Markets & specials for Lewis vs. Browne UFC Fight Night 105

Two hard-hitting heavyweights will duke it out in the main event on UFC Fight Night 105 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The bulk of the action will be televised on Fox Sports, with the preliminary card scheduled to kick off at 10:30am on Monday, February 20.

Let’s check out the fight odds, exotic bets and online bookmaker specials on offer for the five prelims and six main fights.

Gerald Meerschaert vs. Ryan Janes

Meerschaert (25-8) – -303.03 at Sportsbet
Janes (9-1) – +270 at Ladbrokes

Some 25 of Meerschaert’s 33 fights have been decided via submission.

‘The Machine’ has a strong grappling game and likes to go to the floor whenever the chance arises.

In Janes, he faces an opponent who is known for adaptability and absorption more than anything else.

The 6’3″ Canadian has lost only once in 10 fights, with seven of those wins coming through submission.

But he is not a dominant fighter, despite his imposing stature, and tends to be rather reactive.

Both can grapple, but Meerschaert should have the upper hand here.

Top tip: Meerschaert by decision (+250 at WilliamHill.com.au)

Jack Marshman vs. Thiago Santos

Marshman (21-5) – +155 at CrownBet
Santos (13-5) – -175.44 at Bet365

Marshman is a blue-collar middleweight work horse who has a knack for landing the killer blow.

More than half of the Welshman’s 21 victories have come through KO/TKO results.

Yet ‘The Hammer’ has been laid out three times himself, which might explain why Santos comes in as the favourite.

The Brazilian is an explosive athlete whose Asian-style round kicks pack some serious power.

But he is vulnerable to front-on pressure, as witnessed in his defeat to Gerard Mousasi at UFC 200.

That is where Marshman’s proactivity, fast tempo and dogged persistence will come to the fore.

Top tip: Marshman by KO/TKO (+310 at Ladbrokes.com.au)

Aiemann Zahabi vs. Reginaldo Vieira

Zahabi (6-0) – -208.33 at Sportsbet
Vieira (13-4) – +187 at Bet365

Firas Zahabi has trained some of the most successful fighters on the planet, including the great Georges St-Pierre.

Hence, MMA fans are eagerly awaiting his younger brother’s Ultimate Fighting Championship debut.

In six competitive fights outside the UFC, Aiemann has finished each of his opponents in the first round.

Powerful, precise hitting and patient strategy appear to be the 29-year-old bantamweight rookie’s hallmarks.

Vieira is a beast on the ground who deals predominately in submissions.

If Zahabi can keep the Brazilian on his feet and control the pace, he should have the upper hand.

Top tip: Zahabi in round two (+600 at WilliamHill.com.au)

Carla Esparza vs. Randa Markos

Esparza (11-3) – -277.78 at Ladbrokes
Markos (6-4) – +240 at Bet365

These two had a fierce feud on The Ultimate Fighter reality television program in 2014.

It was Esparza who emerged with the bragging rights, defeating Markos en route to the TUF title.

‘Cookie Monster’ has fought only three times in as many years on the UFC circuit, and some have questioned whether she has the desire to continue at this level.

It is a very different story for Markos, who will be desperate for revenge.

The Iraq-born Canadian has alternated between wins and losses in her last seven pro fights.

She went down to Cortney Casey at UFC 202, and she could struggle against Esparza’s well-rounded game.

Top tips: Esparza by submission (+400 at WilliamHill.com.au)

Nordine Taleb vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio

Taleb (12-3) – +325 at Bet365
Ponzinibbio (23-3) – -384.62 at CrownBet

These are two very different fighters.

Taleb is a muay thai specialist who deals in sharp jabs and textbook kickboxing.

By contrast, Ponzinibbio is an action fighter who applies plenty of pressure and boasts an eye-catching technique.

Now entering his prime years, the Argentine is maturing into a potential UFC title contender.

The trick for Taleb will be to redirect his opponent’s angles and open up spaces for the counterattack.

It should be fascinating contest, but Ponzinibbio is the pick.

Top tip: Ponzinibbio by decision (+205 at Ladbrokes.com.au)

Alessandro Ricci vs. Paul Felder

Ricci (10-4) – +300 at Ladbrokes
Felder (12-3) – -333.33 at Sportsbet

Both are muay thai fighters.

