UFC Vegas 98 Three Best Moneyline Bets
Clayton Carpenter (7-0) vs Lucas Rocha (17-1)
It’s a shame that Carpenter is coming off a long layoff, but he is young enough to still build himself up within the flyweight division. He trains out of The MMA Lab and showcases tremendous potential and talent. From his improving striking game to his relentless grappling and slick BJJ, Carpenter is a threat on all sides. I look forward to seeing him be a little more active now. Reads more UFC Vegas 98 three best moneyline bets.
Rocha pulled off an upset in the Contender Series last year to get his opportunity in the UFC. He is an aggressive striker with some decent BJJ, but he has found himself in trouble in some fights on the mat. Luckily for him he can out last his opponents and still find the win, hence his 17-1 record.
I feel this is a fight where we will see the flaw in Rocha’s game get completely exposed by a fighter who has the gas tank and grappling abilities to do so. It should be a grueling, grappling affair with Carpenter getting the better of most exchanges and winning this on the scorecards. There has been a ton of steam on Carpenter going from -130 to -200, so you can either play him straight or parlay him, he should still get the job done.
The Pick: Clayton Carpenter -200
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Themba Gorimbo (13-4) vs Niko Price (16-7)
Riding a three-fight winning streak, Gorimbo is showcasing a few different approaches to getting things done. From finishing opponents from jump to grinding them out in the clinch and grappling, Gorimbo has shown solid growth in his game. I still believe he is a tad green, and his performances are being over exaggerated, thus the wide line we see this weekend.
Price bounced back from an unfortunate loss to Robbie Lawler by defeating a prior foe for the second time, Alex Morono. Normally relying on big power earlier in his career, Price has matured a good bit in his recent fights, especially his last one where we saw him utilize solid defensive grappling, but also a disciplined striking game from distance.
I was very surprised to see the line as wide as it was, especially considering the experience Price has in the UFC. In my eyes, Gorimbo’s recent performances are being taken without much extra consideration from bettors and I think we could see Price thwart most of his game. Price has the better gas tank and can be cleaner in the striking realm if need be. If Price’s durability holds up, this +310 could look like an absolute steal.
The Pick: Niko Price +310
Jonathan Pearce (14-6) vs Pat Sabatini (18-5)
Seeing Pearce on a losing streak is not something most imagined, especially with the hype that was on him coming into the promotion. Regardless, we must give him credit for looking better in his second loss than the first one during this stretch. Seeing him trust his striking a little more rather than just relying on desperation grappling has helped him manage his gas tank better.
Sabatini was seen as a hype train until running into Damon Jackson and then eventually Diego Lopes in his last fight. The Lopes loss likely looks a lot better now considering the run Lopes is on, but it’s been nearly a year away from action for Sabatini at this point. Strong wrestling, slick BJJ, and crushing top pressure is normally on display when he is at his best.
A ton of action has come in on this line throughout fight week. Starting off roughly around -135, Pearce has ballooned to -185, but I believe it is still a bettable line. I think we’ll see Pearce use his grappling defensively early while using his pace, pressure, and striking to break Sabatini down then finish him in round two or three. Regardless, the moneyline is still good in my eyes.
