MMA is so unpredictable that many gamblers find the best returns come from betting on the underdogs.
At UFC on ESPN 15, Mariya Agapova was the -1400 favorite, while Shana Dobson was +800. A bet of say $25,000 on Agapova would earn $1775. By contrast, a $222 bet on Dobson would earn the same $1775 payout.
On Saturday night, Agapova launched a wild windmill attack in Round 1, gassed hard, and was stopped by Dobson via Ground n Pound at 1:38 of Round 2. It was the biggest underdog win in UFC history, eclipsing the -1250 that Holly Holm faced vs. then undefeated Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 in 2015, and the -1300 that Matt Serra faced vs. GSP at UFC 83 in 2008.
Vegas Dave made $240,000 betting $20,000 on Holm. Someone bet $25,000 on Agapova vs. Dobson, but they didn’t bet the dog.
https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/1297347174037151744
At the post-fight press conference, Dobson talked about it.
I stumbled upon the odds last week when I was trying to bet, trying to make some money on the fights last week, said Dobson. And I was like ‘Damn, they really done me!’ So you know, that was a little more fuel in the tank for me.
Dobson was asked if she had a message for the anonymous bettor.
Damn. Sorry man, she replied, laughing. If you bet $25,000 on me, hit me up. Cash at me, gimme some of that!
Dobson did in fact have some extra cash coming at her, as she won an additional $50,000 performance bonus.
h/t Ryan Harkness for MMA Mania
