UFC on FOX Predictions
The UFC returns to FOX tonight for a card in Orlando. Here’s three picks to consider for this card.
Featherweight: Josh Emmett (13-1) vs. Jeremy Stephens (27-14)
According to the latest oddsmakers at YouWager, Stephens is the slight favorite in this bout, as he is getting odds of -165 to win. Emmett is listed with a money line of +135 to prevail. Emmett is looking to make his biggest splash yet in the UFC. He is 4-1 and coming off a KO win over Ricardo Lamas. More of a grinder, the KO was just the fourth of his career. Stephens is a bit of a journeyman who has won his last two fights, including a decision over Gilbert Melendez. His experience is what should help him here. He has fought 15 minutes with the likes of Melendez, Frankie Edgar, Renan Barao and Max Holloway. Those experiences should help in this fight, which will be a grind. I like Stephens to eventually come away with the win over Emmett, who is swimming in new waters. UFC PREDICTIONS: JEREMY STEPHENS -165
Strawweight: Tecia Torres (10-1) vs. Jessica Andrade (17-6)
A tremendous women’s matchup, this should be a real battle. Oddsmakers have Andrade as a -300 favorite, while Torres is getting +230 odds. Torres has just one loss in her career, but she still is looking to really break through with a big win against a top contender. She has a strong striking game with good takedown defense, but she doesn’t really have KO power. Andrade is a monster who has more power in her strikes and a great submission game. She is also more of an aggressor than Torres. She took former champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk 25 minutes. Andrade should have the capability to negate Torres and pick up a decision victory. UFC PREDICTIONS: JESSICA ANDRADE -300
Light Heavyweight: Ovince St. Preux (22-10) vs. Ilir Latifi (13-5)
Oddsmakers see OSP as the favorite with -155 odds while Latifi is listed with a money line of +125 to win. St. Preux has won three straight fights, all by finish. He also is a former top contender before suffering losses to former No. 1 contenders. Latifi is coming off a decision win over Tyson Pedro, but suffered a KO loss to Ryan Bader in his only bout against a legit contender. Latifi has promise, but lacks the big-fight experience that St. Preux has. St. Preux has only lost to some of the best at 205 pounds. I don’t think Latifi is in that mold quite yet. UFC PREDICTIONS: OVINCE ST. PREUX -155