STAR PREVIEW Sat: UFC Woodley vs Burns

The UFC returns to familiar surroundings this weekend as the action comes from the ‘UFC Apex’ in Las Vegas. This headline act this weekend is former welterweight champion Tyron ‘The Chosen One’ Woodley as he looks to bounce back from losing his title against the dangerous and ambitious, Gilbert ‘Durinho’ Burns.

Before losing his title fifteen months ago, Woodley had reigned supreme in the welterweight division for three years and was on his way to becoming recognised as one of the greatest 170lb fighters to ever step into the octagon.

The loss to Kamaru Usman will not define the legacy of the former All-American wrestler, but the manner in which he was dominated will have undoubtedly hurt his ego. He has mentioned during fight week that the defeat has given him extra motivation and a motivated and focused Woodley is still a problem for any fighter in the division.

Gilbert Burns comes to the octagon in the form of his career. The Brazilian is on a five-fight win streak and his one round destruction of Demian Maia earlier this year was perhaps the most impressive, yet.

Since moving to welterweight, ‘Durinho’ has looked like a completely different fighter from the one we seen getting knocked out by Dan Hooker at lightweight. His stand-up game has noticeably improved and adding this to his already extremely accomplished ground game, he is becoming an impressively rounded mixed martial artist.

Woodley starts as the (1/2) favourite in this one and if this was made before his defeat to Usman, he would be a much shorter price than that. Woodley is now 38 and despite their being no doubt about his athletic ability, he is a man who has many other interests outside the sport of MMA and his focus has been questioned before.

Burns would have expected to start as the underdog, and it is a role that will suit the talented Brazilian. He has not competed at the level of the former champion before, but he will know a win here will announce him as a real player in an already stacked welterweight division.

This one is a very difficult fight to predict but it would be harsh to discredit Woodley after his loss to Usman. Burns is a man in incredible form, but he has never won at this sort of level before. Woodley needs a statement performance to announce himself to the world once again and don’t be surprised if he gets it done inside the distance with that trademark right hand that has undone so many fighters before.

The preliminary card looks sure to be a fan friendly watch from start to finish and there is a fight hidden away early on the card between Louis Smolka and Casey Kenney that could provide some value.

Smolka entered the UFC in 2014 with a growing reputation and at one point looked like he could mount a serious title challenge. Things didn’t quite work out and in 2017 he was dropped from the UFC roster.

After being dropped, Smolka revealed he had been battling alcoholism for a large part of his career but after some low-key wins on smaller shows, he is now back as a UFC athlete. If he is refreshed and re-focused this weekend, he could provide real value as a decent priced outsider.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)
Tyron Woodley to win 2.5pts @ 8/15 with starsports.bet
Louis Smolka to win 1pt @ 85/40 with starsports.bet

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