UFC 88: Three Best Moneyline Bets
Josiane Nunes (10-1) vs Chelsea Chandler (5-2)
UFC 88: THREE BEST MONEYLINE BETS – Now 3-0 with the promotion, Nunes continues to wow people with her lack of size for these bigger weight classes but still coming out on top. Standing at 5’2”, Nunes throws with absolute heat in all her strikes. The other big knock on her is that she is yet to fight skilled enough grapplers to take advantage of the flaws in her game.
It’s arguable that Chandler may have bitten off more than she could chew in her last fight against the more experienced, Norma Dumont. That snapped her five-fight winning streak and now has her fighting off a loss for the second time in her career. Chandler hails from Stockton, so you know she has her BJJ game in check, which is normally how she can do her best work. She’s strong when she gets ahold of her opponents and she does serious work form top position.
I feel Chandler has good enough durability to deal with the power punching of Nunes, that will allow Chandler to close the distance much easier and start asserting her game. We have seen Nunes in bad positions on the mat before, but she has faced opponents with abysmal gas tanks or not that good of control. Chandler will be the best grappler she has faced since Dione Barbosa, and I feel that will translate to a dominant ground and pound victory for the American.
The Pick: Chelsea Chandler +125
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Gerald Meerschaert (35-17) vs Bryan Barberena (18-11)
This 52-fight veteran makes his 20th walk to the Octagon this weekend while riding a two-fight losing streak. Meerschaert normally looks to drag fights to the mat, which is where he normally has his best success, and smash his opponents from top position until he can open submission opportunities. His striking is a tad slow and still developing, which leads to his opponents successfully countering him and hurting him badly.
Barberena is amid his longest losing streak to date, although the losses have come to stellar competition and up at 185lbs where he has not spent much time. At this stage of his career, he seems content not having to cut weight, but rather just taking fun fights and looking to put opponents out. He has been out-grappled in his last three outings, which many may saw is the biggest flaw in his game.
Although Meerschaert should have a grappling edge here, I think his lack of speed will keep him from getting Barberena down to a position that he can attack with a submission. Barberena should be able to stay safe enough which will allow him to let go with his hands. I suspect he still has enough power in his hands to crumple Meerschaert and earn himself a knockout victory to buck this three-fight losing skid.
The Pick: Bryan Barberena +205
Christian Rodriguez (10-1) vs Isaac Dulgarian (6-0)
In my opinion, Rodriguez is the brightest prospect on the roster. It’s a shame he has struggled to make 135lbs, a weight class in which he would likely be most successful. He is a well-rounded mixed martial artist and does everything in the cage with supreme technique and discipline. From his slick striking to the smooth transitions and scrambles in the grappling realm, Rodriguez is a fighter most will have trouble with.
Dulgarian is a scary prospect considering all his MMA fights, pro and amateur, have never reached the second round. He immediately secures top position with his strong wrestling, then from there he does a great job with working to a dominant position to find the finish. Nobody has been able to stop his takedowns or manage to get back to their feet until he finds the finish.
Of course it’s a scary proposition to bet against someone who has been as dominant as Dulgarian, however I feel Rodriguez will be the toughest test he has ever faced. I think we’ll see Rodriguez present enough issues to Dulgarian off his back which will allow him to get the fight back into the striking realm and touch up Dulgarian. Dulgarian may start to slow down, which will open finishing opportunities for Rodriguez. I’ll happily take a fighter of Christian’s caliber at underdog odds.
The Pick: Christian Rodriguez +165
