Here are some early sportsbook online betting lines for the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC 209 on March 4th at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada:
Tyron Woodley +110
Stephen Thompson -130
Woodley
Woodley may be the defending champion but that doesn’t necessarily mean he is the offshore gambling favorite to retain the title – though retain it he did when he first met Thompson at UFC 205 on November 12th, 2016. However, it wasn’t a decisive victory; as a matter of fact, it wasn’t a victory at all. It was a majority draw. two judges scored the fight 47-47 while the third scored it 48-47 in favor of Woodley. Nevertheless, Woodley was content to leave the matter at that and was considering GSP, Nick Diaz, Demian Maia, and Mike Bisping as potential next adversaries. Miffed at the snub, Thompson took to Twitter (as you do) to lobby for a rematch.
“This affair never will go so well”
Take note, kids; peer pressure does work. “He got under my skin so much that I’m just going to go ahead and fight the dude,” Woodley said on an edition of his podcast The Morning Wood Show. Offshore gambling fans love to wake up to Morning Wood. Woodley said to himself, “this affair never will go so well. But why should I try to resist when, baby, I know so well I’ve got you under my skin?” The champ took exception to Thompson’s “entitled” attitude, but even UFC President Dana White was of the opinion that a title rematch was the logical step for both fighters.
DC Wonderboy
As for Thompson, whom the online betting lines favor at the moment, he said that “Tyron Woodley hasn’t seen the best Wonderboy.” No question about it; he’s only familiar with the DC Wonderboy, while the Quality Comics Wonderboy was far superior. Oh, he meant himself. “It was a draw, and I was a little disappointed in myself that I didn’t give it 110 percent,” Thompson added. He shouldn’t be too hard on himself; no one can give more than 100%.
By definition, that is the most anyone can give. And Thompson did give it his all. For example, when Woodley put him in the guillotine choke – also known as the Woods of Justice – Thompson hung in there for more than a minute and eventually broke the hold. Many other and lesser men in that same situation would have instantly tapped out (we’re looking at you, CM Punk). Woodley has promised Thompson a prison beating, but Wonderboy has stated that he’s “got (Woodley’s) number.” Maybe he should’ve just called him, then, instead of tweeting back and forth.
Speaking of calling, Thompson has called Woodley out on his behavior as champion. “It almost seems like he’s happy with a draw, and he’s OK with it. In my eyes, as a champion, I wouldn’t be happy with that,” Thompson said. meanwhile, Woodley is “not cool with the way the fight was promoted, as if I was the challenger.” Online betting lines aside, offshore gambling fans can expect that someone will get put in their place at UFC 209.