Opening odds: Champ Dominick Cruz more than 2-1 favorite over hard-hitting Cody Garbrandt

Bantamweight slugger Cody Garbrandt is predicting a first-round knockout of UFC champ Dominick Cruz, but oddsmakers aren’t in the same boat.

Independent odds consultant Joey Oddessa has set Cruz as a -225 favorite, more than 2-1 odds, in the recently announced UFC 207 co-headliner.

“This is might be the bout people have been asking me about most on the UFC 207 card, and it’s pretty simple,” Oddessa told MMAjunkie. “Forget about odds. Most fans already know who they are going to bet on before asking the question. Dominick Cruz is just over a 2-1 favorite (-225), and some of the Cody Garbrandt fans would still bet on Cody if he was favored – but he’s not.

“To draw a boxing wagering comparison, Cody Garbrandt will be everyone’s Manny Pacquiao when he got to fight Floyd Mayweather.”

Cruz (22-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) puts his title on the line against Garbrandt (10-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in the co-feature of UFC 207, which takes place Dec. 30 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

The main card of UFC 207 airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass. In the main event, former champ Ronda Rousey tries to recapture the women’s bantamweight title when she returns from a layoff in excess of a year to meet new champ Amanda Nunes.

Cruz currently sits at No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA bantamweight rankings, while Garbrandt is No. 7.

Garbrandt’s path to victory is evident. With incredible hand speed and devastating power, “No Love” needs to get his hands on Cruz. Of course, that’s no easy task, as Cruz’s constant movement and incredible footwork make him a hard-to-hit target.

Oddessa believes Garbrandt but will give chase but ultimately find it difficult to land flush.

“I expect Cruz to show why he’s every bit of a -225 favorite, avoiding the early heavy punches and taking Garbrandt to a place he has never seen before in his career – a fourth or fifth round,” Oddessa said.

| Title: Opening odds: Champ Dominick Cruz more than 2-1 favorite over hard-hitting Cody Garbrandt
| Author: MMAjunkie Staff
| Date: OCT 26, 2016