🥊 How to Bet the Next UFC Vegas Card

The Mile High City welcomed the UFC back to elevation and the fans showed up from minute 1 for what ended up being a sneaky great card!

Plus, we got the biggest storylines, a guide on how to bet the next UFC card and an interesting hot take from a fan…

HEADLINES

🥊Rose Namajunas locked down her spot at the top of the 125lbs division with a dominant win over Tracy Cortez in Denver. She called for a “Female BMF” belt after the win, if not a true 125lbs title shot.

🥊 Nate Diaz is BACK…in the headlines this week as he’s alleging that he’s owed $9M dollars by Fanmio for his win over Jorge Masvidal. We’ll see how this plays out in the courts as Diaz is suing Fanmio and it’s parties.

🥊Fall for Poatan as Alex Pereira revealed on his own YouTube channel that he’d like to wait until November/December to fight again in 2024. Although we love to see him fight, some much-needed time off will do the UFC's current cash cow some good.

Sorry fellas… size DOES matter in MMA👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

UFC DENVER RECAP

Rose Namajunas def. Tracy Cortez (via Unanimous Decision Victory)

THUG ROSE was “Thug Rose” once more as Rose displayed what has made her a perennial all-timer in WMMA against a very game Tracy Cortez at the Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday night.

As I mentioned earlier, the fans showed up from minute 1 for what was a great night of fights, culminating in a 25-minute showdown between two of the baddest women in MMA (at fighting, get your mind out of the gutter).

Rose Namajunas began this fight quite the same way as she ended it, sticking and moving behind the jab and landing the harder, more damaging strikes on Cortez.

Interestingly enough, Rose landed more takedowns (5) than Cortez (2) which was what most expected to be a victory route for Tracy on short notice at elevation in Colorado. Rose did an incredible job at maneuvering the ground positions to always remain out of danger.

Due to her virtuoso-level striking, people forget that Rose came up as a high-level grappler, with 38% of her pro wins by submission.

Ultimately, the “Thug Rose” wave was too much for the tide of Tracy Cortez as all three judges had more rounds for Namajunas

What’s Next for Rose Namajunas?

So, in research for this I saw that Tapology has Rose as “The Riveter”, which I’m not sure if that’s old or what but I kind of love it?

If I’m “Thug Rose” it’s title shot or bust against the winner of Grasso & Shevchenko (rumored to be at the UFC Sphere event in September).

She should certainly consider offering herself to weigh-in as a backup for the slot for that opportunity (and sneaky easy paycheck).

QUICK HITTERS from UFC DENVER

• Salikhov def. Ponzinibbio in a razor-close decision that many thought “Ponzi-Scheme” won. Unfortunately, he drops his 2nd straight as Muslim Salikhov fends off a 3-fight losing streak and likely UFC cut with a dub.

• Jean Silva def. Drew Dober by Doctor Stoppage in Round 3. Listen, I faded Jean Silva in this fight with Dober at dog money. Fade no more, color me wrong that’s for sure. Jean Silva is the real f*ckin’ deal folks. Up a weight class having fought a few weeks ago? Sign me up. All-in on Jean Silva.

• Julian Erosa def. Christian Rodriguez via Guillotine choke in what felt like a very basic BJJ move from “Juicy J”. As a near -400 favorite, C-Rod drops just his second pro fight, the first being a UFC debut against Jonathan Pearce.

How to Bet the Next UFC Vegas Card

Alright folks, new segment time, possibly. We’re coming at you early in the week with some UFC bets to take to the window before the lines start jumping.

THIS WEEK:

• VIRNA JANDIROBA (-135) v. AMANDA LEMOS (+114)

  • The Main-Event at the UFC Apex this weekend is another WMMA matchup that I think goes this full 25 minutes. At -135 ML, and likely a tasty number for a Decision Win, Jandiroba (pronounced Janjy-doba) feels like the play here after recent wins over Lupita Godinez and Marina Rodriguez.

• MOHAMMED USMAN (-135)v. THOMAS PETERSEN (+114)

  • Brother to Kamaru Usman and all bias aside, Mo Usman is a BEAST of a man, the fact he’s only -135 here is shocking but I like him to get it done.

• BILL ALGEO (-166) v. DOO HO CHOI (+140)

  • This one HURTS me to say, it really does, but I think “The Korean Superboy” has his best days behind him. He’s 0-3-1 in his last 4 and hasn’t won a fight since 2016. At only -166 if feels like free money for Algeo… I’m sorry KSB… I love you.

POUND 4 POUND PODCAST

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LISTENER’S HOT TAKES

Thanks for the response Danimal… love the name. Part Dan, Part Animal.

Anyways, do I think gambling on WMMA should be “illegal” as you put it here? No, I don’t… but there is something to be said for just how differently these judges see these fights from their points of view in the cage.

Take this last weekend’s fight for example. Most people I know, including about half a dozen insiders and fighters watching the fight, thought it was a clear 50-45 win for Rose Namajunas. However, 33%, or 1 of 3 judges, thought it was a thin 48-47 margin of victory for Thug Rose. On MMA Decisions, nobody had that score out of 15 noted experts/judges/reporters in the field.

FURTHER, out of 72 public submitted cards, which take this with a grain of salt given the commentary, gambling bias, randomness of knowledge, etc… just 19% of cards had 48-47.

So, should gambling on Women’s MMA be “illegal”… NO, but with over 70% of WMMA fights going to decision, it is a scary proposition to be putting your dollars into the hands of these judges.

Reply to this email and let us know! Also send in your hot takes and we will feature our favorites in the newsletter!

THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT!

Is this the future of MMA??