After an exciting Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale on Friday night, the UFC returns tonight with a loaded UFC 218 card. The main event is rematch between Jose Aldo and Max Holloway. The two first met at UFC 212 in a featherweight unification bout. Max Holloway defeated Aldo by TKO to become the undisputed featherweight champion.
Aldo comes into the fight losing two of his last three fights. Granted the losses were against Conor McGregor and Holloway, but questions loom large regarding his motivation and diminishing skills. Max Holloway on the other hand is riding an eleven fight win streak and enters his rematch against Aldo with a ton of confidence.
The co-main event poses as a title contender eliminator between Alistair Overeem and fast rising Francis Ngannou. Dana White is on record stating the winner of this fight will get Stipe Miocic next. Overeem will make the walk for the fifty-eighth time and a winner in six of last seven fights. Ngannou is 10-1 and only has been fighting professionally for the four years. It’ll be interesting to see how Overeem’s experience vs. Ngannou’s youth plays out in this one.
Also on the main card is Henry Cejudo taking on Sergio Pettis. Cejudo bounced back with an impressive win against Wilson Reis after a two fight skid. Pettis comes into the fight riding a wave of confidence after winning his last four in a row.
TUF 26 coaches Eddie Alvarez and Justin Gaethje square off in what should be an all-out brawl and a fight that most likely won’t make it to the judge’s scorecards. In the main card opener Tecia Torres takes on Michelle Waterson.
The early prelims will air on Fight Pass starting at 5:30PM CT, with FS1 taking over at 7PM CT for the prelims. The main card airs on PPV starting at 9PM CT.
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Here are the current odds and my predictions for each fight.
Note: The predictions in this column do not necessarily mean that I will be betting them. I have changed my mind in the past and gone the other way after conducting more research. For all of my official bets follow me on Twitter @FightChampBlog. You can also find all of my official MMA bets at betmmatips.com. For more information on my MMA bets go to thefightingchampion.com.
Main Card
Max Holloway (18-3) vs. Jose Aldo (26-3) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Current Odds: Holloway -290; Aldo +230
Pick: Holloway by TKO
Alistair Overeem (43-15, 1 NC) vs. Francis Ngannou (10-1) – Heavyweight 265 lbs.
Current Odds: Ngannou -230; Overeem +180
Pick: Ngannou by TKO
Henry Cejudo (11-2) vs. Sergio Pettis (16-2) – Flyweight 125 lbs.
Current Odds: Cejudo -310; Pettis +250
Pick: Cejudo bt Decision
Eddie Alvarez (28-5, 1 NC) vs. Justin Gaethje (18-0) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Current Odds: Gaethje -180; Alvarez +150
Pick Gaethje by Decision
Tecia Torres (9-1) vs. Michelle Waterson (14-5) – Strawweight 115 lbs.
Current Odds: Torres -245; Waterson +195
Pick: Torres by Decision
Prelims
Charles Oliveira (22-7, 1 NC) vs. Paul Felder (14-3) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Current Odds: Oliveira -120; Felder -110
Pick: Felder by TKO
Alex Oliveira (17-3-1, 2 NC) vs. Yancy Medeiros (14-4, 1 NC) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Current Odds: Oliveira -260; Medeiros +210
Pick: Oliveira by Submission
David Teymur (6-1) vs. Drakkar Klose (8-0-1) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Current Odds: Teymur -165; Klose +135
Pick: Teymur by Decision
Felice Herrig (13-6) vs. Cortney Casey (7-4) – Strawweight 115 lbs.
Current Odds: Herrig -125; Casey -105
Pick: Herrig by Decision
Early Prelims
Sabah Homasi (11-6) vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan (7-1) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Current Odds: Alhassan -270; Homasi +215
Pick: Alhassan by TKO
Jeremy Kimball (15-6) vs. Dominick Reyes (7-0) – Light Heavyweight 205 lbs.
Current Odds: Reyes -500; Kimball +370
Pick: Reyes by TKO
Justin Willis (5-1) vs. Allen Crowder (9-2, 1 NC) – Heavyweight 265 lbs.
Current Odds: Willis -210; Crowder +165
Pick: Willis by TKO
Amanda Cooper (3-3) vs. Angela Magana (11-8) – Strawweight 115 lbs.
Current Odds: Cooper -485; Magana +360
Pick: Cooper by decision
Enjoy the fights!
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