Account of ESPN taking a large chunk of the action for the Ultimate Fighting Championship has there been an emphasis on top fighters and fights. February 17 is such an example with a lineup that is among the most attractive for the UFC betting odds. Cain Velasquez is one of the biggest names in MMA as a former heavyweight champion. And Velasquez will be heading back to the octagon this upcoming Sunday for a matchup against Francis Ngannou. UFC president Dana White is determined to make the ESPN partnership a success. Certainly this headliner is what the network wants.
UFC on ESPN Ngannou vs. Velasquez
Date and Time: Sunday, February 17, 2019, 5:30 p.m. ET
Location: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
MMA Betting Online Odds: Click Here!
UFC on ESPN Ngannou vs. Velasquez: ESPN
Accordingly, Velazquez has not fought since all the way back in July 2016 due to a series of injuries. He is a favorite with the UFC betting odds because of his reputation of being one of the top heavyweights of all time. “The Predator” has been eager to get back into the octagon for a quest to regain his heavyweight title belt. While the Velasquez camp is confident, they respect the fact that Ngannou hits like a freight train.
Lessons Learned
Velasquez has never forgotten his 2011 loss to Junior dos Santos. As a result, he is training extra hard for Sunday’s showdown. In the second place Velasquez has voiced respect for Ngannou’s strength and power. Overall his career record is 14-2. He has 12 wins by knockout and two by decision. Balanced against that are one knockout and one submission defeat.
Velasquez Numbers to Consider
Last time out for Velasquez was a first round technical knockout win over Travis Browne on July 9, 2016. Certainly, it was a nice recovery that followed a loss to Fabricio Werdum on June 13, 2015. That fight in Mexico City was for the UFC heavyweight championship. Even though Velasquez had successfully defended the title twice he lost by submission to Werdum.
Francis Ngannou
Ngannou is coming off a devastating sportsbook win in which he scored a 45 second knockout win over Curtis Blaydes. In the same way the win helped ease the sting of a lackluster loss to Derrick Lewis last July. At the same time the native of Cameroon is ranked fourth in the world for heavyweights. His career record is 12-3. To be exact he has eight knockout and four submission wins. All three of his defeats have been by decision.
Ngannou Numbers to Consider
Above all Ngannou lost the biggest fight of his career to Stipe Miocic on January 20, 2018. Miocic scored a unanimous decision win for the UFC heavyweight championship.
Matchup to Watch
Ngannou is a capable dog with the UFC betting odds. But Velasquez is a proven champion. Definitely the two-time heavyweight champ has shown the ability to close that Ngannou has not. Most important of all he is motivated to regain his title belt.
UFC Betting Odds Picks
To conclude Cain Velasquez is the proven choice in this one!
UFC Betting Online Pick: Cain Velasquez!
Catch highlights of Cain Velasquez’s win over Travis Browne!