MMA Odds: A Closer Look At UFC 210 Undercard

We’ve already previewed the headliners for UFC 210, but what about the rest of the main card?

It’s not exactly a stacked undercard and as far as UFC pay-per-view events go, the promotion has seen better days. But there are some interesting match-ups to watch this Saturday (April 8th).

Let’s take a closer look at what’s to come.

Will Brooks (-357) vs. Charles Oliveira (+273)

Will Brooks (19-2) lost his most recent fight to Alex Oliveira, and will now face Charles Oliveira (21-7) for his next bout. Before the loss, he was on a nine-fight win streak. However, this will be only his third fight in the UFC.

After repeatedly missing weight at featherweight, Oliveira has decided (or was forced) to make the leap to lightweight. Since joining the UFC, he’s missed weight a total of four times. He’s also lost three of his last four fights, including two big losses at the hands of Anthony Pettis and Max Holloway.

Oliveira may have an easier time making weight at lightweight, but he may not be well-equipped to handle the division.

Pick: Will Brooks (-357)

Thiago Alves (+182) vs. Patrick Cote (-227)

Together, Thiago Alves (21-11) and Patrick Cote (23-10) have a combined 65 professional fights to their name. UFC 210 pits the two MMA veterans against each other. Originally, the bout was intended to be between Alves and Jake Ellenberger, but that fight failed to materialize, so the UFC signed Cote instead.

Cote earned a title shot against Anderson Silva back in 2008, but at 37 years old, the Canadian is well past his prime. The former MFC and TKO middleweight champion is definitely at the tail-end of his career.

Alves isn’t exactly in peak form either, though. Like Cote, his best days are behind him. He landed a title shot against Georges St-Pierre in 2009, but since then, has only won four of his last ten fights.

Both fighters have seen better days, but I think Cote has a slightly better chance in this match-up.

Pick: Patrick Cote (-227)

Cynthia Calvillo (-235) vs. Pearl Gonzalez (+185)

Cynthia Calvillo (4-0) made her UFC debut at UFC 209, accepting a fight against Amanda Cooper on ten day’s notice.  Of the two, Cooper was the more experienced and established fighter, but Calvillo made easy work of her with a first round submission.

Now, 35 days later, she’s back to take on Pearl Gonzalez (6-1), who is making her UFC debut. Gonzalez is a talented grappler, but her wins have all been at lower-tier organizations like Xplode and HFC.

Calvillo is fighting under the tutelage of the infamous Team Alpha Male and showed off some very creative jiu-jitsu in her last bout. She definitely stands the better chance in this match-up.

Pick: Cynthia Calvillo (-235)