Middleweight contender Ronaldo Souza (23-4, 3 KOs, 16 SUBs) will meet veteran Tim Boetch (20-10, 10 KOs, 5 SUBs) at UFC 208 on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following the FS1 prelims. Bet on the latest UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now!
Middleweight contender Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza just can’t seem to catch a break. He’s easily done enough to justify a title shot, and his one UFC loss - to Yoel Romero - was a contentious split decision further marred by Romero’s PEDs bust. It’s kind of strange that a top-4 guy like Souza is facing somebody as lowly ranked as Boetsch, but for whatever reason the Brazilian has been the odd man out.
This is a stay-busy fight for Souza - and the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu reflect that accordingly. Let’s break down your betting options.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Ronaldo Souza -587
Tim Boetsch +433
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over +105, under -125
Please note, the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu are updated daily and subject to change.
The Case for Boetsch
Any argument for “The Barbarian” starts with his toughness. This is somewhat of a backhanded compliment, as it implies that Boetsch isn’t really dominant in any area and has to rely mainly on his willpower and ability to take punishment.
These assumptions are somewhat true, but sell the longtime middleweight short. Boetsch has great physical strength, allowing him success in many wrestling exchanges. It also makes him a dangerous puncher, as he’s won half of his fights by KO/TKO. And while he’s been getting knocked out on a more frequent basis, the dude can still take a punch.
But honestly, it’s tough to see Boetsch on equal footing with Jacare in any area. He is younger, but has more wear and tear. He’s got better knockout power, but isn’t as a good a boxer. If anything, Boetsch’s best hopes is for an fight-ending offensive blitz - something that he’s done on a few occasions.
The Case for Souza
We all know that Souza is one of the most decorated jiu-jitsu practitioners to compete inside the octagon. The man has been suffocating and submitting foes since the early days of Strikeforce. There are a handful of people in the world qualified to grapple with him, and Boetsch isn’t on that list.
Despite his mat accomplishments, Souza is a very willing striker. His boxing has improved dramatically since his Strikeforce days, and while he doesn’t have a ton of KOs to his credit, his punching power has to be respected. His athleticism lets him explode over long distances, and it knocked down the monstrous Yoel Romero in their encounter.
There are a myriad of options for Souza to beat Boetsch. He is the more technical puncher, a far superior grappler, and the more athletic fighter. The path of least resistance would be taking Boetsch down and tying him up like a balloon animal.
The Betting Breakdown
Souza to win is the easiest pick you’ll make on this card - and understandably an expensive choice. Boetsch has the durability and experience to prolong the ending, so stay away from the over/under. What you want to do is parlay Souza’s money line with another bet to maximize your payout.
UFC odds pick: Parlay Souza to win at -587
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UFC 208 takes place on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following the FS1 prelims.
