Erin Blanchfield vs Jessica Andrade
Erin Blanchfield (12-1) had one of the biggest breakout performances of 2023, beating former UFC strawweight champion Jessica Andrade and officially announcing herself as contender at women's 125lbs. Unfortunately for her, Alexa Grasso's success against Valentina Shevchenko has really slowed her momentum as a possible challenger. Now Blanchfield is being asked to defend her ranking against other surging flyweight contenders.
Blanchfield is set to face Manon Fiorot (11-1) in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot this Saturday (March 30).
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Sterling vs Cejudo :) (How to Bet, How to Watch)
Once upon a time there was a man, a victorious man, who rarely lost. Some claimed he was the greatest, others dubbed him overrated, but gold is gold, and his resume speaks for itself. Henry Cejudo is an Olympic Gold Medalist, and a two division UFC Champion, who's resume is littered with a who's who of world-class talent. With a win over 'Mighty Mouse' Demetrious Johnson, a TKO of Tj Dillashaw, a victory over Marlon Moraes, and a dismantling of Bantamweight G.O.A.T Dominick Cruz, he retired. With two belts, and the feeling of a job well done. In the meantime..
Peter 'No Mercy' Yan beat Jose Aldo for the vacated belt, while Aljamain Sterling beat Cory Sandhagen in a #1 Contender's match, which set up a paradigm shifting encounter between Yan and Sterling in an empty Jacksonville arena. What then ensued is one of the most infamous moments in UFC history.
The bell rings, Sterling comes out strong, mixing up his attacks, confusing Yan, and dictating the pace. Yan patient, counterpunches, knocks down Sterling, and maintains his composure in a round that did not start his way. Sterling, maybe due to nerves, starts to tire out, Yan smells blood. Yan begins to proggressively dismantle Sterling, as Sterling gets more and more and tired, and Yan more and more emboldened. The 4th round starts, and the rest of the fight seems like a mere formality, until.. Sterling is grounded, with his knees on the floor, and Yan throws a variation of a soccer kick, with his knee, and nails Aljamain in the head, which is illegal. Sterling, already gassed, and losing, rolls around, clearly not wanting to return to the fight, and after a couple minutes, and a bit of showmanship on Sterling's part, the fight is called. Aljamain Sterling is the UFC Bantamweight Champion, winning by DQ. Mad.
The time come's for this wrong to be righted in the universe, Yan get's a rematch, and opens as a -450 favorite. Aljamain comes out, as the Champion, and fights a much smarter, more composed fight. R1 was contested, but Sterling clearly won rounds 2, and 3, and Yan won 4, and 5. The judges give the controversial decision to the champion, now 2-0 against his Russian nemasis, and still the UFC Bantamweight Champ. Aljo then gets a test against Dillashaw, who comes in with a hurt shoulder, he dispatches him in two rounds, and still relatively unproven as a Champion gets the biggest test of his career, the career winner Henry Cejudo.
So what happens? Does Cejudo come off a 3 year layoff, and smoke this young champion, who seems to get better everytime he fight? Yes, early ,and here are some picks.
My lock is 'Cejudo inside the distance at -125' for a couple reasons. If the fight goes the distance it's a push (your money is returned), regardless of who wins. Aljo isn't known to stop people, he has, what we in MMA call, pillow hands, and if he were to stop Cejudo, the only way he has stopped people reliably has been by rear-naked choke, and there is no chance he takes Henry's back. If Aljo wins, it's because of youth and athletiscm, and it's in a decision. When Henry wins, it's inside the distance, by TKO.
Henry has stopped Marlon Moraes, TJ Dillashaw, and Dominick Cruz, all in his last 3 fights, and all in the first 2 rounds. Aljo is argueably the most aggressive of the bunch, and is going to look to put a pace on Cejudo, Cejudo is better everywhere, he'll pop him, stuff a takedown, chop his legs, and pit him out. 'Cejudo in 1,2, or 3' is +450, take it and run my friends.
Last but not least is my big money one, 'Cejudo by TKO in R3' at +1600. If I had to choose a specific scenario to happen, it would be this. Aljo is learning, I don't think he's going to run at Cejudo. Cejudo does a nice job of controlling the center of the octagon, he's most likely going to dictate the pace of the fight. Aljo's awkwardness is where he's going to try to level the playing field, but it won't be enough. Cejudo's going to come in, chop the legs, tire him out, and make him panic. I see Aljo starting to frustrate at the end of the second, and Cejudo catching him towards the beginning, or middle of the third. Cejudo by TKO in the 3rd, make some money my friends.
This card is stacked though, and although I don't think any of these other fights need that comprehensive of a breakdown, there are some picks I really like. Jessica Andrade to win at -180 is a good price for one of the best girls in the world. Andrade is a former World Champion, and doesn't look any slower, she should win this one pretty easily, and Gilbert Burns to win at -145. Belal is good, but watch the Leon fight, there are levels, and as good as he is, he isn't great. Burns is, and he's going to make a statement in this fight, take it and run my people, take it and run.
-Freehoneyy
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