“This fight’s gonna bankrupt Vegas” – Opening odds favoring Magomed Ankalaev over Alex Pereira leaves fans puzzled

Opening odds emerge for Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev potential fight.

“This fight’s gonna bankrupt Vegas” – Opening odds favoring Magomed Ankalaev over Alex Pereira leaves fans puzzled

Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira (via Imago)

Betting odds often raise eyebrows in the unpredictable MMA world. However, some odds are just too bizarre. This comes as the odds opened up for a potential fight between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira. The latest buzz comes as Pereira, the UFC light heavyweight champion, opened as the underdog against Ankalaev.

Alex Pereira, the two-division UFC champion, has been on a meteoric rise. He’s knocked out some of the best in the game, like Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, Jamahal Hill, and Jiri Prochazka. His left hook is so powerful that it probably makes Thor jealous. The oddsmakers have made their decision. They’ve pegged Pereira at +210 against Ankalaev’s -250.

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Magomed Ankalaev, the Russian destroyer, is no slouch himself. He’s got a record that would make most fighters retire early. Ankalaev hasn’t lost a fight since March of 2018. His ground game is very good, plus he’s got the knockout power as well. Ankalaev’s recent fight against Johnny Walker showcased his power. His wrestling could be why the oddsmakers chose Ankalaev over Pereira. 

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Pereira has made a career of defying odds. Nevertheless, ‘Poatan’ has never fought a true grappler like Ankalaev. In the first MMA bout against Adesanya, the Brazilian champ struggled in the grappling department. This might also suggest why the oddsmakers have Ankalaev as a favorite over the fan-favorite ‘Poatan.’

Fight fans react to the opening odds for potential Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev bout

Betting odds are an unpredictable science. Sometimes, even seasoned fans find themselves scratching their heads in disbelief. This was the case when betting odds were released for a potential bout between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev. Pereira opened as a +210 underdog against Ankalaev’s -250 favorite.

Alex Pereira's rise in the MMA
Alex Pereira (via Sports Illustrated)

Fight fans took to social media to react to these betting odds. Some fight fans were in disbelief about the odds between the two. Others felt that Ankalaev’s ground game was the reason for these odds. A subset of fans believed that these odds could have severe financial consequences.

https://twitter.com/Meryan2622861/status/1807496731493269537

As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: if this fight does materialize, it will be a must-watch for fight fans. Fans of both these athletes would be eager to see which one prevails over the other. If Pereira doesn’t move to heavyweight, this would probably be the fight to make after UFC 303.

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