Two bantamweight fighters riding losing streaks will cross paths this weekend in Las Vegas, as Raphael Assunção takes on former champion Cody Garbrandt. Assunção is ranked fifth among fighters in the division, while Garbrandt is no. 9. Read on for more about this intriguing fight, but first register to make your UFC 250 picks below.
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Betting Preview for the Raphael Assuncao vs. Cody Garbrandt Bantamweight Bout at UFC 250 on June 6, 2020
Where: UFC APEX, Las Vegas
When: Saturday, June 6, 2020
Odds: Raphael Assunção (+115) vs Cody Garbrandt (-145)
TV Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass
Betting on Raphael Assuncao (+115)
MMA Record: 27-7-0
Assunção’s window to earn a title shot isn’t as wide as it used to be, especially since he’s no longer a young stud. At 37 years old, Assunção understands he needs to have a sense of urgency. He lost both his last two fights. He lost to Marlon Moraes back in February of last year before losing to Cory Sandhagen in August of 2019. Assunção is not known to force the issue, usually opting to react to what his opponents give him. 37 percent of his wins — or 10 in total — came by way of submissions. He has a solid striking defense, avoiding 70 percent of strikes thrown at him, while also averaging 3.34 strikes landed per minute. Assunção is 5’5”, three inches shorter than Garbrandt, but has a longer reach by one inch. A grappler with a background in Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Assunção also owns 1.54 takedown average.
Betting on Cody Garbrandt (-145)
MMA Record: 11-3-0
Garbrandt has been to the top of the MMA world before as a former champ. Now, he is fighting for relevance in the UFC, as he has lost all of his past three fights. Two of those were to TJ Dillashaw in title bouts. In his last fight, Garbrandt lost to Pedro Munhoz in March of last year. It should also be noted that all those three losses were via knockouts. And knowing Assunção as not much of an aggressive fighter, who only has four knockout wins, Garbrandt could afford to be at least a little bit more aggressive. Garbrandt is not afraid to enter a brawl. He knows he has the knockout power and only needs to be the first one to land a shot squarely, as he’s done in nine fights before in which he ended up with a knockout victory. Garbrandt is averaging 3.53 strikes landed per minute.
Writer’s Prediction
Garbrandt wins via knockout.
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