UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler II Main Card Betting Odds and Predictions
The show is headlined by two championship fights. The co-main event is for the lightweight title when champion Anthony Pettis takes on Gilbert Melendez. The main event will be for the welterweight strap when Johny Hendricks and top-ranked contender Robbie Lawler meet in a rematch.
Three more fights line the main card including a heavyweight attraction between Todd Duffee and Anthony Hamilton.
The final pay-per-view of 2014 may be the best the UFC has offered all year long. The betting odds on the main card are enticing to boot.
We are here to assist you by giving you more information on the action taking place this Saturday. The lines given will continue to move up until the fights take place. Before heading off to risk your hard-earned money, let's take a peek at what you should expect during the main card at UFC 181.
Tony Ferguson (-260) vs. Abel Trujillo (+200)
1 of 5
Lightweights Abel Trujillo (12-5, 1 NC) and Tony Ferguson (16-3) will kick off the PPV on Saturday.
Trujillo comes in having back-to-back wins, and Ferguson has won three straight including an impressive decision win over Danny Castillo.
Ferguson looks to have an edge on paper because of his well-rounded fighting abilities. Trujillo loves to brawl but can get overaggressive. Ferguson is the type of fighter who can counter that effectively to end the fight.
Trujillo's power makes it an interesting fight. He is a very good striker who continues to get better at the Blackzilians camp. If he connects, he will put Ferguson to sleep.
This is going to be a barnburner of an opening fight. Ferguson uses his wrestling to get a decision win, but at plus-200 it isn't a terrible decision to take a chance on Trujillo.
The Play: Take a flier on Trujillo to finish.
Prediction: Ferguson by decision
Todd Duffee (-325) vs. Anthony Hamilton (+250)
2 of 5
Todd Duffee (8-2) returns to the cage after two years away, and he will meet Anthony Hamilton (13-3) to try and extend his win streak to three.
This looks to be a good matchup for Duffee, but we don't know how he will look in his return. That makes it an iffy proposition to take him blindly.
Hamilton is 1-1 in the UFC. Neither of his fights has made him look stellar, but he does have solid power in his hands. This will be a stiff test for him to see if he can make any noise in the heavyweight division.
Duffee is the safe pick, but there is no reason to take a chance by making a play on either fighter.
The Play: Skip this fight.
Prediction: Duffee by TKO
Travis Browne (-325) vs. Brendan Schaub (+250)
3 of 5
This is the most lopsided fight on the main card.
No. 3-ranked heavyweight contender Travis Browne (16-2-1) goes up against unranked Brendan Schaub (10-4).
Schaub put together back-to-back wins before welcoming Andrei Arlovski back to the UFC, and he dropped a decision to the former champion in a lackluster fight. Browne, too, is coming off a loss but to now-interim champion Fabricio Werdum.
The big knock on Schaub has always been his chin. He steps into the cage with one of the hardest hitters in the division.
What are Schaub's paths to victory? Taking Browne to the canvas or slipping in one KO shot. The latter is very unlikely. The former is unlikely too. Browne has good takedown defense. This is a great matchup for the No. 3-ranked fighter in the division to get back in the W column.
At minus-325 it may not be worth playing him, but this is probably as close as you'll get to a lock in the heavyweight division. Browne will knock Schaub out.
The Play: The odds aren't worth a play on Browne.
Prediction: Browne by KO
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Anthony Pettis (-270) vs. Gilbert Melendez (+210)
4 of 5
The lightweight championship bout has all the potential to be Fight of the Night. The stylistic clash between Anthony Pettis (17-2) and Gilbert Melendez (22-3) is a perfect way to get a fan-pleasing title fight.
Melendez failed in his first attempt at the UFC gold when he lost to Benson Henderson in a close decision. Pettis will pose different challenges than Henderson but is also more dangerous.
Pettis is a fantastic striker who has improved on his takedown defense and submission offense. Melendez has good hands, but he will be at a disadvantage standing. If this becomes a firefight, then Pettis would become a big favorite to retain the strap.
I do not expect this fight to be stopped. They are too tough and skilled. Expect 25 minutes of back-and-forth action to come your way on Saturday. Melendez is a live dog. There is more than enough reason to take a chance on him at the current odds. However, I still expect Pettis to walk away as the champion.
This is going to be a good fight.
The Play: Take a shot on Melendez.
Prediction: Pettis by decision
Johny Hendricks (-210) vs. Robbie Lawler (+170)
5 of 5
Speaking of good fights, Johny Hendricks (16-2) and Robbie Lawler (24-10, 1 NC) have already given us a Fight of the Year contender earlier this year. Will the rematch live up to the first encounter?
Doubtful.
Hendricks took a lot of damage in that fight, was nearly stopped and had to rely on his wrestling late to take the title. He learned a lot about Lawler in their bout. He learned enough to go to his roots.
Lawler likely won't change his game plan from the first time. Hendricks will. And that's the difference.
This will still be a quality fight, but not as action-packed as the first battle. I like Hendricks in a decision, and I also like him at the current odds that may continue to fall by bell time. He isn't likely to stop Lawler during the fight, but the grueling grappling will sap Ruthless of his knockout power.
Hendricks continues to be the new king of the division.
The Play: Hendricks
Prediction: Hendricks by decision
Just for Fun Full Card Parlay: Alex White, Sergio Pettis, Ashlee Evans-Smith, Corey Anderson, Eddie Gordon, Urijah Faber, Tony Ferguson, Todd Duffee, Travis Browne, Anthony Pettis, Johny Hendricks
All odds provided by OddsShark.com.
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