UFC Las Vegas Fight Night 7: Betting on Blanchfield vs. Barber: Odds, Tips, Projections, and Recommended Wagers
UFC Vegas 107 Predictions and Analysis
In this weekend's UFC Vegas 107 event, the UFC APEX center will host a card featuring 11 scheduled bouts, with a small audience and a compact 25-foot octagon eagerly anticipating the combatants. The card offers five fights involving men weighing 170 pounds and over. The UFC hopes that the unheralded names will not deter from a potentially exciting display of finishing moves for the spectators.
In the main event, fifth-ranked Maycee Barber and fourth-ranked Erin Blanchfield will face off in a Women's Flyweight (125 pounds) bout. Barber, a UFC veteran, possesses a diverse skill set, having excelled in both Karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Her recent training at Team Alpha Male indicates a renewed focus on improving her wrestling abilities. Barber's striking is sharp, and she demonstrates power that is rare among female fighters, having an average significant strike advantage of 1.80 per five minutes. However, her takedown defense efficiency of 53% raises concern, considering her opponents' wrestling and grappling background. Barber's durability has been a question mark, as her most recent fight was over a year ago, potentially leaving her lacking ring rust.
Blanchfield, on the other hand, focuses primarily on wrestling and grappling. While her striking may not match Barber's, her grappling skills provide a significant advantage. Blanchfield aims to immediately take the fight to the ground, where she flourishes. Despite Barber's striking capabilities, Blanchfield's current odds of -250 make for a steep betting price, but her established record and focus on grappling offer a strong argument for her victory.
In the co-main event, Mateusz Gamrot and Ludovit Klein will battle it out in a Lightweight (155 pounds) event. As a boxer with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expertise, Klein enters the octagon on a four-fight winning streak, having defeated opponents ranked outside the division's top fifteen. An aggressive striker, Klein demonstrates power in his crosses, hooks, and leg kicks, and has shown resilience in the face of heavy blows.
Gamrot, boasting a more prestigious background, has competing against top-tier opponents, including athletes ranked as top fifteen or better. Known for his awkward striking style, Gamrot tends to rely on clinches, cage control, and double-leg takedowns to transition the fight to his advantageous positions. Gamrot's elite-level wrestling and iron will ensure a relentless pursuit of taking Klein down. Klein's takedown defense will be put to the test, as Gamrot's determination has a proven record.
The odds favor Gamrot to win at -160, as his wrestling, extensive experience, and higher-caliber opponents guide this prediction.
In another Women's Bantamweight (135 pounds) fight, Macy Chiasson and Ketlen Vieira are set to go head-to-head. Both fighters are physically imposing, as Chiasson grants Vieira a four-inch height advantage. Vieira, ranked third in the division, is usually the taller contestant but may find herself at a disadvantage this time around. Vieira is a black belt in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is known for her violent approach, often making confrontations grueling and unpredictable.
Chiasson, a younger opponent, boasts brown belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Krav Maga. Unlike Vieira's aggressive style, Chiasson favors evasion and distance control, showcasing her striking at its best when she maintains space. While Vieira enters off a loss to number one-ranked Kayla Harrison, she looks to solidify her position among the top three with a victory against Chiasson.
With odds favoring a decision victory, the question remains which fighter left standing will emerge with the victory. Vieira, previously priced at -145, has seen favorable betting trends since her matchup with Chiasson, hinting at a closely-contested fight.
For the most part, analysts expect vigorous grappling from Blanchfield, a dominating wrestling display from Gamrot, and a strategic striking performance from Chiasson. Vieira's standing tall in the wake of her recent loss, targeting a crack at the Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison Championship winner victory. As always, the odds serve as useful guideposts, but the true test will unfold in the octagon this Saturday.
- Futures bettors might consider placing a wager on Erin Blanchfield in the Women's Flyweight bout at UFC Vegas 107, as she has strong odds of -250 despite facing Maycee Barber, known for her powerful striking but questionable takedown defense.
- In the Lightweight event of UFC Vegas 107, Mateusz Gamrot, with odds at -160, may have the edge against Ludovit Klein due to his wrestling expertise, extensive experience against top-tier opponents, and iron will, although Klein's four-fight winning streak and striking power should not be underestimated.
