UFC Fight Night 35 Predictions

We have another weekday event on Wednesday night in Atlanta, Georgia this week. The UFC Fight Night 35 event doesn’t boast a strong card, but the event is free on Fox Sports 1. The only fight that I really want to see is Luke Rockhold vs. Costas Philippou.

Best Bets for UFC Fight Night 35

• Bet Justin Edwards +133 (SportBet) vs. Ramsey Nijem

Justin Edwards (8-3) is my top underdog on the card this week against Ramsey Nijem (7-4). It’s hard to have much faith in either of these fighters, but Edwards has been slightly better in the UFC. Nijem has been stopped in his last two fights (KO & Submission).

Nijem has been submitted twice and Edwards has six submission wins including one against Neer. Nijem likes to work takedowns and he hits 53% of them while Edwards only stops 27% of takedown attempts, however, I think Edwards will win by submission.

• Bet Charlie Brenneman –157 (SportBet) vs. Beneil Dariush

Beneil Dariush (6-0) is undefeated and will be making his debut in the UFC. Charlie Brenneman (19-5) was cut from the UFC, but is now back after going 4-0 in 2013 with other promotions. Brenneman beats the guys he should, but struggles against top fighters.

He went 4-4 in the UFC in his 1^st stint with losses against Johny Hendricks, Anthony Johnson, Erick Silva and Kyle Noke. None of his losses are that surprising. I expect this to be a fairly easy fight for Brenneman and at these odds I’ll gladly bet on him to win SU.

• Bet Cole Miller –170 (SportBet) vs. Sam Sicilia

Cole Miller (20-8) went 2-1 in the UFC in 2013 and he’s now 9-6 in the UFC in his career. Sam Sicilia (12-3) has won 7 TKO/KO wins in his career including two in the UFC, but he’s just 2-2 in the UFC and he only wins when he is able to connect with a haymaker.

Sicilia doesn’t have much else going for him except his power and he always goes for broke in his fights. Miller has a 6’’ reach edge in this fight and should be able to keep his distance from Sicilia, which will allow Miller to score enough points to win this by UD.

• Bet Rockhold / Dillashaw / Brenneman Parlay +173 (Pinnacle)

I’m also betting on a Luke Rockhold (10-2), T.J. Dillashaw (8-2) and Brenneman parlay, which is paying above evens. I’m still a big fan of Philippou, but even I know it’s very unlikely that he’ll win this fight. Look for Rockhold to keep Philippou pinned to the mat.

Dillashaw fights Mike Easton and this should be an easy win for him. Dillashaw is much more accurate (48% vs. 37%) with his striking and his wrestling is way better. He has never been taken down in the UFC and he averages 3.39 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.

I think Dillashaw can control this fight on his feet or on the ground if he wants to, but I thin he’s best off standing up. I explained why I want to bet Brenneman already and I’m not too worried about him blowing his 2^nd opportunity with the UFC against Dariush.