The UFC is back with their second installment from Fight Island 2.0 with a UFC Fight Night headlined by Holly Holm and Irene Aldana. This is a pretty big fight for the women’s bantamweight division, one that struggles to find contenders to challenge the great Amanda Nunes. The winner here will solidify themselves amongst the top three in the division and could potentially set them up for a number one contender bout early next year. With that being said, let’s take a look at the odds, pick some fights, and win ourselves some money. As always, the odds our provided to us by 5dimes via bestfightodds.com.
Please note that my official plays are at the end of the article, but there are always betting angles that I present in my individual fight breakdowns that may help you make your own picks and win some money.
Odds
Holly Holm (-125) vs. Irene Aldana (+115)
Yorgan De Castro (-235) vs. Carlos Felipe (+215)
Germaine De Randamie (-135) vs. Julianna Pena (+125)
Kyler Phillips (-450) vs. Cameron Else (+400)
DeQuan Townsend (+315) vs. Dusko Todorovic (-345)
Carlos Condit (+112) vs. Court McGee (-122)
Charles Jourdain (-460) vs. Josh Culibao (+410)
Jordan Williams (-120) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (+110)
Loma Lookboonmee (-135) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (+125)
Casey Kenney (-345) vs. Heili Alateng (+315)
Luigi Vendramini (-105) vs. Jessin Ayari (-105)
Preview
Holly Holm (-125) vs. Irene Aldana (+115)
Holly Holm recently lost to the champion, Amanda Nunes, but bounced back in her last bout with a unanimous decision win. Contrast that with her opponent, Irene Aldana, who is coming off of a spectacular first-round knockout victory that saw her win performance of the night. These fighters are looking to keep pace in a thin bantamweight division, a victory here will go a long way to doing that.
Holm, a former boxing champion, is always game to stand and strike with her opponents. She throws nice combinations with legit power behind them. She mixes in hard kicks to the legs and body of her opponents as well. She’s good defensively on the feet. Her head movement, durability, and chin have allowed her to avoid being finished in her nine-year professional MMA career except for her recent loss to Amanda Nunes.
Aldana will look to test Holm’s boxing skills on the feet, which is where she will want this fight to be contested. She has great movement and footwork that allows her to cut off the cage. When in range, it’s all boxing for her. She throws crisp, sharp jabs. She has an incredible lead left hook that can knock anyone out. Even with her high output, she has solid cardio to get through the entirety of the fight.
Two talented boxers engaging on the feet sounds like an entertaining fight, but I do not see the fight going this way. If Holm’s game plan in her last fight is any indication, then this fight will take place primarily in the clinch. Plus this is her best and easiest path to victory. Yes on the feet, Aldana struggles with fighters who kick, especially ones that kick hard. However, she really struggles in the grappling department. Holm is the bigger, stronger, and craftier fighter here. She will look to work in the clinch, where she can wear on Aldana and even take her down. Aldana does not possess good takedown defense and does not offer much when she is taken to the ground. This would be a huge statement win for Aldana if she can knock out or even beat Holm here. It may even give her the next title shot in a thin division. She definitely has the striking to do so, but I don’t think Holm allows her too. I just think Holm’s fighting IQ and size will be the difference. It’s Holm by decision for me.
Yorgan De Castro (-235) vs. Carlos Felipe (+215)
I’m not sure why this is the co-main event, but here we are. You have two heavyweights, in Yorgan De Castro and Carlos Felipe, looking to slug it out in a fight that really shouldn’t see the judge’s scorecards.
De Castro has ridiculous knockout power and moves really well on the feet. He loves to chop down his opponent with heavy, heavy leg kicks. His opponent, Felipe, is a tough, gritty fighter who likes trudge forward. He wants to keep the fight on the feet where he can throw heavy hands.
