Koscheck vs. Hughes Free Pick
DENVER, CO (TheSpread) – The co-main event of UFC 135 on Saturday night is a welterweight showdown between Matt Hughes taking on Josh Koscheck. Here is a look at our pick for this fight.
View Real-Time Sports Betting Odds
According to oddsmakers, Koscheck is the clear favorite to win this fight. He has odds of -600 to beat Hughes while Hughes has a money line of +400 to top Koscheck. UFC 135 takes place from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado and will air live on Pay-Per-View at 9PM ET.
WHY PICK KOSCHECK
Josh Koscheck (17-5) is a tremendous wrestler that uses his wrestling to get into slugfests. Koscheck is the young and superior athlete coming into this bout and his wrestling ability should be able to negate what Hughes can do with his grappling. On the feet, Koscheck has much greater power in his hands and legs than his opponent. In terms of aggression, Koscheck should also be the much stronger fighter and push a harder and faster pace. His opponent, Matt Hughes, is on the tail end of his career and has struggled to beat the top-level talent in recent years.
WHY PICK HUGHES
Hughes (46-8) is a current UFC Hall of Famer and former welterweight champion in the UFC. He is considered by some as the greatest welterweight champion of all time. He has a very intelligent approach to most of his fights and he tends to let his opponent make mistakes and he capitalizes on them. In this fight, he has two options for victory. He can out-wrestle Koscheck, which may be difficult, or he can catch him with a punch, as Koscheck has somewhat of a weak chin. Hughes has some sneaky jabs and hooks that he can land against a wild swinger like Koscheck. Koscheck also took this fight on 19 days notice as Hughes was originally scheduled to face Diego Sanchez, but Sanchez had to back out of the fight due to an injury.
WHO TO PICK?
I don’t see Hughes being able to pull this fight out as Koscheck has a lot more to lose in this one. Koscheck will be smart with this wrestling, using it to keep himself standing and also mixing in a few takedowns. I see Koscheck peppering Hughes with punches and takedowns on his way to a decision victory in an impressive performance.
UFC 135 FREE PICK: JOSH KOSCHECK -600
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