Yas Island to start the New Year.
The first card of the year has some great fights on it, and Indian bettors will be keen to get in on the action. We take a look at some of the key fights and the betting odds.
Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar
Former UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway will headline this card when he takes on the dangerous Calvin Kattar in what could very well be a number one contender fight. Holloway is still regarded by many as the UFC lightweight champ as many believe that he should have won his last fight against UFC champ Alexander Volkanovski.
Holloway is the betting favourite with the odds of 10/17 against underdog Kattar who has 7/5. There is a lot at stake for Holloway, who has lost his last two title fights against Volkanovski. Fans will want to see if Max can bounce back and once again establish himself as the best featherweight on the planet.
Standing in his way is a great boxer in Calvin Kattar. If the two end up making it a striking contest, it could go Kattar’s way. Max Holloway is high on the list when it comes to taking the most head strikes in the UFC – one record that he will not be proud of. Holloway will not want to leave it to the judges as he knows he can get robbed as he did in his second match against Volkanovski.
The heart says Holloway should win, but you might want to put your money on Kattar.
Carlos Condit vs. Matt Brown
A few years ago, this fight would have been an eagerly anticipated fight for MMA fans worldwide. Carlos Condit and Matt Brown are veterans in the sport and are at the end of their careers. This will be the co-main event, and the sportsbooks have Condit as the betting favorite with odds of 4/7 vs. Brown, who has odds of 6/4.
Condit broke his losing streak of 5 losses in October 2020 when he defeated another veteran in Court McGee by decision. Condit looked good in that fight, and it will be interesting to see if he can finish his fight against Brown. Matt Brown hasn’t been very active and lost his last fight in May 2020 when Miguel Baeza stopped him.
We believe Carlos Condit should get the win in this fight.
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Li Jingliang
This will be an interesting matchup as the Argentinean Ponzinibbio takes on the dangerous Chinese fighter in Li Jingliang. Ponzinibbio was once in contention for making a run for the UFC welterweight title, but injuries sidelined him and left him out of action.
He is the betting favorite with odds of 4/11 vs. Jingliang, who has odds of 9/4. Ponzinibbio is a KO specialist, but Jingliang has a strong chin and is known for his toughness. We need to see how Ponzinibbio bounces back after being out of action since October 2018.
We would put our money on Ponzinibbio.
Other Great Fights
The UFC has stacked this card with many interesting fights both on the main card and the prelims. If all the fighters make weight and test negative for COVID-19, expect this one to be a cracker to start 2021.
Indian fans interested in betting on more fights on this card can keep an eye on Joaquin Buckley, who had that impressive KO win that was turned into a meme on social media. Buckley (4/11) is the betting favorite against the gritty Alessio Di Chirico.
The preliminary card’s main fight will see Phil Hawes and Nassourdine Imavov clash in an exciting middleweight bout. Both fighters have impressive records, but Hawes goes in as the betting favorite with odds of 8/11 vs. Imavov 11/8.
The other exciting fight is a heavyweight clash between Justif Tafa and Carlos Felipe. Expect this fight to be a banger as both are heavy hitters. Felipe is the favorite with odds of 8/15 vs. Tafa, who has odds of 13/8.
