As the hype that was built around the McGregor-Mayweather press tour begins to dial down, online UFC betting fans can begin to focus in on the event the promotion is running this weekend. UFC on Fox 25 will be held this upcoming Saturday, giving players who bet on MMA free access to one of the most intriguing bouts of the year.
UFC on Fox 25: Weidman vs. Gastelum – Saturday, July 22nd
When: Early Prelims: 4 pm ET || Prelims: 6 pm ET || Main Card: 8 pm ET
Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
TV: Early Prelims: UFC Fight Pass || Prelims: FOX || Main Card: FOX
Stream: UFC TV
The event will mark the promotion’s first visit to Long Island. The UFC is still relatively new in New York since the state had a longtime ban on MMA. However, this weekend’s event will be the first of many the promotion will be holding in Long Island.
The night will be headlined by a middleweight bout between former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman and TUF: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen middleweight winner Kevin Gastelum. Let’s see what the online UFC betting odds have to say about this pairing.
Main Card & Online UFC Betting Odds
Chris Weidman 2 ½ (-150) +155 vs. Kelvin Gastelum 2 ½ (+130) -175
Dennis Bermudez 2 ½ (+210) -250 vs. Darren Elkins 2 ½ (-250) +210
Patrick Cummins 1 ½ (-185) -105 vs. Gian Villante 1 ½ (+160) -115
Jimmie Rivera 1 ½ (+170) -210 vs. Thomas Almeida 1 ½ (-200) +175
Interestingly enough, sportsbooks have come out in favor of Gastelum instead of the former champ. Gastelum would be entering this fight riding a 3-bout win streak had it not been for Brazil’s athletic commission. Gastelum tested positive for marijuana after defeating Vitor Belfort in Brazil and the country did not hesitate to overturn the results against one of their own. Gastelum wields a 13-2-1 MMA record.
Weidman was one of the hottest UFC fighters but a string of losses now puts him in dangerous waters. Weidman lost the middleweight title to Luke Rockhold at UFC 194 and then suffered a brutal knockout at the hands of Yoel Romero at UFC 205. However, the most damaging loss Weidman endured came from Gegard Mousasi – who just signed with Bellator, at UFC 210.
Mousasi landed some knees which, from the referees point of view, looked illegal. The referee stepped in to stop the fight and give Weidman the proper time to rest. However, the ref quickly realized that the knee wasn’t illegal, and just to be clear this confusion comes from the lack of unified MMA rules across the nation, and went to reinitiate the fight.
Weidman, who just took a knee to the head, was confused as to what was happening and thought that he still had legal time to rest. The referee took it as Weidman was no longer willing or able to fight and gave Mousasi the win. Weidman will be looking to make up for that lackluster finish this weekend.
Preliminary Card & Sportsbook Odds
Lyman Good 2 ½ (+155) -220 vs. Elizeu Zaleski 2 ½ (-175) +180
Rafael Natal 1 ½ (+150) -110 vs. Eryk Sanders 1 ½ (-180) -120
Ryan LaFlare 2 ½ (+205) -190 vs. Alex Oliveira 2 ½ (-245) +165
Damian Grabowski 1 ½ (+110) +180 vs. Chase Sherman 1 ½ (-150) -220
Early Prelims & Online UFC Betting Odds
Kyle Bochniak 2 ½ (-255) +195 vs. Jeremy Kennedy 2 ½ (+215) -235
Brian Kelleher 2 ½ (-105) -220 vs. Marlon Vera 2 ½ (-115) +180
Timothy Johnson 2 ½ (-110) -220 vs. Junior Albini 2 ½ (-110) +180
Shane Burgos 1 ½ (-125) -320 vs. Godofredo Pepey 1 ½ (+105) +260
Frankie Perez 2 ½ (-200) +230 vs. Chris Wade 2 ½ (+170) -270