Felipe’s got power in his hands, but not De Castro’s power. De Castro overall is the better striker with more tools. In particular, his heavy leg kicks. Felipe puts a lot of weight on his lead leg and I think that’s a recipe for disaster in this fight. De Castro has more than enough power to knock Felipe out with punches or to destroy his legs with vicious kicks in route to a TKO victory. Either way, I got De Castro winning this fight via TKO/KO.
Germaine De Randamie (-135) vs. Julianna Pena (+125)
This fight should have been the co-main event, but instead, it’s the featured bout for whatever reason. The stakes in this one are very similar to the main event. Both of these fighters are ranked in the top six in the bantamweight division and a win will help them keep pace in a thin division.
Germaine De Randamie is a long, rangy kickboxer who likes to keep her fights on the feet. On the feet, she throws a multitude of strikes. She throws a good one-two and solid counter hooks, but where she really excels is offensively in the clinch. She utilizes her kickboxing background by throwing varied knees and elbows to her opponent’s head and body. She’s got solid cardio and is very durable.
Julianna Pena is primarily a grappler but does enough in the striking department to work on the feet as well. She’s got solid feints and punches that she ultimately uses to get in on the clinch. Once in the clinch, she looks to get the fight to the ground where she’s got decent top control. She looks to pass and will threaten submissions.
Like the main event, this is going to be close fight where either fighter can legitimately win. Just as I did in the main event, I’m going with the fighter that will ultimately have more success in the clinch and on the ground. De Randamie does not want to be on the ground, she does not do good on the ground, and she has trouble stopping her opponents from getting her to the ground. The pick is Pena via decision but I’m not confident. De Randamie should piece her up on the feet and win, but I’m going with the dog to whether that storm and turn this into a grappling match.
Kyler Phillips (-450) vs. Cameron Else (+400)
This fight goes down in the bantamweight division as Kyler Phillips takes on Cameron Else. Both fighters are looking to keep their winning streaks alive in what should be an entertaining fight.
Kyler Phillips is a good, well-rounded fighter who can excel anywhere the fight goes. On the feet, he’s a technical and explosive fighter. He throws a good one-two that is fast and crisp. He’s got good hooks and uppercuts. He’s got a multitude of kicks that he throws to all areas of his opponent’s body.
Cameron Else is a wild man that has a kill or be killed mentality. From the bell, he pushes forward, taking the center of the octagon. It is there that he throws big, wild winging shots looking to take his opponent out in the first round. He does not care if he gets hit in the process or taken to the ground. On the ground, he threatens submissions and or rushes to get back up.
The pick is Phillips here. As long as he can weather the early storm by Else, he should be able to pick Else apart on the feet. Else does not have good defensive boxing skills, he gets hit easily. If the fight happens to turn into a grappling match, Phillips is better there too. However, I think this fight ends inside the distance with Phillips finishing Else.
DeQuan Townsend (+315) vs. Dusko Todorovic (-345)
DeQuan Townsend takes on Dusko Todorovic in a middleweight bout.
DeQuan Townsend likes to keep his fights on the feet where he will push forward throwing jabs and straights. He will blitz his opponents too, but his defense on entry is not good. He mixes in heavy low kicks that are effective.
Dusko Todorovic has good movement on the feet which is key because he likes to keep his hands down when throwing shots. He’s got good jabs that he often follows up with hooks. He will use his punches to get in on the clinch where he is strong and controls his opponent. In the clinch, he will throw shots to the body and elbows over the top. He’s got good top game if the fight goes to the ground.
Townsend has not looked good in the UFC and has lost all three of his fights. This will likely be his last fight in the organization against the undefeated Todorovic. Townsend often gets controlled against the cage in his fights and I think this fight will be no different. Todorovic will use his strength and clinch game to get a decision victory here. Townsend is tough and durable so I don’t see him getting finished. Todorovic by decision is the pick here.
Carlos Condit (+112) vs. Court McGee (-122)
The welterweight division will see a matchup between two tough, durable fighters in Carlos Condit and Court McGee.
