Welterweight action fighters Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira (19-6, 12 KOs, 4 SUBs) and Mike “Platinum” Perry (12-4, 11 KOs) will meet at UFC on ESPN 3 on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. The main card airs live on ESPN starting 9pm ET.
Get ready for explosive welterweight warfare. Alex Oliveira, one of the most aggressive kickboxers at 170 pounds, will meet Mike Perry, who is among the top knockout artists in the division. This is a fight where you’ll really want to take a look at the fight doesn’t go to decision bet: Oliveira’s last eight fights have ended before the final bell.
Perry steps in as a late replacement for Li Jingliang. By the time he steps into the ring this Saturday, Perry will have had only a few weeks to prepare - not ideal for an opponent as dynamic as the Brazilian. Additionally, Platinum’s recent 1-3 slide suggests that his all-around skill isn’t living up to his very real knockout power. Most recently, Perry was submitted by Cowboy Cerrone in the first round of their UFC Fight Night 139 matchup.
Oliveira had a two-fight winning streak snapped by Gunnar Nelson, who used his grappling to submit the Muay Thai-based fighter. However, Oliveira has been solid since moving up to 170, compiling a 4-2 record in the division, with wins over Tim Means and Carlos Condit. Though Perry has fallen quickly outside of the top 15, he’s still relatively popular because of his flashy highlight reel and stereotypical MMA personality - beating him can still do a lot for a fighter.
Oliveira opened as a clear favorite with online oddsmakers, but let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down your best betting options.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Mike Perry +146
Alex Oliveira -185
Fight goes/doesn’t go to decision: +220 / -300
Significant Striking Stats
Significant strikes landed per minute: Oliveira 3.08 / Perry 4.02
Striking accuracy: Oliveira 54% / Perry 45%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Oliveira 2.01 / Perry 4.44
Striking defense: Oliveira 44% / Perry 57%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Oliveira 3.19 / Perry 0.83
Takedown accuracy: Oliveira 37% / Perry 55%
Takedown defense: Oliveira 58% / Perry 68%
Submission average: Oliveira 0.9 / Perry 0.0
Bet this fight at BookMaker.eu
A powerful, athletic fighter, Oliviera is a guy that loves to bully opponents. Unfortunately, he hasn’t shown the ability to win highly technical battles. For every guy he trucks through, he will then show huge holes in his game, usually when it comes to grappling exchanges. But when he’s given the opportunity to get into a striking rhythm, he’s as dangerous as it gets in a standup battle.
Perry is a fighter that the UFC obviously wanted to become a star - his huge knockout power and hard-nosed personality is an easy sell. Unfortunately, poor coaching and an inability to evolve have thrown his growth in reverse. Watching him nuke low-level guys was a lot of fun, but as soon as he met more advanced strikers like Santiago Ponzinibbio, Donald Cerrone and even Alan Jouban, Perry’s one-dimensional side was quickly exploited.
While Oliveira will almost certainly oblige Perry in a striking battle, the Brazilian’s takedowns could also play a key role here. Though not a complex grappler, Oliveira’s athleticism and strength allows him to land over three takedowns per 15 minutes - an excellent number for somebody who is considered a striking specialist. Perry is a solid athlete himself, but his takedown defense only hovers around 70%.
UFC Odds Pick: Oliveira to win at -185
Perry’s move to Jackson-Wink was supposed to open up a whole new level for Perry, but his quick loss to Donald Cerrone suggests that he has reached his ceiling. Oliveira’s superior length and quickness gives him a clear advantage in this matchup, in addition to the fact that Perry is coming in with a short camp. We feel good enough about Oliveira’s advantages to tab this a parlay booster.
Bet on UFC on ESPN 3 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 3 takes place on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. The main card airs live on ESPN starting 9pm ET.
