The octagon rolls into the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado this Saturday night (or Sunday morning for the UK crowd) and features a highly anticipated main event between women's bantamweight contenders Valentina Shevchenko and Julianna Pena, with the winner next in line for a title challenge against Amanda Nunes.
The card also features the world's favourite Budweiser-drinking, head-kicking cowboy in Donald Cerrone as he looks to make it five victories in less than twelve months when he squares off against the experience Jorge Masvidal in the welterweight division.
Donald Cerrone to win by TKO/KO/DQ - 3/1 at BetVictor
Cowboy Cerrone looks a completely different beast at welterweight and with two spectacular finishes over Matt Brown and Rick Story expect the trend to continue at UFC Denver with Cowboy looking for another $50k bonus.
Standing in his way is Jorge Masvidal who is in no way, shape or form any slouch for Cerrone to run past having not been knocked out since 2008.
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Masvidal is talented but whenever he seems to make it to the top end of the division and face the top talent in the octagon he just falls short and has been on the end of some very tight decisions.
Rafael Assuncao to win by decision - 5/4 at BetVictor
Rafael Assuncao returns to the octagon for the first time since his UFC 200 defeat to TJ Dillashaw and faces Aljamain Sterling who returns for the first time since he lost his undefeated professional record to Bryan Caraway back in May.
Neither Rafael or Aljamain have spectacular striking or knockout power and both would consider their best chances of victory via submission with Assuncao holding a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Sterling holding a purple belt under Matt Serra.
I think this is destined to go to a decision with Assuncao the most likely to take a narrow points victory.
Luis Henrique da Silva to beat Jordan Johnson - 19/10 at BetVictor
Da Silva will be more known to UK mixed martial arts fans since he was submitted by Scotland's own Paul Craig at UFC Sacramento in December but returns to the octagon a little over a month after to take on promotional newcomer Jordan Johnson who holds a 6-0 record.
Da Silva being 19/10 is crazy odds for a man with true knock out power with eleven of his twelve victories coming by KO/TKO.
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Johnson hasn't been tested against the top light heavyweights and is making a big step up for just his seventh professional fight. Johnson is a submission specialist and will hope to replicate what Paul "Bearjew" Craig did to da Silva.
My advice would be to back the Brazilian!
TheODDSbible's Treble
Cerrone, Assuncao and Alvey all to win - £10 returns £44 at BetVictor
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Words by: Darren Russell
