UFC on FX 2 will feature two semi-final fights in the Flyweight tournament and a Welterweight contender match between two lethal strikers. Also on the televised card, two rising stars in the Middleweight division will look to take a step closer to contention.
In the main event of UFC on FX 2, Welterweights Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann find themselves on the outskirts of the division-contender picture following recent losses to top contenders. Both need a win to keep any title shot hopes alive, while a loss will almost completely push the loser out the 170-pound picture.
Oddsmakers at 5Dimes have Alves as the slim -135 favorite, while Kampmann will pay +115. Both fighters have great stand-up skills but one would have to give the edge to Alves who has shown a good chin over the years. Kampmann’s best chance in this fight is to find a way to get Alves on his back and control where the fight is fought.
In the first Flyweight tournament fight Joseph Benavidez will be a huge -950 favorite at 5Dimes to beat Yasuhiro Urushitani. It should be an easy day at the office for Benavidez, who has walked through every opponent he’s faced in his career except the current UFC Bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz. If you like longshots, Urushitani will pay +625.
The other Flyweight tournament semi-final has Demetrious Johnson against Ian McCall. This one is a little closer than the other fight, but Johnson is still a big -330 favorite at 5Dimes. McCall will pay +270 and has a chance to surprise if he doesn’t get overwhelmed by the UFC hype that comes along with fighting in the promotion for the first time.
Middleweight up-and-comers Court McGee and Costantinos Philippou will meet to decide who will continue to climb the ranks at 185 pounds. McGee is currently a slight favorite at -155 while the Philippou upset pays a slim +115. As the lines indicate this one is too close to call, but McGee has the more impressive record and big-stage experience.