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UFC Fight Night

Brunson vs. Shahbazyan: UFC Main Event Betting Preview

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  • The UFC is back with a fight from Las Vegas as Edmen Shahbazyan takes on Derek Brunson.
  • Shahbazyan is a huge favorite, with -360 odds to win the fight.
  • In fact, Shahbazyan has -135 odds to win specifically by KO/TKO/DQ.

LAS VEGAS - The UFC is back tonight with an incredibly interesting main event from a spectator’s point of view. This Fight Night, the fifth from the UFC’s APEX center in Las Vegas, is highlighted by a matchup between young and old, between a vet and an up and comer.

The veteran, Derek Brunson, is well known. He’s fought everyone there is to fight, from Anderson Silva to Lyoto Machida to Israel Adesanya.

He’s a veteran fighter, and he’s facing a tough challenge in the form of the up and comer, Edmen Shahbazyan.

To put it bluntly, Shahbazyan is a freak. He has fought 11 fights and won all of them... and only one of those fights got past the first round.

His last three UFC wins have taken a total of four minutes and seventeen seconds.

He is absolutely crushing people. The sportsbooks seem to think that he’ll crush Brunson too.

Shahbazyan vs. Brunson Moneyline

  • Shahbazyan -360
  • Brunson +270

That’s a serious handicap for a match in the main event of a Fight Night. Shahbazyan seems set to roll right over Brunson.

However, there’s a bit more to the story.

Of the 10 fights that he has finished in the first round, he has finished nine of them by KO/TKO.

Method of Victory

  • Edmen Shahbazyan Wins By KO, TKO Or DQ -135
  • Edmen Shahbazyan Wins By Decision Or Technical Decision +350
  • Derek Brunson Wins By Decision Or Technical Decision +550
  • Derek Brunson Wins By KO, TKO Or DQ +575
  • Edmen Shahbazyan Wins By Submission +550
  • Derek Brunson Wins By Submission +2000
  • Draw Or Technical Draw +6500

This is the first time in a while that one of the Method of Victory bets was an outright favorite over all other options. Shahbazyan winning by KO/TKO/DQ appears to be so likely that it is the most likely outcome straight up.

In other words, if one person had Shahbazyan winning specifically by KO/TKO/DQ, and another had every other option, the online sportsbooks think that the person with Shahbazyan winning is in a better spot.

Frankly, that’s pretty cool. There are even more indicators of Shahbazyan’s perceived dominance in this fight.

Fight to complete 1 full round

  • Yes (Fight Completes 1 Full Round) -150
  • No (Fight Does Not Complete 1 Full Round) +120

Fight to complete 2 full rounds

  • Yes (Fight Completes 2 Full Rounds) +150
  • No (Fight Does Not Complete 2 Full Rounds) -185

All of these factors combine to make this a must watch fight, although the betting opportunities are slim if a given MMA bettor wanted to wager on Shahbazyan. He’s already one of the biggest main event favorites in a long while.

People might have to start getting ready for this one.