UFC 210 Main Card Betting Picks

A highly-anticipated rematch for the light-heavyweight championship of the world headlines Saturday’s UFC 210 card in Buffalo, N.Y. The event is the first to be held in Buffalo since the state of New York lifted its ban on professional mixed martial arts in early 2016. Here’s a look at the main fights and their MMA odds.

UFC 210 Main Card Betting Picks

Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson

Cormier (18-1) is the light heavyweight champ but a +100 underdog, while Johnson (22-5) is the No. 1 contender and a -120 favorite. These two met in May 2015 at UFC 187 with Cormier winning the fight and the vacant title via submission in the third round. Johnson was originally supposed to challenge longtime champion Jon Jones on that card, but Jones was pulled and stripped of the title after he was arrested on a hit-and- run charge. Cormier replaced Jones on the card and submitted Johnson via rear-naked choke in the third round. He didn’t have it easy against Johnson, getting knocked down by an overhand right and taking several kicks to the head. This rematch was originally scheduled to take place at UFC 206, but Cormier pulled out due to a groin injury and the bout was scrapped. Johnson has been on a roll since falling to Cormier. In a little more than seven minutes of Octagon time, “Rumble” has dispatched Jimi Manuwa, Ryan Bader and Glover Teixeira. Pick: Johnson.

Chris Weidman vs. Gegard Mousasi

It’s a middleweight bout with Mousasi at -120 and Weidman at +100. After winning his first 13 career fights, Weidman found himself twice on the wrong end of bad results. He is looking to regroup after suffering back-to- back losses. He lost his title to Luke Rockhold in a fourth-round TKO in late 2015, then suffered a third-round TKO loss to Yoel Romero at UFC 205 in November, his only appearance in 2016. Mousasi is on the final fight of his UFC contract. He is riding a four-fight winning streak and has knocked out three consecutive opponents. He avenged a September 2015 loss to Urijah Hall last time out with a first-round TKO. Pick: Mousasi.

Cynthia Calvillo vs. Pearl Gonzalez

It’s a women’s strawweight bout with Calvillo at -265 and Gonzalez +215. Calvillo (4-0) is coming off a first-round submission win over Amanda Bobby Cooper earlier this month at UFC 209. The California native has finished all but one of her career victories. Gonzalez (6-1) was recently signed by the UFC and is on a six-fight winning streak. She has not fought since a second-round submission win over Katie Klimansky-Casimir in April 2016. Pick: Calvillo.

Thiago Alves vs. Patrick Cote

Welterweight matchup with Cote at -165 and Alves at +140. Following an unsuccessful cut down to the land of 155 pounds, the one-time UFC title challenger Alves returns to the welterweight division to take on Canadian veteran Cote. Alves (21-11) will look to rebound after losing back-to- back fights against Carlos Condit and Jim Miller in his most recent outings. Cote (23-10) has won five of his seven fights since making the drop from middleweight in 2013. The pick: Alves.

Will Brooks vs. Charles Oliveira

Lightweight bout with Brooks at -270 and Oliveira at +220. Brooks (18-2), a former Bellator champ, is coming off just the second loss of his career. He succumbed by second-round TKO against Alex Oliveira at UFC Fight Night 96 in October in a fight in which the Brazilian came in significantly overweight. Charles Oliveira (21-7) will enter the event having lost three of his past four fights. Those losses came against elite competition in Ricardo Lamas, Anthony Pettis and Max Holloway. The pick: Brooks.