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Carrie Stroup here with your UFC on FX 6 betting odds, courtesy of Sportsbook.com, which was offering up to $250 in FREE CASH when you open an online wagering account here.
George Sotiropoulos (14-4) vs. Ross Pearson (15-6)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Sotiropoulos -125, Pearson -105
As the opposing coaches on this round of this season’s The Ultimate Fighter, lightweights George Sotiropoulos and Ross Pearson will headline the main card of UFC on FX 6 Friday night in Australia.
Sotiropoulos is in need of a win in this one, coming off consecutive losses to Dennis Siver and Rafael dos Anjos. Pearson also enters this fight coming off a loss, falling to Cub Swanson. With both of these talented fighters hungry, the best of their clashing fighting styles should come out. Pearson is a deft boxer and wrestler, epitomizing the ground-and-pound philosophy. Sotiropoulos’ game is more built on his stamina and athleticism. He has not looked in top form lately, including his loss to Siver, who Pearson beat in 2010.
Sotiropoulos likes to win one way: via submissions. Eight of his 14 career wins have come that way, adding five decisions and just one knockout. Key to that are his strong Jiu-Jitsu skills, with submissions making up nearly half of his attacks. The question is if he can come out stronger than he did against Siver and dos Anjos. Those losses were a decision and knockout, respectively, and he needs to be on his toes throughout to avoid those fates again, this time against a fighter who has won every which way.
Prior to "The Real Deal" Pearson’s loss to Swanson, he beat Junior Assuncao in a unanimous decision. In fact, his past three victories have all been via decision. Overall, in his UFC career, he is 5-3, with the other two losses being a controversial split decision to Edson Barboza and a submission by Cole Miller. He will need to be on the lookout for that fate against against Sotiropoulos, who will capitalize on any chance for a quick submission victory. But with five career submissions and three career knockouts, Pearson can end this before the bell as well.
Robert Whittaker (10-2) vs. Brad Scott (8-1)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Whittaker -220, Scott +170
Brad Scott and Robert Whittaker will make their official UFC debuts after a season on The Ultimate Fighter.
Whittaker has made it look easy on this season of TUF, winning his two bouts to get to this final round by very quick knockouts. The two wins took him a combined minute and a half, showing the power he can unfurl at any point. Scott had more struggles on TUF, needing a split decision to get out of his semifinal bout. Although Scott is a deft fighter, he just hasn’t shown what it takes to compete with Whittaker, who has indicated that he may have a promising UFC future if he continues to fight at such an elite level. Meanwhile, scrapping out split decisions will not be a likelihood against this fighter for Scott.
Prior to TUF, Whittaker lost via decision to Jesse Suarez, but he has clearly recovered his strong form since then. Of his nine career wins, none have gone to the final bell—four have been knockouts, five have been submissions. But that doesn’t include his two TUF knockouts that demonstrated his unorthodox striking power, which regularly keeps his opponents off balance. At just 21 years old, he should only be improving.
At 6-foot-1, Scott owns a two-inch height advantage in this fight. Interestingly enough, he had never won via decision prior to his two TUF bouts. His eight career wins were five knockouts and three submissions. Although it may be difficult to knock Whittaker out, given his striking prowess, maybe Scott will have the chance to break him down for a submission. Whittaker’s other career loss, to Hoon Kim, was a triangle choke submission. Still, that appears unlikely given Scott’s struggles to the finals and Whittaker’s dominance.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
