UFC on FOX Alvarez vs Poirier 2 Odds & Preview

For the second time in organization history, the UFC will stage a card in Calgary. This Fight Night event (UFC on Fox 30) is Saturday from the Scotiabank Saddledome and is headlined by a rematch between lightweight contenders Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier. The main card starts at 8 p.m. ET. Here’s a look at the top fights and their respective UFC odds at MyBookie Sportsbook.

UFC on FOX Alvarez vs Poirier 2 Odds & Preview

• When: Saturday, July 28th
• Where: Scotiabank Saddledome
• TV: UFC Network
• Live Streaming: UFC Fight Pass

Eddie Alvarez (29-5) vs Dustin Poirier (23-5)

• UFC Odds: Dustin Poirier -160 / Eddie Alvarez +135

The winner here could get a title shot at lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov with Alvarez ranked No. 3 and Poirier No. 4. These are two of the division’s most potent punchers. Poirier, the southpaw, has made significant upgrades to his game since moving to American Top Team in Florida. Alvarez has traditionally done well against southpaws in his career, however. Alvarez also has often shown the wrestling roots from which he came, combining his skills with his athleticism to become a formidable threat on the ground. These two fought at UFC 211 and it was shaping up to be one of the best fights of the year until it was ruled a no contest in the second round after Alvarez landed a pair of accidental illegal knees. Poirier has accused Alvarez of not accepting the rematch in the past, and Poirier said in several interviews he was not paid his win money at UFC 211 even though it wasn’t his fault an illegal knee landed. Poirier is riding a three-fight win streak and has called for a lightweight title shot. A former champion, Alvarez surrendered his title to Conor McGregor in a TKO loss in November 2016 and is 1-0 since. Alvarez is the only fighter in MMA history to win titles under the UFC and Bellator banners. Alvarez’s 128-day UFC lightweight title reign was the shortest of any champion in divisional history. Poirier is 7-1 (with one no-contest) since he returned to the UFC lightweight division in April 2015. Poirier has earned all four of his stoppage victories since returning to the lightweight division by knockout. His 15 victories since 2011 in UFC competition are tied with UFC champions Max Holloway and Demetrious Johnson for second most in the company behind Donald Cerrone (20).

Jeremy Stephens (28-14) vs. Jose Aldo (26-4)

• UFC Odds: Jose Aldo -135 / Jeremy Stephens +115

At one point, Aldo was considered an all-time MMA great and maybe the best featherweight ever. However, the 31-year-old Brazilian has lost three of his past four bouts. He is coming off back-to-back TKO losses to current champion Max Holloway (the other to Conor McGregor). Aldo was supposed to fight in Calgary in 2012 but was one of several big names to withdraw from the card. Aldo competes in a three-round fight for the first time in his UFC career and the first time overall since WEC 41 in June 2009. Aldo is the only two-time UFC featherweight titleholder in history and one of seven overall in company history to have two reigns in a single weight class. Aldo’s nine stoppage victories in UFC/WEC featherweight competition are tied with Max Holloway for most in combined divisional history. Stephens is riding a three-fight win streak. He knocked out Josh Emmett in a UFC Fight Night main event in February. The 32-year-old Stephens looks poised for the first time in his career to evolve from dangerous slugger with an all-or-nothing mentality to a calculated finisher. Stephens makes his 29th UFC appearance, tied for most in company history behind Michael Bisping (29) and Jim Miller (29). Stephens is 8-5 since he dropped to the UFC featherweight division in May 2013. Stephens’ 18 knockdowns landed in UFC competition are tied with Anderson Silva for most in company history. Stephens’ 11 knockdowns landed in UFC featherweight competition are most in divisional history.

Tecia Torres (10-2) vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (14-2)

• UFC Odds: Jedrzejczyk -300, Torres +240

Jedrzejczyk, from Poland, is coming off back-to-back losses to current strawweight champion Rose Namajunas. The Polish strawweight is still considered one of the best fighters in the world, and she felt she did enough to win their five-round rematch at UFC 223 in April. Jedrzejczyk was 8-0 in the UFC and one win away from tying Ronda Rousey’s all-time female record of six consecutive title defenses before those losses. Jedrzejczyk became the first Polish-born champion in UFC history when she defeated Carla Esparza at UFC 185. Jedrzejczyk has earned nine of her 14 career victories by decision. That includes six of her eight UFC wins. Jedrzejczyk has out-landed her opponents 1,121-448 in significant strikes over her past eight UFC appearances. Torres is coming off a decision loss to Jessica Andrade in February, ending a three-fight winning streak. Torres has earned nine of her 10 career victories by decision. She defends 66.1 percent of all opponent significant strike attempts in UFC strawweight competition, the second rate in divisional history.

Expert UFC Odds Predictions

Alvarez upsets Poirier, although I’m not sure that is an upset, while Aldo wins by stoppage and Jedrzejczyk by decision.