After becoming one of the sportsbooks’ biggest draws since the global pandemic, UFC is set to host its third consecutive event at the empty VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL, on Saturday, May 16.
Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem vs. Walt “The Big Ticket” Harris headline UFC Fight Night 172, and the main event is scheduled to start at 9 PM ET.
Harris is the consensus favorite to defeat Overeem — but not by much, according to the legal UFC betting odds across online US sportsbooks.
Top-ranking heavyweight Bovada Sportsbook currently lists Harris as a -155 favorite (bet $155 to win $100) while Overeem is a +125 underdog (bet $100 to win $125) for this weekend’s main event in the Sunshine State.
Legal betting sites have taken a beating in the US, UK, and around the globe since the coronavirus began, which in turn put the world of sports and “most” sports betting on pause.
However, after UFC 249 on May 9, countless sportsbook operators reported that the event had set a record handle for mixed martial arts.
DraftKings said UFC 249 was the “most-bet MMA event” in the history of their sportsbook, and PointsBet said their handle was “comparable to a full weekend’s worth of NBA games.” Smith vs. Teixeira, held on May 13, now also ranks one of the biggest draws for sportsbooks during the pandemic.
As major US sports leagues remain on the bench, UFC Fight Night 172 will unquestionably draw the most significant percentage of bets compared to anything else happening this weekend.
In addition to the odds on the Overeem vs.Harris main event, below, you can find the betting lines for all of the Main Card and Preliminary Card matches taking place on Saturday.
UFC Fight Night – Main Card Odds
- MMA betting lines from Bovada
- 9:00 PM ET on ESPN/ESPN+
Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris
Match1: Heavyweight – Main event
- Alistair Overeem +125
- Walt Harris -155
Claudia Gadelha vs. Angela Hill
Match 2: Women Strawweight – Co-main event
- Claudia Gadelha -225
- Angela Hill +175
Dan Ige vs. Edson Barboza
Match 3: Featherweight
- Dan Ige +110
- Edson Barboza -140
Eryk Anders vs. Krzysztof Jotko
Match 4: Middleweight
- Eryk Anders +125
- Krzysztof Jotko -155
Song Yadong vs. Marlon Vera
Match 5: Featherweight
- Song Yadong -200
- Marlon Vera +160
UFC Fight Night – Preliminary Card Odds
- MMA betting lines from Bovada
- 6:00 PM ET on ESPN/ESPN+
Matt Brown vs. Miguel Baeza
Match 6: Welterweight
- Matt Brown +145
- Miguel Baeza -175
Anthony Hernandez vs. Kevin Holland
Match 7: Middleweight
- Anthony Hernandez -115
- Kevin Holland -115
Giga Chikadze vs. Irwin Rivera
Match 8: Featherweight
- Giga Chikadze -200
- Irwin Rivera +170
Darren Elkins vs. Nate Landwehr
Match 9: Featherweight
- Nate Landwehr +105
- Darren Elkins -135
Cortney Casey vs. Mara Romero Borella
Match 10: Women’s Flyweight
- Cortney Casey -160
- Mara Romero Borella +130
Rodrigo Nascimento vs. Don’Tale Mayes
Match 11: Heavyweight
- Rodrigo Nascimento -110
- Don’Tale Mayes -120
