It’s been a crazy year for the UFC – in every way imaginable. The promotion was sold to a Hollywood talent agency, Conor McGregor broke multiple pay-per-view records and yet another one of the sport’s all-time greats (Jon Jones) got busted for tainted “dick pills,” joining Anderson Silva in illustrious company.
And in terms of actual fights? Starting with Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit punching each other until they collapsed in January to McGregor’s all-time classics with Diaz, it’s been a helluva ride.
Still Great Fight Picks Left in 2016
There’s just over a month left in the year, but it’s packed with can’t-miss matchups. So while you chill in your sweatpants sweating off all that turkey, take a look at the UFC December fights you’ve got to look forward to in your MMA betting.
We’ve listed all available UFC odds at BookMaker.eu, where you can bet on fights online.
UFC 206 Odds, December 10
Anthony Johnson (+115) vs Daniel Cormier (-145)
If you’re an NBA fan, you drop whatever you’re doing whenever Steph Curry starts channeling NBA JAM “He’s On Fire” mode and tune the hell in. If you’re an MMA fan, you do the same whenever Anthony Johnson steps into the cage. His punching power is a goddamn gift sent from Thor to slaughterpunch the peons who dare oppose him.
I don’t care that Daniel Cormier has already beaten him once. If Johnson is fighting, I’m planting my ass in front of the TV with the genuine concern that he might actually end the life of his opponent.
Doo Ho Choi vs Cub Swanson
If there was a vote to pick the fighter who looks least like an actual MMA fighter, you’d have to think that South Korea’s Doo Ho Choi would be the unanimous top choice. “The Korean Superboy” looks like he’d should be leveling up his World of Warcraft wizard elf mage succubus instead of slinging leather inside the octagon.
But this kid packs more punch than a carton of Hi-C. 10 of his last 11 fights have ended with his opponent waking up in a “wtf just happened” daze. All three of his UFC fights have ended in the first round, adding up to less than five minutes of actual fight time. Now he’s meeting Cub Swanson, a gritty striker who loves a good dogfight. This is gonna rock.
UFC on FOX 22, December 17
Paige VanZant vs Michelle Waterson
Let’s not pretend that a lot of the appeal of this strawweight matchup doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that they are both smoking hot. But take out the superficial aspect of it all, and this is gonna be an awesomely sloppy fight.
VanZant got her ass handed to her by Rose Namajunas, but the beating she took for five rounds earned the respect of her peers. Then she went out a scored a sick head kick KO of Bec Rawlings in a bounce-back fight. Waterson, “The Karate Hottie”, produced Invicta FC’s best fight ever in a wild back-and-forth brawl with Jessica Penne. Pitting VanZant’s raw aggression with Waterson’s scrappiness is a win for all.
Sage Northcutt vs Mickey Gall
I’ve thoroughly explained why this fight is so great in a previous article, but I’ll reiterate with the TL;DR version. IN NO WAY should this fight be so compelling for UFC betting. But you’re talking about a scrap between the 20-year old spiky-haired blonde Ken Doll of the UFC against the 24-year old CM Punk-killing foul-mouthed kid from New Jersey.
It’s like we’re in high school all over again, with the golden boy QB of the football team fighting the school’s leather jacket bad boy in the locker room. If you’re watching this live, how do you not line up around them chanting “Fight! Fight! Fight!” while filming with your cell phone? Or do kids just yell “Worldstar!” these days? And how much did I just age myself with that question?
UFC 207 Odds, December 30
Ronda Rousey -170 vs Amanda Nunes +145
So Rowdy is taking a break from making Lifetime movies about herself to see if she can still be a UFC champion. She probably should have taken the opportunity when Miesha Tate held the belt. Because while Rousey has already (easily) beaten Miesha a few times, the original “UFC’s biggest star” now has to contend with Muay Thai machine Amanda Nunes instead.
You know what Nunes just did? Pummel the motherloving hell out of Miesha Tate in a way that NOBODY has. Against a world-class boxer like Holly Holm, it looked like Rousey watched a few Tae Bo tapes and thought, “my striking’s coo, what’s next”. After that loss, Rousey went through depression, contemplated suicide, got dissed by Lady Gaga and generally disappeared from the public eye. What’s she got planned for her return?
Cody Garbrandt +165 vs Dominick Cruz -210
About a month ago, I wrote a piece detailing why Garbrandt vs. Cruz was the best grudge match you’ve never heard of. And this was before this title match was even announced. Now, every time I check the UFC odds at BookMaker and see this pairing I get a raging fight boner. These guys freaking abhor each other, and that’s what makes this fight awesome.
Grudge matches have disappointed us before. Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans shit-talked each other for an entire season of The Ultimate Fighter and then forced us to watch Evans try to wrestle-hump for an entire fight. But that will not be the case here. Cruz’s monkey-style is just too polarizing, and Garbrandt is the best knockout artist at bantamweight.
Check Back For Fight Previews
We’ve listed odds where available, but a few have yet to release from BookMaker. We’ll keep you posted when they do, and don’t forget to check back during fight week for detailed previews.
For more UFC betting news, check out UFC Underdogs You Should Bet On Now
