UFC 185 provided an exciting fight night full of finishes that saw some favorites flourish while others flopped. The outcomes of these bouts uniquely allow us to view different areas of the sports betting spectrum as we enjoy some wins, observe a loss, witness the importance of hedging, and learn why we assess some ventures at greater values than others. Let us take a look at how the results from UFC 185 affected my Parlays, Best Bets, and other Suggestions.
Main Parlay – Loss
My Main Parlay suffered a lethal blow as heavy favorite, Sergio Pettis (-500), was dropped by the brutal left hook of power punching underdog Ryan Benoit (+325). Since Sergio Pettis was the first fighter in the Main Parlay, we did not place a hedge option to cover and saw a loss before we got to our second fighter. Losses are an inevitable side to sports betting, however, we put on our big boy or girl pants and we soldier on!
Main Parlay Alternative – Push
Teaching the importance of hedging, my Main Parlay Alternative carried us all of the way to the final fight. The first two positions saw Henry Cejudo (-550) beating Chris Cariaso (+375) and Johny Hendricks (-325) besting Matt Brown (+300), both achieved by decision. With only champion Anthony Pettis left to fight, I recommended placing a hedge wager on the title challenger, Rafael Dos Anjos (+350). The cost to break even was a mere 28% of a unit to cover a whole unit which proved to be the smart play as RDA dominated all five rounds to claim the lightweight title.
Combat Sports Parlay (Best Bet) – Win
Bringing home the bacon was my Combat Sports Parlay as it sported my Best Bet stamp of approval. Henry Cejudo (-550), Johny Hendricks (-325), and the Russian boxer Sergey Kovalev (-700) did not disappoint. Cejudo and Hendricks won by decision while Kovalev accomplished a TKO finish against Jean Pascal in the eighth round of his boxing bout. These contenders held the best competitive edge in my opinion which is why I valued the Combat Sports Parlay at a minimum of four units up to whatever your maximum unit bet would allow. A risk of five units saw a return of 3.82 units.
Power Parlay (High Risk) – Loss
Whole Card Parlay (High Risk) – Loss
The high risk Power Parlay and Whole Card Parlay fell flat as soon as the younger Pettis sibling, Sergio, tasted defeat early.
Single Fighter Suggestion – Win
My Single Fighter Suggestion, Alistair Overeem (-210), scored a decision victory against the always-dangerous Roy Nelson (+170). With a value of -210, Overeem brought in a respectable 47% return per unit wagered.
Underdog Suggestion – Win
Germaine de Randamie (+135), my Underdog Suggestion, dispatched the younger Larissa Pacheco (-170) in the second round via TKO. As underdogs tend to do, De Randamie achieved attractive returns of over 100% per unit invested.
We have successfully won the battle of UFC 185 against the odds makers however, the war is far from over. Stay tuned to BloodyElbow.com for my upcoming UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. LaFlare Betting Preview detailing my Best Bets and other premium selections!
*Odds source: Oddsshark.com
*Note: For entertainment purposes only
*Do you or someone you know have a gambling addiction? Get help by contacting The National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-522-4700
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