SMUGGLING DUDS UFC 252 GAMBLING GUIDE

This will be the last time Daniel Cormier steps foot in the Octagon. Can he go out with his hand raised or is going to be another defeat at the hands of Stipe Miocic?

Main Card (BT Sport 1)
Stipe Miocic (c) vs. Daniel Cormier (Heavyweight)
Both athletes are coming in with the same odds at the bookies, and do not get us wrong, we love DC and think it would be awesome to see him go out with the belt, but Miocic is the person that for some reason is always over looked, yet always produces the goods. The more we see it, the more we believe the punch DC caught him with in their first bout was a tad lucky. Miocic doesn’t need lucky punches and will throw them in bunches here and he for sure has DC’s number. Will it go down as one of the best trilogies in UFC history? Nah, but at least DC will go out on his shield and still be loved by fans around the world. A career on the mic beckons for Cormier, a career as king of the heavyweight division beckons for Stipe.
WINNER: Miocic
METHOD: KO/TKO

Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera (Bantamweight)
We tried so hard to not fall for the O’Malley hype but could not fight it any longer. If you have money to burn Vera on points is worth a punt but the UFC know they have something special with ‘Suga’.
WINNER: O’ Malley
METHOD: KO/TKO

Junior dos Santos vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (Heavyweight)
Just like his opponent back in the day, Rozenstruik came into the UFC with a terrifying aura. However, just like JDS, that aura was shattered when he was taken out in his first UFC KO loss. Granted it was at the hands of the heaviest hitter in the UFC. Has JDS’ UFC career taken its toll? Absolutely, is he passed it? Possibly. Can he beat Rozenstruik? Yes, but only if he fights smart and at distance. Head hunting in the first round will see him on his back staring at the Apex ceiling.
WINNER: Dos Santos
METHOD: KO/TKO

John Dodson vs. Merab Dvalishvili (Bantamweight)
Many felt TUF 14 champion Dodson had peaked and was not the force he once was. He proved critics wrong in his last performance by stopping highly touted UK star Nathaniel Wood. ‘The Magician’ may not get the stoppage against Dvalishvili but he should get the W.
WINNER: Dodson
METHOD: Decision

Preliminary Card (BT Sport 1)
Jim Miller vs. Vinc Pichel (Lightweight)
A true company man, Miller has represented the UFC since 2008. This is why the UFC tend to match him up with other veterans, also nearing the end of their career. A win over Pichel will solidify the fact Miller is still hungry and we think he gets it.
WINNER: Miller
METHOD: Submission

Ashley Yoder vs. Lívia Renata Souza (Women's Strawweight)
Yoder is a similar fighter to Felice Herrig in the way she has the ability to hang with the best, but once they get out of losing streak, always seem to find themselves back in one. Yoder doesn’t have that edge needed to win fights and has her work cut out against the self-proclaimed ‘Brazilian Gangster’. Maybe it is her time to shine and she proves us wrong.
WINNER: Yoder
METHOD: Decision

Chris Daukaus vs. Parker Porter (Heavyweight)
The UFC have pulled two big heavyweights (you’ll see) from the unknown domestic leagues and handed them a chance to perform in the Octagon – and that they will (again, you’ll see). This will be an all-out barnburner, do not blink, and get ready to shout ‘Timber!’
WINNER: Daukaus
METHOD: KO/TKO

Felice Herrig vs. Virna Jandiroba (Women's Strawweight)
This will be the first time since October 6, 2018 that former Invacta and TUF star Herrig has stepped into the Octagon. A damaged ACL has meant a significant amount of time off. Does ‘Lil Bulldog’ still have what it takes to hang with top 10 straweight fighters? We are not so sure. Herrig has the ability to go the distance here and scrape a decision but the likely scenario will be her opponent getting a hand raised.
WINNER: Jandiroba
METHOD: Submission

Early Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Herbert Burns vs. Daniel Pineda (Featherweight)
Considering he lost his previous outing in the PFL to a failed drugs test, we cannot help but think Penada is back in the UFC purely because he was available and willing to face Herbert Burns.
WINNER: Burns
METHOD: Submission

T.J Brown vs. Daniel Chavez (Featherweight)
A product of Dana White’s Contender Series TJ Brown stumbled in his official UFC debut back in February. Has he shaken off the Octagon jitters? Is it his opponents turn to experience what it is like to step up to the big league? It will be interesting to see but Chavez looks like a bit of an animal.
WINNER: Chavez
METHOD: KO/TKO

Kai Kamaka vs. Tony Kelley (Featherweight)
An evenly matched bout between two new UFC signings. Kamaka to steal a split decision over the Team Alpha Male fighter.
WINNER: Kamaka
METHOD: Decision