UFC Fight Night predictions: Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang odds, bets, picks
UFC Fight Night hits the road Saturday for middle-of-the-night violence in China.While many in the United States will be sleeping, the UFC will be on the ground in Shanghai with 12 fights on the docket.A loaded preliminary card begins at 3 a.m.
ET while the main card begins at 6.Half of the bouts are projected to end inside the distance.Last week was one of the best events we’ve had from a betting perspective.
Aside from losing the main event live bet, we nailed Lerone Murphy by KO/TKO (+810) as well as Alexander Hernandez moneyline (+260) and Drakkar Klose by decision (+250).Here are my UFC Shanghai best bets:Zhang, the hometown favorite, receives a big-time chance to steal a victory against a ranked opponent.Walker is an excellent athlete and has power in his hands, but that’s about where his positive traits end.His defense is nearly nonexistent on the feet, defending just 44 percent of strikes thrown at him.
Worse, he’s been knocked out in two straight fights.The UFC hopes Zhang is a title contender, and I agree that he’s a strong prospect.I’m actually surprised this line isn’t higher.It’s not as if Walker is a technical dynamo who can download Zhang’s deficiencies and find the holes.
The Brazilian seemingly runs into knockouts on a regular basis.The Over 1.5 rounds comes in at +215, one of the highest prices you’ll ever see in that market.Normally, I’d be interested in targeting that, but I can’t get there in this case.Back Zhang to win in the first round, as I suspect Walker will continue to make tactical errors in there.Pick: Zhang to win in the first round (-118, bet365). In a five-round co-main event, former bantamweight champion Sterling faces Ortega at featherweight.Sterling told MMA Fighting this week he thinks it’s “stupid” that this fight is five rounds, although this may benefit him in the long run.Ortega, a two-time featherweight title challenger, is not a striker and has honestly looked like a punching bag on his fee...