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BetDSI.com has your UFC Fight Night 63 betting odds and picks for Mendes vs. Lamas, Masvidal vs. Iaquinta and more.
Chad Mendes vs. Ricardo Lamas – Featherweight
Mendes (16-2) has lost just twice in his career, but both of those came to Aldo and the second loss was voted 2014's Fight of the Year. He was an All-American wrestler, but Mendes has improved his striking and he rocked Aldo a couple of times back in October. Lamas (15-3) is also a strong wrestler with a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and he lost to Aldo back in February 2014, but he has won two straight since then. He is an explosive fighter whether it is on the ground or standing up, but so is his opponent.
Masvidal (28-8) has won three in a row since losing to Rustam Khabilov and he prefers to stand up and strike in a variety of ways, but his best trait might be his heart as Masvidal is very tough to stop; he hasn't been knocked out or made to tap since May 2009. That sounds like a challenge to Iaquinta (11-3-1), who has also won three straight fights, all by TKO and he is well known to UFC fans after getting to the finals of The Ultimate Fighter: Live. However, Iaquinta can also take the fight to the mat if he wants to.
Michael Chiesa vs. Mitch Clarke – Lightweight
In that final matchup, Iaquinta lost to Chiesa (11-2), but he is 3-2 since then as Chiesa was submitted by Masvidal, then a cut forced a stoppage in his match against Joe Lauzon in September. Chiesa is a well-rounded fighter and he is very awkward, which makes it tough for opponents to get a read on what he is going to do. Clarke (11-2) is coming off a submission win over Iaquinta in May, and the Canadian is also versatile, but he is dangerous on the ground with seven submission wins and he is always in your face.
Julianna Pena vs. Milana Dudieva – Women's Bantamweight Pena (5-2) won the The Ultimate Fighter 18 and was supposed to fight in March 2014, but she hurt her right knee and was forced to sit out for the entire year, so rust could be a factor. At her best, Pena is good with her hands and excellent with her jiu-jitsu, but again, the rust factor has to be considered. Dudieva (11-3) hails from Russia and has won three in a row, including her UFC debut in a split decisino over Elizabeth Phillips in August. She has six submission wins to her name, so that gives you a hint as to what she wants to do. Clay Guida vs. Robbie Peralta – Featherweight Guida (31-15) has lost four of his last six and is 2-2 since moving from lightweight to featherweight, but his formula stays the same as Guilda will try to outwork, outwrestle and outscramble his opponent; however, he has been submitted eight times. Peralta (18-5, 1 NC) is coming off a submission loss to Thiago Tavares in August, and he has been up and down since joining the UFC. The 145-pound division is getting tougher, and a loss could send one of these men straight to the bottom. Dustin Poirier vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira – Lightweight Poirier (16-4) is fighting at 155 pounds for the first time after he was TKO'd by McGregor in the first round of their fight in September. Whether or not it is a permanent move remains to be seen, but while Poirier is comfortable standing up or on the mat, the mental hurdle of getting knocked out for the first time might be his biggest obstacle. Ferreira (11-1) is coming off his first professional loss to Beneil Dariush in October, and he is a submission ace with six submission wins, so the Brazilian might want to take this fight to the mat.
Jorge Masvidal vs Al Iaquinta – Lightweight
