We take a look at the upcoming UFC 226 event and give our tips and selections for each of the main fights on what looks to be a quality card of UFC. View our UFC 2018 tips and selections below.
Stipe Miocic v Daniel Cormier
Heavyweight Championship, Sunday, July 8, 2pm (AEST), T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada
We are days away from witnessing history courtesy of the UFC and its main event superfight between heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and light heavyweight champion Daniel ‘DC’ Cormier.
When you have two champions both claiming they can beat anyone and that they are the best, there is only one way to determine who walks the talk and the UFC has successfully arranged for this.
Hands down this is the biggest ever heavyweight fight of the sport because the Octagon is pitting together two living legacies to determine who really is the biggest and baddest (literally speaking) of mixed martial arts.
UFC Heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic is the definition of the word ‘conquer’ in MMA.
With his last loss being in 2014, his merits are riding a six-fight win streak including a ‘three-peat’ of successful title defences since devastating former heavyweight champ Fabricio Werdum in 2016 with a first round KO.
It was no shock to Miocic, who wasn’t shy of making public his claim to be the greatest ever, even before his time on the throne.
As the clear-cut favourite walking into the Octagon at 1.40, it’s no surprise the world has put their money where Miocic’s mouth is.
How big of a challenge is this for DC?
UFC light heavyweight champ Daniel ‘DC’ Cormier returns to his original home of heavyweight as he enters the Octagon in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC 226.
Can DC now cut it with the bigger competition of 2018?
With underdog odds of 3.00, I must make the gentle reminder that DC, prior to making his light heavyweight debut in 2014, DC was 13-0 as a heavyweight.
As light heavyweight champ, DC has devastated the scariest fighter to step inside the Octagon against in Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson not once, but twice.
With the exception of his only legitimate loss in 2015, DC is flawless every time he fights.
DC is definitely fair game.
How will the fight play out?
Despite Miocic’s scary statistic of 75 percent takedown defence, I expect DC to mix up his striking with his Olympic level wrestling to get the fight to the ground, where he will force his will and look to hand Miocic his first submission loss.
For Miocic to stay successful, watch for him to rely on his boxing by staying sharp and taking meaningful shots inbetween DC’s openings.
Unibet Odds:
Stipe Miocic $1.40
Daniel Cormier $3.00
Tip: Cormier
Method of victory: Cormier by submission (there were no available odds at the time of publishing)
Total rounds: Under 3.5 ($1.87)
To go the distance: No ($1.75)
Max Holloway v Briant Ortega | Featherweight Championship
For the co-main event of the evening we are given another title fight between featherweights Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway and Brian ‘T City’ Ortega.
How will this fight play out?
We are seeing two of not only the division’s but the combat sport’s most successful finishers.
It is because of this statistic that I expect a cautious and respectful first round from both fighters which is usually a foreboding of a highlight reel to come.
‘T-City’ has surprised us all with his rightful rise in the featherweight division and all the way to a title fight.
However, as long as I’ve been a fan of ‘Blessed,’ he has only shown a sharper side with each time he fights.
The Verdict
The underdog ‘T-City’ will pose no threat to the Hawaiian but rather bring out the best in him, as with those who are successful under pressure.
After his shocking knockout victory over Frankie Edgar, ‘T-City’ proved his punching potential, which leaves Holloway with no surprises.
Unibet Odds:
Max Holloway $1.72
Brian Ortega $2.15
Tip: Max Holloway
Method of Victory: Holloway by TKO/KO (there were no available odds at the time of publishing)
Rounds: Under 3.5 ($1.87)
Gokhan Saki v Khalil Rountree | Light Heavyweight
Gokhan Saki wins this one against Rountree, by pure violence.
Unibet Odds:
Gokhan Saki $1.67
Khalil Rountree $2.20
Tip: Gokhan Saki
Dan Hooker v Gilbert Burns | Lightweight
Gilbert Burns isn’t an easy finish and will be a storm for Dan Hooker.
Unibet Odds:
Dan Hooker $1.72
Gilbert Burns $2.05
Tip: Gilbert Burns