No. 9 lightweight James “The Texecutioner” Vick (13-2, 3 KOs, 5 SUBs) will meet No. 14 Paul Felder (15-4, 10 KOs, 1 SUB) at UFC on ESPN 1 on Sunday, February 17, 2019 at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. The main card airs live on ESPN starting 9 pm ET.
Everybody loves a good action fight. Which is why the lightweight matchup between James Vick and Paul Felder is the dark horse for Fight of the Night - these two dudes are known for throwing down and getting bloody.
Vick is coming off a brutal knockout loss to Justin Gaethje, but prior to that made some noise at 155 pounds with a four fight win streak that included wins over Francisco Trinaldo and Joe Duffy. At 6’3”, he cuts an imposing figure for the division - and he’s not a twig either. In fact, you really have to wonder how he makes the weight limit, as he usually looks like he’s a full weight class above his opponents.
That won’t be the case against Felder. Though he’s 5’10”, Felder is coming back down to lightweight after losing a close split decision to Mike Perry at UFC 226. The defeat snapped a three-fight winning streak, which were all finishes by way of elbows. Felder’s been active in the booth as a play-by-play guy, but he’s still a well-respected fighter who offers a prime bounceback opportunity for Vick.
Felder opened as a slight favorite, which shows just how competitive this fight should be. Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down your best online betting options.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
James Vick +103
Paul Felder -133
Fight goes/doesn’t go to decision: -140 / +100
Significant Striking Stats
Landed per minute: Vick 4.16 / Felder 3.52
Accuracy: Vick 38% / Felder 43%
Absorbed per minute: Vick 3.05 / Felder 2.96
Defense: Vick 62% / Felder 51%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Vick 0.32 / Felder 0.36
Takedown accuracy: Vick 33% / Felder 33%
Takedown defense: Vick 56% / Felder 59%
Submission average: Vick 0.79 / Felder 0.36
Bet this fight at BookMaker.eu
Vick fights exactly like you’d expect a guy with a major height advantage to. He likes to stay at long range and bomb away, and excels in the clinch where he can use his long legs to drive knees into abdomens. Though he entered the UFC as a raw talent who got by just by reacting, his recent wins have shown an improvement in his ability to dictate his own brand of offense.
Felder is a boxer-puncher who will at any time throw 110% into a massive counter. Though most fans love how he’s always willing to dig in and trade punches, Felder is actually one of the more nimble boxers, staying light on his feet and maintaining good range. Both a taekwondo and karate black belt, Felder can switch up to a points-based style as needed, but he’s never been a guy that’s been known for his patience.
In this matchup, it’ll be up to Felder to crowd Vick, as the taller man gets visibly uncomfortable when dudes get right up in his face. While Felder won’t be able to take down the Texecutioner with much consistency, he does have enough MMA takedown skill to keep him honest. It’ll be compelling to see how they match up in the clinch, as it’s an area where both men can dish out a ton of damage.
UFC Odds Pick: Vick to win at +103
We’re a sucker for tall, rangy dudes that can bang. Felder’s aggression and technical kickboxing skills will make this interesting, but Vick’s height and length is an extremely difficult puzzle for opponents to solve. Given how well Vick was fighting before running into Gaethje, this feels like a tossup, and we’ll take the underdog.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today. UFC on ESPN 1 takes place on Sunday, February 17, 2019 at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. The main card airs live on ESPN starting 9 pm ET.
