UFC Fight Night 52 Main Card Betting Odds and Predictions
The UFC returns to Japan this weekend for UFC Fight Night 52.
Headlining the six-fight main card is a Top 10 heavyweight tilt between No. 6-ranked Mark Hunt and No. 8-ranked Roy Nelson. It could be one of the most fun heavyweight fights of 2014, but it is not the only exciting fight on the card.
No. 9-ranked lightweight contender Myles Jury takes on Takanori Gomi in the co-main event. And let's not leave out Rin Nakai making her UFC debut against No. 2-ranked contender Miesha Tate.
Let's take a gander at the full main card and its betting odds. All odds information is here to help you make better informed decisions this weekend.
Kyoji Horiguchi (-600) vs. Jon Delos Reyes (+400)
1 of 6
Jon Delos Reyes makes his second trip to the Octagon on Saturday, and he is looking to get back on the winning track. I just don't see it happening.
Horiguchi has not lost since 2012 and is 2-0 in the UFC. This seems like a showcase fight to make him look good and move him up the ladder in the flyweight division, which needs more exciting fighters at the top end.
Look for Horiguchi to dominate this fight whether he gets a finish or not. But at minus-600, there is no value to be had here.
Prediction: Horiguchi
The Play: No value here
Kiichi Kunimoto (-240) vs. Richard Walsh (+190)
2 of 6
This may be the most overlooked bout on the main card. It is a well-matched scrap that could end up taking Fight of the Night.
Kunimoto is 2-0 inside the Octagon and is coming off an upset submission win over Daniel Sarafian. Richard Walsh is 1-0 under the UFC banner and posts an 8-1 professional record.
Walsh has a good chance to win this fight, but this is a step up in competition for him. Is he ready for that? I'm not quite sure, and that is why I lean with the favorite. And at just minus-240, there is a little value to be had on Kunimoto.
Don't go crazy but slide a few toward Kunimoto.
Prediction: Kunimoto
The Play: A small play on Kunimoto
Miesha Tate (-280) vs. Rin Nakai (+220)
3 of 6
I have to be honest: I expected the odds to be a bit more skewed for this fight. I was prepared to tell you to take Nakai. However, the odds are not that out of whack.
At just minus-280, there is no reason to avoid Tate.
Nakai is a live dog and undefeated. Yet she is largely untested. Tate is an elite fighter in this division. Go back to Nakai vs. Tara LaRosa and you can see the holes in her game that Tate can exploit. Nakai had to take down the American to secure a victory, but I don't know if she can do that to Tate.
Tate is the better overall fighter. Nakai can get the victory, but it is not worth the risk. Stick with the favorite.
Prediction: Tate
The Play: Put your money on Tate
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Yoshihiro Akiyama (-175) vs. Amir Sadollah (+145)
4 of 6
It's now or never for both men in this fight.
Akiyama is in the cage for the first time since 2012 and is on a four-fight losing streak. If there is anything to take away from his losing streak, it is that all four were to top-level fighters, and Sadollah is not that.
Sadollah is also fighting for the first time since 2012, and he is coming off a loss to Dan Hardy.
I have a feeling we will be yelling "Sexyama is back!" At minus-175, I think you can play him big and walk away very happy after a dominant performance.
Prediction: Akiyama
The Play: All-in on Sexyama
Myles Jury (-600) vs. Takanori Gomi (+400)
5 of 6
Myles Jury is a heavy favorite for a reason. He is patient and technical—two things Gomi is not.
This is a very good stylistic matchup for the youngster, and this could be the performance he needs to launch him into the elite of the division. Jury could very well be the future of the lightweight class.
With that said, I look at the plus-400 for Gomi and feel like this could be the spot on the card to take a shot. Gomi has big power, and all it takes is one shot to land. He is not the former No. 1-ranked fighter in this division for nothing.
Expect Jury to win, but on the off-chance he gets dragged into a slugfest, I like taking the odds on Gomi just in case he lands.
Prediction: Jury
The Play: A small flier on Gomi
Mark Hunt (-140) vs. Roy Nelson (+110)
6 of 6
I had to do a double, no, a triple take at the odds.
Don't get me wrong, I love Mark Hunt. And if I thought this was going to be a 25-minute slugfest, I may very well pick him and put a bit of scratch on him as well. Nelson only has the big right hand, and a skilled striker like Hunt can avoid that.
The problem I have with taking Hunt is how inept he is at defending submissions. He has been tapped out by far less talented grapplers than Nelson, and his takedown defense is putrid.
Do not buy into this fight being a slugfest. If Nelson wants to look impressive, he can finish Hunt in less than two minutes. Nelson should take this fight down early and submit Hunt without much issue. Take advantage of these ludicrous odds.
Prediction: Nelson
The Play: Back up the Brinks on Nelson
All odds provided by OddsShark.com.
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