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UFC Fight Night 216: Sean Strickland-Jared Cannonier, Bobby Green-Drew Dober Early Moneyline Bets – December 17

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OddsJam’s UFC expert walks you through his top picks, predictions and sharp bets for UFC Fight Night 216 on December 17th. Lock these picks in now!

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Sean Strickland vs. Jared Cannonier Pick: Cannonier Moneyline  | -105 at DraftKings

Middleweight | Main Event | 8:30 p.m. ET

The old “striker vs. grappler” MMA juxtaposition rears its rocked head again Sunday. Jared Cannonier sends the heads of the non-elite in the 185-pound division crashing to the canvas thanks to one-shot knockout power that the mammoth middleweight claims derives from energy crystals. 

Science proves Pyrite fails to power punches. However, there’s no denying Cannonier’s hands of stone have worked well against grapplers and volume strikers in the middleweight division. Recently dethroned middleweight king Israel Adesanya and fellow former division champ Robert Whitaker — both among MMA’s best kickboxers, serve as the only exceptions.

Cannonier’s typically victorious strategy keeps combinations simple. A rangy jab sets offense up. A heavy right follows, particularly when most opponents bite his many faints. 

Cannonier mixes in an effective low kick as well. The latter weapon deters those weaponize takedowns like Sean Strickland post-Usman fight from exerting enough leg drive to complete takedowns and control the strong striker on the ground for advancement. Derek Brunson serves as an excellent showcase of Cannonier’s abilities against pure wrestlers at his best.

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Strickland offers a better-rounded overall game that performs with better consistency and doesn’t telegraph takedown attempts as much as Brunson. His once elementary hands evolved into respectable offensive tools too. 

Sunday’s favorite voices a vehement preference towards the striking side of MMA, but utilizes his strong wrestling against dangerous strikers like Uriah Hall and Court Mcgee. That fact tempts those who bet on stats to see Cannonier’s spotty takedown defense at 65 % and wager on Strickland to grind a decision.

However, I like Cannonier’s stance-switching and aforementioned kicking game that opens the door to danger that knocks out opponents thinking about more than the inevitable 1-2. 

Strickland coming off a knockout loss to current champ Alex Pereira via a nasty left hook that Cannonier could also replicate heightens my confidence that the slight underdog will have more bite than bark here, despite “grappler vs. striker” history commanding most to sit on the favorite.

Bobby Green vs. Drew Dober Pick: Bobby Green Moneyline  | +130 at DraftKings

Middleweight | Main Card | 7 p.m. ET

Drew Dober’s calling card is the king of toughness. The man stacks strikes in close proximity for an entertaining style that gives and takes beatings on the feet without regard for many grappling maneuvers. 

He made a successful, enduring career out of this style that’s typically counterproductive to longevity. However, fight 20 in the UFC will be the first time the violent veteran has opposed a boxer of Bobby Green’s high caliber. Green’s slick hands shined in every fight he was in between getting knocked out in 2016 by Dustin Porier and getting outmaneuvered and wrecked on the ground by Islam Makachev, his last fight  Green’s record fails to reflect the closeness of those decisions that all could’ve feasibly went the better way.

There’s no shame in losing to elite fighters and Dober doesn’t fit that class. Outclassed should be the word here for what will surely be a fight almost purely on the feet where Green has the clear edge. 

This matchup hammers the pivotal point of always looking beyond raw records for profitable betting on combat sports.

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