UFC 156 Betting Odds

The fight card for UFC 156 this weekend is amazing and will feature some exciting fights. The main card action starts at 10PM ET on Saturday night and the fights will be coming to us live from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

UFC 156 Weigh-In

UFC 156 Fight Odds & Picks

• Jose Aldo -209 (Pinnacle) vs. Frankie Edgar +187 (Pinnacle)

Jose Aldo (21-1) hasn’t lost since 2005 and he has been fighting some top fighters lately. He’ll have to put his featherweight title on the line this weekend against Frankie Edgar (15-3-1) who’ll be making his featherweight division debut.

Both fighters average roughly 3.5 strikes landed per minute, but Edgar has an edge in takedowns. Aldo is great at stifling takedown attempts, but Edgar should be able to land a couple. At +187 I like the underdog Edgar to upset Aldo and win the title.

• Rashad Evans -445 (BetDSI) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira +400 (5Dimes)

Rashad Evans (17-2-1) lost a 5-round decision to Jon Jones last time out, but I can’t see him losing on Saturday night. Evans will look to get back into the win column against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5) and his wrestling should be good enough to win.

Evans averages 3.7 takedowns per 15 minutes and Nogueira has always struggled against fighters with good takedowns. Betting on this fight SU doesn’t interest me, but Evans should dominate from start to finish and be a great banker on your UFC 156 parlays.

• Alistair Overeem -350 (BetDSI) vs. Antonio Silva +350 (Bovada)

I can’t wait to watch Alistair Overeem (36-11) get back in the cage after over a year hiatus. Antonio Silva (17-4) is a heavy hitter, but he also has proven that he can be knocked out lately, as he has lost 2 of his L3 fights by TKO/KO against Velasquez and Cormier.

Overeem is way better in the stand-up game than Silva. Overeem averages more strikes per minute (3.42 vs. 2.84) and he’s also a better defender. I doubt this fight goes to the ground often, but both fighters are capable of takedowns. I expect Overeem to win.

• Jon Fitch -165 (Ladbrokes) vs. Demian Maia +165 (5Dimes)

Jon Fitch (24-4-1) has had struggles against the top competition, but other than that he has been next to unstoppable. Fitch has a high tempo fighting style that causes fits for fighters, but Demian Maia (17-4) has been great since dropping down to welterweight.

Neither fighter is that active in the stand-up game, but both fighters are great on the ground. Fitch has great wrestling and Maia is great at grappling. I think Fitch would be better off keeping the fight standing up, but I don’t think that’ll happen. I’m betting Maia.

• Joseph Benavidez -225 (Bovada) vs. Ian McCall +220 (Bet365)

Joseph Benavidez (16-3) lost his last fight against Demetrious Johnson, but before that he was 3-0 in the UFC. Ian McCall (11-3-1) is 0-1-1 in the UFC with both his fights coming against Johnson. This fight should be very close and I’ve been switching my mind a lot.

Benavidez hasn’t been that great in the UFC yet while McCall still has many question marks. On paper Ian McCall has an edge in this fight due to his pace. McCall also has excellent takedown defense. At these odds I think the value is on McCall to win the fight.