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Underdogs are as live as ever on this card for the second leg of my UFC Fight Night 192 preview!
Who you got?@LionheartASmith vs @Superman_Spann at #UFCVegas37 this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/J1zPz0JePJ
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 16, 2021
-180 Anthony Smith (35-16) vs. +142 Ryan Spann (19-6), Light-Heavyweight
The main event of UFC Fight Night 192 is a wonderful matchup of two light-heavyweights that are trying to prove to themselves they are better than their current positioning on the UFC rankings. Smith, a former UFC title challenger against Jon Jones, doesn’t want to be a stepping stone for younger fighters and eyes another shot at UFC gold. Including a win on Saturday, Smith is two or three fights away from that goal. Opposing Smith, is a human highlight reel in Ryan Spann. Win or lose, Spann is always in a can’t miss kind of firefight, but I don’t expect Smith to get burned. Smith has been in seven UFC main events, which is nothing to scoff at. I see Smith avoiding heavy shots on the feet and entangling Spann on the mat for a submission.
Selection: Anthony Smith
-150 Ion Cutelaba (15-6-1) vs. +120 Devin Clark (12-5), Light-Heavyweight
The night’s co-main event is the Brazilian banger, Ion “Hulk” Cutelaba, trying his best to negate the high-level wrestling from Devin “Brown Bear” Clark. Each and every time he enters the cage, Cutelaba is more than willing to throw down. It’d be wise if Cutelaba changed his approach, as being overzealous against Clark could lead to him with his back to the floor early and often. Clark is a Jackson-Wink Gym product and is one of the main training partners for all-time great fighter Jon Jones. The wrench in this calculation is the fact that Cutelaba may be fighting for his UFC roster spot, which might make him even more overzealous. I think the “Brown Bear” swarms Cutelaba like a blanket en route to a victory.
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Selection: Devin Clark
-300 Nikolas Motta (12-3) vs. +230 Cameron VanCamp (15-5-1), Lightweight
Nikolas Motta’s original opponent, Jim Miller, who’s a pioneer of the sport, had to pull out due to Covid-19. Now, Motta isn’t getting a savvy vet anymore but a young hungry lion in Cameron VanCamp. I think the biggest opponent for VanCamp this week is the scale. The 6-foot-1 framed VanCamp has fought at 165-pounds and will need to take extreme measures to hit the 156-pound limit. But, once VanCamp does hit the weight limit, it should be smooth sailing from then on. He incorporates very smooth grappling transitions and is a deadly submission artist. Though the Brazilian can smell blood in the water when he gets his opponents hurt, I think VanCamp avoids any serious damage and makes easy work of Motta.
Selection: Cameron VanCamp
-120 Ariane Lipski (13-7) vs. -105 Mandy Bohm (7-0), Flyweight
Lipski is trying to snap a two-fight skid against the undefeated Bohm who comes from the same gym as Conor McGregor. It should be a fun scrap on the feet and I don’t see Bohm packing enough of a punch to throw Lipski off her game. Lipski should be motivated and ready to get back in the win column.
Selection: Ariane Lipski
-850 Armen Tsarukyan (16-2) vs. +525 Christos Giagos (19-8), Lightweight
Armen Tsarukyan is the biggest favorite on the card and for good reason. The Russian-born fighter only has one loss in the UFC which came at the hands of one of the organization’s brightest stars, Islam Makhachev. That fight was his UFC debut and since then Armen Tsarukyan has been on a roll. Across the cage from the Russian will be Christos Giagos who also lost to top competition in his UFC debut. Giagos’ loss came at the hands of current UFC champion Charles Oliviera. I think the +480 line is a bit much and though it’s highly unlikely he pulls off the upset, it’s worth it to throw one unit on Giagos.
Selection: Christos Giagos
-225 Joaquin Buckley (12-4) vs. +175 Antonio Arroyo (9-4), Middleweight
You want action? With Buckley vs. Arroyo, you get that and more. Both of these guys possess high-flying striking skills that’ll make you hold your breath. Buckley is the owner of the 2020 knockout of the year and Arroyo’s striking skill set is up to par. These guys are coming off losses and it’s just a matter of time before one of these elite kickers lands something that sends their opponent into the next dimension. Don’t blink.
Selection: Antonio Arroyo
SAFE PARLAY: -325 Blachfield, -120 Lipski ($140 payout)
RISKY PARLAY: +100 Lopez, +175 Arroyo ($450 payout)
*HIGH* RISK PARLAY: +410 Buys, +230 VanCamp ($1,583 payout)
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