UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm betting preview

The poster girl for mixed martial arts is back in action when Ronda Rousey headlines UFC 193 – Down Under – in Melbourne, Australia this weekend. Rousey, who has become the face of the sport, faces challenger Holly Holm in the main event with some great bouts below them on the card. Here’s a look at some of the odds for UFC 193 before you get started betting on MMA:

Ronda Rousey (-2,000) vs. Holly Holm (+1,000)
Rousey, the women’s bantamweight title holder, has captured the world with her quick finishes in the last three bouts, clocking in at a combined one minute and four seconds. Oddsmakers fully expect another win for Rousey, who has improved her striking in recent bouts and took another step forward knowing Holm brings some dangerous power to the cage in this title defense.

Holm is also undefeated in women’s MMA, winning her first nine fights heading into Saturday’s card. The former kick boxing champion has finished six of those bouts by way of knockout, and she presents the biggest KO threat to Rousey so far. That said, she’ll need to stay upright to deliver those blows – something that’s easier said than done against Rousey.

Mark Hunt (-290) vs. Antônio Silva (+210)
Hunt should have a home-field advantage Down Under, hailing from New Zealand. He’s the fight favorite despite back-to-back losses and a 1-3-1 record in his last five fights. That draw came against Silva at a Fight Night event at the end of 2013 which won Fight of the Night honors, and would later be tarnished by a positive drug test from Bigfoot after the fight.