Daniel Cormier (c) vs. Anthony Johnson UFC betting preview
Weight class: Light heavyweight
Notes: For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Sportsbook odds for fans who bet on UFC:
Anthony Johnson – 1½ (-145) -110
Daniel Cormier – 1½ (+125) -110
Cormier defeated Johnson by submission for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 187 on May 23, 2015 in Las Vegas. That was actually DC’s second straight title bout; he had unsuccessfully challenged Jon Jones at UFC 187, but instead of going all the way back to the line he became the No. 1 contender when Jones was stripped of the title. In all fairness, Cormier has made the most of that second chance, retaining the belt against Alexander Gustafsson and winning a non-championship match against Anderson Silva.
Johnson also fell on his feet following his loss to Cormier. AJ has had three consecutive performance-of-the-night knockout wins, against Jimi Manuwa, Ryan Bader, and Glover Texeira – whom he KO’d in 13 seconds, Johnson’s fastest knockout win since 2007.
Chris Weidman vs. Gegard Mousasi UFC betting preview
Weight class: Middleweight
Sportsbook odds for fans who bet on UFC:
Gegard Mousasi – 2½ (-175) -135
Chris Weidman – 2½ (+155) +115
Weidman may have lost his mojo as well as the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 194 after holding it for almost two years. After losing his next match to Yoel Romero by way of the Flying Knee of Doom at UFC 205 on November 12, 2016 in New York City, The All-American has lost two in a row after going 13-0.
Mousasi has won his last four fights. “I know how Chris Weidman’s going to fight,” the Armenian Assassin said on yesterday’s UFC 210 conference call. “He’s going to come forward, he’s going to try to put the pressure on me, work on the cardio, do some wrestling, do some striking.” Hey, take it easy on the spoilers. A win on April 8th could get Mousasi nearer a shot at the middleweight title, though he is well aware that “Yoel Romero is next, he’s the No. 1 contender. I’m just focused on Weidman, to get the win.”
Thiago Alves vs. Patrick Côté UFC betting preview
Weight class: Welterweight
Sportsbook odds for fans who bet on UFC:
Thiago Alves – 2½ (-170) +140
Patrick Cote – 2½ (+150) -160
Alves is 4-6 in his last 10 bouts, including the last two straight – the most recent of which was his first and last lightweight fight (though since he missed weight, does it even count?). Following a unanimous decision loss to Jim Miller at UFC 205 on November 12, 2016 in New York City, Pìçbão decide to return to welterweight – presumably opting for the lesser of two evils.
Cote had a three-fight winning streak snapped by Cowboy Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 89 on June 18, 2016 in Ontario. “At this stage in my career, the matchup is very, very important,” the Predator told the Toronto Sun. ““I know my name is pretty good in the business and I’m not interested in being used to promote a young guy, so if something like that happens I’m just going to quit.” In wrestling-speak, he doesn’t want to job to a younger guy and put him over.