While online bookmakers were busy calculating the odds for the UFC 202 headlining match, the UFC was busy adding more bouts to the fight card. There’s no denying that the McGregor vs. Diaz rematch will be the talk of the night, but the UFC is still committed to making UFC 202 as action packed as possible. In late June came the announcement of an additional welterweight bout between Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone and Rick ‘The Horror’ Story. Cerrone is most famous for being a lightweight challenger, but after failing to claim the title Cerrone switched to the welterweight division where he has won 2 consecutive fights. Story is returning to the UFC after a brief stint in Strikeforce where he beat former titleholder Tarec Saffiedine. Even though the matchup between Cerrone and Story doesn’t have the same hype that the McGregor vs. Diaz rematch does, it will still indubitably offer a chance to make money for those willing to bet on sports. Let’s check in on the online bookmakers and see what kind of odds they’re offering.
UFC 202
Rick Story 2 ½ (-175) +135
Donald Cerrone 2 ½ (+155) -155
Cerrrone’s 2 – 0 start in the welterweight division is significant in its own right, but even more impressive is the fact that he became the first fighter to finish Patrick Cote with strikes. ‘Cowboy’ was able to win in the third round by TKO against the Canadian, shocking even the most gullible online bookmakers. Cerrone has a reputation for being the busiest fighter in the UFC often scheduling more than four bouts per year. This in part has led to him holding the record for most post-fight bonuses in UFC history (17). Cerrone is a veteran in every definition of the word, and with a 30 – 7 MMA record it’s clear he knows what he’s doing once he steps foot inside the octagon.
‘The Horror’ Story may not have the same experience as Cerrone, but with a 19 – 8 record he’s no stranger to MMA. Johnson’s last fight was against Tarec Saffiedine back in May. Story was able to come away victorious with a unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night. This win marked Story’s first bout since October 2014 when he beat Gunnar Nelson. Story has been plagued by injuries and was unable to compete in all of 2015.
UFC 202 will be held at the fitting T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is scheduled for Saturday the 20th of August and will have several bouts broadcast on UFC Fight Pass, Fox Sports 1, and the main events will be PPV. One bout that had to be rescheduled was the matchup between The Ultimate Fighter: China winner Ning Guangyou and Marlon Vera. Guangyou tested positive for clenbuterol but the USADA has ruled that he ingested the substance accidentally, most likely coming from tainted meat. Guangyou will not face a suspension, his bout has remained intact, and it has been scheduled for the UFC on Fox: Maia vs. Condit fight card.
