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The UFC returns to where it all started- in Denver, Colorado as the Pepsi Center hosts UFC Fight Night 139: Korean Zombie vs Rodriguez on Saturday November 10, 2018.
More than the fights, the UFC will celebrate its 25th anniversary in this event as it can be recalled that the first ever UFC event took place on November 12, 1993 at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver. The “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung will take on Yair Rodriguez in the five round main event. One of the UFC’s most popular fighters, Donald Cerrone, will take on the up and coming Mike Perry in the co-main event.
Let’s take a look at the key fights of UFC Fight Night 139 and break them down one by one:
Chan Sung Jung vs Yair Rodriguez- main event
Chan Sung Jung is the favorite in this fight and surprisingly, this is the first time in his UFC career where he is the betting favorite. This is the Korean Zombie’s first bout since knocking out Dennis Bermudez at the main event of UFC Fight Night 104. Jung has been in the UFC since 2011 but he’s logged just a total of 5 fights, going 4-1 with 2 knockouts and 2 submission wins. This isn’t the first time that the Korean Zombie is coming off a long hiatus. After his loss to Jose Aldo in 2013, he returned to Korea to fulfill his military duties. The fight against Bermudez was his first in almost three years. Jung is known for his otherworldly recovery attributes, thus earning him the nickname Zombie. He is also a knockout puncher with a granite chin and an underrated submission game.
Moneyline Odds: Jung -113, Rodriguez -107
Over/Under Odds: Over 2.5 -105, Under 2.5 -115
Odds from Sportsbetting.ag as of 11/9/18
Like Chan Sung Jung, Yair Rodriguez hasn’t fought since UFC 211 in more than a year. El Pantera last fought at UFC 211 last May 2017 where he was knocked out by Frankie Edgar. Prior to that loss, the former The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America feather tournament winner had won eight straight bouts, four by finishes. Rodriguez is known for being a creative striker with unorthodox strikes. El Pantera loves to mix his punches will plenty of kicks. He also has excellent striking defense. Since coming over to the UFC, Rodriguez has fought at least every six months. This current one and a half hiatus is the longest of his career,
Who Wins?
No doubt, this will be a classic stand-up battle between two dynamic strikers. When you compare the two though, the Korean Zombie may have more pop in his punches and that could very well be the difference in this fight.
Both men are coming off a long layoff but the Korean Zombie has been in this situation before and he came up big in his return fight knocking out Bermudez. This is the longest idle time in El Pantera’s UFC career and it will be interesting to see the effects of the layoff. Those should be the keys to the fight: Zombie’s power and Rodriguez’s long layoff.
We’re picking the Korean Zombie to beat Yair Rodriguez at the main event of UFC Fight Night 139. This bout could go either way so I don’t blame you if you can’t pick a winner. If so then, you might as well bet on the over/under.
Only two of the Zombie’s 14 wins are by decision while half of Rodriguez’s victories were by finishes. With two dynamic strikers who are willing to throw down, this isn’t likely going the distance. Only two of the Zombie’s six fights went past round three while Rodriguez’s two losses were by knockout. I like the under 2.5 rounds here at -115.
Donald Cerrone vs Mike Perry- co main event
After losing to Rafael Dos Anjos in 2015, Donald Cerrone moved up to the welterweight division. The decision looked brilliant at first as Cowboy was able to rattle off four straight wins in his new weight class. But in a surprise, Cerrone would go on to lose four out of his next fight bouts, the most recent one a unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards last June. Cowboy is one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and never shies away from action. He is a complete fighter but often prefers to stand toe to toe in a stand up battle. On the ground though, Cerrone has elite submission skills and underrated wrestling skills.
Moneyline Odds: Cerrone +170, Perry -195
Over/Under Odds: Over 1.5 -130, Under 1.5 +100
Odds from Sportsbetting.ag as of 11/9/18
Mike Perry looks to secure the biggest win of his career and barge in the 170 pound rankings. Platinum started fighting for the UFC in 2013 but he’s fought thrice a year and is now on his 9th UFC bout. He has split his last six bouts and he’s not won more than two fights in a row in the UFC. Perry is coming off a split decision win over Paul Felder at UFC 226 last July. He’s gone to the scorecards in his last three fights but has been victorious in just one of those. Perry is a freestyle fighter who likes to brawl. Proof of that is his 11 knockouts in 12 wins. He has lost thrice in his career, all by decision.
Who Wins?
The co-main event has every shot at overshadowing the main event because there is bad blood between these two former sparring partners. Cowboy got offended when Perry called him out and then got angry when they chose to corner Perry for their fight. Perry should have an edge here because his coaches know Cerrone like the back of their hands. But Cerrone has the better tools than Perry. If he puts his emotions aside and let his skills work, he’s got this over a one-trick pony in Mike Perry.
We’re picking Donald Cerrone to win by decision. Perry knows only one way to win and Cerrone knows that. If Cowboy plays it smart and doesn’t get hit with a big punch, there is no way Perry can beat him in a three round affair. As for the over/under bet for this fight, we’re going with the over 1.5 rounds. Cerrone knows Perry too well to stay away from harm’s way here.
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