Condit is a fan favorite because of his fighting style and the epic wars that he’s had with the sport’s legends. He’s got great cardio that allows his to continuously push forward and throw an insane amount of output on the feet. He’s creative and that shows with his vast array of strikes for a multitude of angles.
McGee is an ultra tough, durable fighter that loves to dirty up his fights. He’s a grinder that stays in the face of his opponent. He excels in the clinch with his strength and his relentless work rate. On the ground, he’s got good top control and ground and pound.
If this was seven or eight years ago, then Condit would be the easy pick here, but unfortunately for him, it’s 2020 and he’s just not the same fighter. He’s got a suspect chin and he’s not as good at getting off his back as he once was. McGee is tough and hard to finish. He should be able to eat Condit’s shots while pushing forward and looking to get Condit into the clinch. In the clinch, McGee will be able to control Condit and eventually get the fight to the ground where he’ll grind out a victory. The pick is McGee via decision.
Charles Jourdain (-460) vs. Josh Culibao (+410)
This fight goes down in the featherweight division and should be a fun entertaining one as both fighters like to keep it on the feet. They both are technical strikers who use movement really well. They both mix up their striking with combinations and leg kicks.
Even though their styles are similar, their talent level is not. Charles Jourdain is definitely the better fighter here. He’s more technical, more athletic, and the better striker. Jourdain is the pick here.
Jordan Williams (-120) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (+110)
This will be an interesting stylistic matchup that goes down in the middleweight division between Jordan Williams and Nassourdine Imavov.
Williams is a well-rounded, solid fighter. He’s got a great chin that allows him to take a punch in order to give one. He’s aggressive on the feet. He likes to push forward, throwing big shots in route to eventually getting his opponent against the cage. He’s strong in the clinch and will take the fight to the ground if need be, where he will throw heavy ground and pound.
Imavov is an excellent striker on the feet. He’s got great movement and feints. He cuts the cage off well. He throws crisp, precise punches right down the middle. He’s tall and rangy and uses that to his advantage by keeping his opponent on the outside where he picks them apart.
I think this fight will be a close one if Williams has success in the clinch. Outside of that, I think Imavov gets the victory if he can avoid the big shot and keeps this fight standing. I got Imavov here and he could even get the finish inside the distance with his striking.
Loma Lookboonmee (-135) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (+125)
This fight takes place in the strawweight division. Both of these fighters are small for the division as they’re more like atomweights.
Loma Lookboonmee is normally the smaller fighter in her bouts but not here. She does not have to worry about a major size or reach disadvantage against Jinh Yu Frey. She’s the superior striker in this one with over one hundred Muay Thai fights.
Jinh Yu Frey is a tough, well-rounded fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight goes. Although, she primarily keeps her fights on the feet where she throws good head and body combinations.
Lookboonmee is the pick here. She’s the better striker and is never out of a fight no matter the situation. Her strength and striking power will allow her to control most of this fight and win a decision.
Casey Kenney (-345) vs. Heili Alateng (+315)
This fight takes place in the bantamweight division. Casey Kenney is aggressive on the feet. He throws a lot of kicks and punches. He will look for takedowns as well. Heili Alateng is good at striking and grappling. He’s well-rounded. He throws powerful combinations on the feet and is great at timing takedowns.
I’m going with the big underdog here and taking Alateng. I think this will be a very close fight and end in a decision.
Luigi Vendramini (-105) vs. Jessin Ayari (-105)
The opening fight is a lightweight bout between Luigi Vendramini and Jessin Ayari. Vendramini likes to use his grappling skills and grind out wins but he’s got power on the feet in his strikes too. Ayari likes to keep the feet with his striking and is not good on the ground. I’m going with Vendramini. Ayari does not have a good takedown defense and I think Vendramini is able to take him down and finish him. He’s never gone to a decision, all of his fights have been finishes either way.
Official Plays
1U Holly Holm (-125)
1U Court McGee (-122)
1U Parlay: Dusko Todorovic (-345) & Charles Jourdain (-460) & Yorgan De Castro (-235)
