McGregor is the underdog vs. RDA
Joey Oddessa: “In this instance, I think he bit off more than he can chew. … Rafael will, however, be carrying with him a size, skill and weight advantage.”
People like to talk odds in MMA, but NO ONE knows more about them than Joey Oddessa who has been making them since UFC 1. He’s a legend. In an interview with MMAjunkie, The oddsmaker explained that UFC lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos? is a -145 favorite over featherweight champion Conor McGregor at UFC 197, and why.
Conor McGregor has defied the odds, and in spite of him being the betting favorite at fight time in all of his previous bouts at the majority of sports books, he enters UFC 197 as a small underdog at +115 in the early lines that are posted almost a dozen weeks out – and rightfully so, said Oddessa. Conor is stepping up a full weight class to challenge Rafael dos Anjos for the lightweight championship after coming off a spectacular, record-breaking knockout of Jose Aldo, who was widely regarded as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Rafael dos Anjos has won 10 of his last 11 bouts, and size and experience do matter. It’s easy to make excuses for Aldo losing the fight, but the fact is Conor proved he is legit. But in this instance, I think he bit off more than he can chew.
European supporters of Conor are going to have to go really heavy to the betting windows to flip Conor to the favorite. Many of the advantages he enjoyed over Aldo, including a year layoff and displeasure with the organization, are two burdens that Rafael won’t have to enter the octagon with. Rafael will, however, be carrying with him a size, skill and weight advantage.
UFC 197, which was originally planned for Rio de Janeiro, is instead expected to take place March 5 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. An official announcement of the card is expected today.
UFC 197 takes place at UFC 197 takes place on March 5 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. UFC women’s bantamweight champ Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate is the co-main.