Both have superb timing and powerful legs.

Both have a tendency to get hemmed in on the chicken wire.

The difference between these two is experience and preparation.

Felder is a proven performer at this level, but he only accepted this bout a few weeks ago.

While Ricci has enjoyed a full run-in, he has not knocked anyone out since moving up in class in 2014.

Felder’s greater experience and flexibility should serve him well here.

Top tip: Felder by decision (-105.26 at Ladbrokes.com.au)

Sara McMann vs. Gina Mazany

McMann (10-4) – -526.32 at Sportsbet
Mazany (4-0) – +400 at Ladbrokes

Certain critics seem to forget how new McMann is to mixed martial arts.

The former Olympic medal-winning wrestler only took this game up in 2011, so it makes sense that she is only now coming into her own.

Let’s not forget that her three career defeats have come against Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes – now UFC champions all.

Surprisingly, given her background, it is strong grappling play that has undone McMann in the past.

That should not be an issue against Mazany.

While she is yet to be defeated as a pro, all four of those wins have come against raw novices.

Unless the 28-year-old Alaskan shows some stunning development in her guard game, McMann should have this.

Top tip: McMann in round one (+400 at Ladbrokes.com.au)

Elias Theodorou vs. Cezar Ferreira

Theodorou (11-1) – +105 at Ladbrokes
Ferreira (10-5) – -125 at Sportsbet

Theodorou is a wonderful athlete whose style is difficult to master, even for the most physically impressive fighters.

The problem with his mobile, kick-heavy game is that, as is so often the case with such talents, it has left his boxing skills somewhat underdeveloped.

That could be a big problem for this particular match-up.

Ferreira has struggled at times against fighters who are strong with their hands.

The 32-year-old Brazilian has improved his own boxing ability as a result, which is a nice addition to his prowess in wrestling and jiu-jitsu.

That extra string could be the difference.

Top tip: Ferreira by decision (+215 at Ladbrokes)

Sam Sicilia vs. Gavin Tucker

Sicilia (15-7) – +137 at Bet365
Tucker (9-0) – -153.85 at Ladbrokes

This is an interesting one.

Sicilia is an experience clubber, with more than half of his 15 victories coming via knockout or TKO.

But he comes into this off consecutive defeats to Doo Ho Choi (KO) and Gabriel Benitez (technical submission).

Tucker is undefeated in nine pro fights, but this is a serious step up in class for the UFC debutant.

Not one of his wins has gone the distance – a record that speaks of strong finishing skills and a solid all-round attack.

The bookies like Tucker, but Sicilia’s experience against seriously good opposition could give him the edge against fresh meat.

Top tip: Sicilia by decision (+350 at WilliamHill.com.au)

Johny Hendricks vs. Hector Lombard

Hendricks – +125 at Bet365
Lombard – -142.86 at CrownBet

It is fair to say Hendricks isn’t quite the fighter he used to be.

‘Bigg Rigg’ has lost each of his three bouts, leaving him with a 1-4 record since winning the UFC welterweight title in 2014.

But his opponent in Halifax is in a similar situation.

Lombard’s athleticism was once his greatest strength, but ‘Lightning’ is just a nickname now.

The 39-year-old Cuban is not quite the fast, agile beast he once was.

He was knocked out twice in 2016 – a method of defeat he had never experienced prior.

It is a tight one, but the younger man might have the edge.

Top tip: Hendricks by decision (+250 at WilliamHill.com.au)

Derrick Lewis vs. Travis Browne

Lewis (17-4) – -109.89 at Ladbrokes
Browne (18-5-1) – +100 at Bet365

Is there a more well-liked fighter than Lewis in the UFC right now?

The big heavyweight is an entertainer in and out of the cage, dishing out huge punches and quirky remarks in equal measure.

Five wins on the bounce sees Lewis enter the main event on something of a roll.

Yet the bookies have the two combatants very tight in the outright betting.

Browne has lost four of his last six in the UFC, including back-to-back flops against Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum.

The Hawaiian’s weapon is his takedown game, but Lewis has a knack for pushing through difficult grappling plays.

Top tip: Lewis in round three (+1200 at WilliamHill.com.au)