UFC 191 betting preview: Johnson vs. Dodson 2

The UFC shines the spotlight on its exciting flyweight division when title holder Demetrious Johnson takes on John Dodson in a rematch of their January 2013 fight. Here’s a look at some MMA betting odds and how to bet that bout and the co-main event this Saturday:

John Dodson (+353) vs. Demetrious Johnson (-553)
The promotion is doing a good job of selling this rematch, however, the odds paint a different picture. Johnson is a sizable favorite and deservedly so, on an eight-fight winning streak with five of those victories coming since his decision win over Dodson. His submission skills are among the most lethal in the entire sport and he’s taken his game to another level, finishing four of those last five – three via submission.

Dodson has fought three times since pushing Johnson at UFC on Fox, nearly scoring a KO win over the champ. However, he’s since suffered a torn ACL and looked a little rusty in his return bout, a decision win against Zach Makovsky at UFC 187 back in May. On top of the pressure of this title fight, Dodson has also been back and forth from Las Vegas to New Mexico and back to Vegas with the birth of his child this week. It’s a lot on his plate, even if he wasn’t fighting arguably the best active pound-for-pound talent in the UFC.

Andrei Arlovski (-155) vs. Frank Mir (+125)
The Pit Bull has undergone a career renaissance with five straight victories heading into Saturday. He’s become a much more conscience fighter thanks to expanding his style with Muay Thai and has shown he can take a punch much better than he could a few years back, when Arlovski nearly pulled the plug after some crushing KO losses.

He’ll need to absorb some heavy-handed shots from Mir, who is also enjoying some success late in his career. Mir has won back-to-back bouts, including a stunning KO win over heavyweight contender Todd Duffee at UFC Fight Night back in July. That win bought him more time in the promotion and he’s jumping at this opportunity on short rest. Mir has improved upon his striking during this run and will look to put distance between he and Arlovski with a kick-heavy striking attack.