UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cerrone 2 betting preview

The UFC keeps its massive wave of momentum rolling following UFC 194 with a UFC on Fox card featuring a UFC lightweight championship bout between title holder Rafael dos Anjos and No. 1 contender Donald Cerrone. Here’s a look at the odds for this championship fight and another featured bout Saturday before you make you MMA betting picks:

Rafael dos Anjos (-215) vs. Donald Cerrone (+165)
These two lightweight warriors first met on a Fight Night card back in August 2013, with dos Anjos earning a decision victory. Since then, dos Anjos has gone 4-1 including claiming the 155-pound title with a victory over Anthony Pettis via decision at UFC 185 this past March – a fight won on a partially torn MCL. He has looked remarkable during his four-fight win streak and put Pettis on his heels from the opening bell.

Can dos Anjos do the same against a bigger and better Cerrone, who stands 6-foot-1 to his 5-foot-9 stature and enjoys a three-inch reach advantage? Cerrone hasn’t lost since that first match with dos Anjos, winning eight in a row. Many see Cerrone as the UFC’s fighter, getting a push from the promotion, so if this one goes to the cards – and is close – expect a lean toward the underdog.

Junior dos Santos (-370) vs. Alistair Overeem (+270)
Heavyweight veterans stand toe-to-toe in Orlando, with dos Santos as the oddsmakers’ evident pick to snap Overeem’s resurgence in the division. After knocking off Brock Lesnar back in 2011, Overeem went just 1-3 in his next four bouts. However, he’s returned with back-to-back wins, most recently taking heavy-handed Roy Nelson the distance in March.

He’ll need to survive an even more dangerous opponent in dos Santos, who can do damage with his boxing as well as with his legs. He’s 2-2 in his last four fights, with both losses coming to former heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez, but hasn’t fought in a year so there could be some concern of ring rust. Dos Santos is a heavy fave but Overeem continues to defy the oddsmakers and always has a punchers’ chance in what should be a standup war.