UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Johnson points to the heavens while being announced versus Daniel Cormier for their UFC 187 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday, May 22, 2015.
Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 | 2 a.m.
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In the first UFC on Fox event last year, Anthony Johnson entered the headlining bout as a prohibitive underdog.
The heavy-handed light heavyweight veteran finds himself in the direct opposite situation in the first UFC on Fox card of 2016, but hopes for the same result. Johnson is a minus-320 (risking $3.20 to win $1) favorite over Ryan Bader, who comes back at plus-265 (risking $1 to win $2.65) in the main event of UFC on Fox 18.
The main card begins at 5 p.m. today from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Johnson went off at identical odds to Bader almost exactly a year ago at UFC on Fox 14 before what stands as the brightest moment of his career. Johnson knocked out Alexander Gustafsson in front of his native Sweden crowd to earn a title shot.
The same prize awaits Johnson this time around, as the winner of the UFC on Fox 17 is expected to challenge the victor of a rematch between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier. Jones vs. Cormier II is not yet announced, but heavily linked to UFC 197 on April 23.
Our UFC on Fox 18 picks panel unanimously thinks Johnson will again stand at the front of the line, as all four prognosticators went with him over Bader at UFC 197.
Check below for a breakdown of the cards along with full odds and picks from Las Vegas Sun’s Case Keefer (9-3 year to date), Las Vegas Sun’s Ray Brewer (7-3), ESPN Radio’s Steve Cofield (7-5) and KSNV’s Randy Howe (6-6).
Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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