UFC 211 betting tips & specials for Miocic vs. Dos Santos 2

May 12, 2017 2:51 pm.by Todd Davey

UFC 211 Sunday, May 14, 2017, main event begins at 12pm AEST, American Airlines Centre, Dallas, Texas

Fight records:
Miocic – 16 – 2 – 0
Dos Santos – 18 – 4 – 0

Head-to-head odds:
Stipe Miocic: ($1.74 with Sportsbet.com.au)
Junior Dos Santos: ($2.10 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Two of the UFC’s favourite fighters lock horns in the headline act of UFC 211 as American native Stipe Miocic battles Brazilian stalwart Junior Dos Santos for the heavyweight title.

Out of every champion holding the gold in the UFC, Miocic may be the most unlikely, but the 34-year-old’s record in the division belies the popular opinion.

#UFC211 open workouts, done! Ready for Saturday! #AndStill #UFC #HWPO @TCPPhotoCLE pic.twitter.com/BrtpQzOIwF

— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) May 11, 2017

The man who fights out of Ohio is on a four fight win streak, all but one of which have finished in the opening round.

Miocic’s last loss came against Junior Dos Santos back in 2014, but the current champion believes that defeat has spurred him on to become a better fighter.

“I’m at where I’m at because of that fight. I want to thank him for that fight,” Miocic said of Dos Santos.

“Because that’s where I’m at today because of him. I put myself in that position. He’s an animal. He’s a former champ and he’s going to stay a former champ because I’m going to stay champ. Fighting him changed everything.

“I made a comment to my coach actually that night, I said if we fought tomorrow, I’d beat him. Because I knew what I did wrong and I knew what I had to do.

“Things changed. Come see May 13, see what happens.”

Miocic is already predicting a win against the man who holds the last victory over him, but if fight fans were wanting a war of words before the fight, Dos Santos was not prepared provide the fireworks they were after.

The man they call “Cigano” said Sunday’s fight will be a battle between “two nice guys”.

“Actually, I can’t even think bad about this guy, because he’s such a nice guy,” the former champ said.

“The trash talk, people like to see that. They like to see people not getting along with each other. But that’s not happening here.

“But the thing is, we are nice guys. This is the fight that makes more sense, and everybody knows it’s going to be a great fight in the heavyweight division. There is no doubt about that. So that is the interesting thing. Two nice guys.”

WilliamHill.com.au is offering $1.33 on the fight not to go to the judge’s scorecard in the main event, and the champion believes that will be a good bet going into Sunday.

“It’s not going the distance. He knows it, I know it and I’m the one that’s winning. I’m walking out with the belt still wrapped around my waist,” Miocic said.

“You’ll find out when I have my hand raised May 13. But I’m winning. I’m walking out with that belt still around my waist. I’ll tell you that right now. That’s going to happen for damn sure.”

Fight preview

It is a rematch of the bout that the current champion believes “made” him the fighter he is today as Stipe Miocic and Junior Dos Santos renew hostilities at UFC 211.

Stipe Miocic vs Junior Dos Santos!!! Saturday LIVE on PPV! #UFC211 pic.twitter.com/BGScHif4SO

— Dana White (@danawhite) May 12, 2017

Dos Santos won that fight almost two and a half years ago, but Miocic has improved immensely and has registered wins over hall of fame candidates in the UFC.

One thing the 34-year-old champion possesses an incredible amount of heart, which complements his legendary work ethic.

That desire to improve has seen him excel since the loss to JDS, as evidenced by four successive KO/TKO wins.

His opponent is somewhat of a surprising candidate for the title given his last two results have been a loss followed by a win.

The man they call “Cigano” outlasted Ben Rothwell almost a year ago in his last fight, and while that was impressive we cannot help but side with the current champ in this one.

Miocic seems to have set himself for this bout. Redemption is on his mind and we think he should have took much in the tank for fellow “nice guy” Junior Dos Santos.

Stipe Miocic to win $1.74 at Sportsbet.com.au