Will it be Arlovski or Barnett in UFC Fight Night 93?

The card begins from 12.30pm (AEST) on Sunday, September 4.

UFC Fight Night 93 in Hamburg has arrived.

Our betting review takes a look at the top three billing fights of the night.

Arlovski vs Barnett

The heavyweight main card fight of the night sees  the number six-ranked Andrei Arlovski pitted against number nine, Josh Barnett. Both men are former UFC heavyweight champions.

Arlovski’s greatest strength is his ability to absorb a punch and instantly mount a counter-attack, putting his opponent on the back foot when they least expected to be there. The only caveat against Arlovski is the fact he is coming off the back of two rather dominant losses this year. He lost to Stipe Miocic inside the first minute of the first round in January and Alistair Overeem in the second round in May. However, that constitutes two losses from his last eight outings. Arlovski boasts a professional record of 25-12-0 and one no contest.

Arlovski will be looking to keep this fight on its feet and with a take down defence of 83.64 per cent, it looks like that is where this fight just might stay. On his feet, Arlovski is an aggressor, which we love to see in a fight, because the last thing we want to see is two fighters dancing around each other like a production of Cats.

Josh Barnett may carry a little more flubber than Robin Williams, but don’t let that sway you. Barnett can throw knuckles with the best of them, but his true flair comes to life in the grapple and wrestle. Barnett can grind a win out of nothing.

Barnett has a career that has taken him across a broad range of competitions and around the world and left him with a professional record of 34-8-0.

Prediction

SportsBet.com.au has Barnett as the firm favourite on odds of $1.66 and Arlovski at $2.23.

I actually think there is good value in Arlovski. Sure, both men are coming off a loss, but Arlovski is on the back of two straight losses. No self-respecting fighter would let themselves rack up three consecutive losses.

If Arlovski can keep the fight upright and within arm’s reach, then I think he can jag a win through KO or TKO. Barnett is no slouch but I think Arlovski has the hunger to come back harder than a boomerang after two consecutive losses. He has more motivation. More venom.

Tip: Back Arlovski to win at $2.23

Gustafsson vs Blachowicz

Alexander Gustafsson has taken two shots at the light heavyweight title in the last three years but just keeps falling short. This accounts for his recent run of one win and three losses from his last four starts. But he has only lost to such illustrious names as Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson. Despite this recent spate of losses, Gustafsson still holds a professional record of 16-4-0.

Gustafsson’s most recent fight against Daniel Cormier was a narrow, split decision epic bout.

Jan Blachowicz has fought the vast majority of his MMA career in Poland. Since joining the UFC he has won two and lost two, but his entire professional career reads as: 19-5-0.

Prediction

CrownBet.com.au sees this fight going one way: to Alex Gustaffson ($1.15), while Jan Blachowicz has been given long odds of $5.25. I can’t help but agree with CrownBet.com.au on this one. I think Gustafsson has it all over Blachowicz in spades.

Tip: Throw Gustaffson into your multis with confidence at $1.15

Bader vs Latifi

Light heavyweight’s Ryan Bader and Ilir Latifi square off against each other. Bader is the fourth-ranked light heavyweight while Latifi is the 12th ranked.

Bader’s pro record stands at 21-5-0. His early MMA career is littered with submission, KO and TKO wins, whereas his more recent UFC history is mostly decision wins. That goes to show that Bader must be beaten these days. His conditioning must be phenomenal. He can hang in there and carve out a gruelling win.

The only reason Bader lost his last fight against Anthony Jones was because he was too brash and rushed in to an ill-advised take-down that was turned against him inside a minute. Bader will have learnt a hard lesson from that loss and will not make the same mistake twice.

Latifi’s history would suggest a bet on him to win in the first round wouldn’t be the dumbest decision of your life. He has won eight of his 13-4-0 and one non contest fights have been won in the first round. Latifi is also riding high on the back of three straight wins.

He will take that confidence into his fight against Bader.

Prediction

WilliamHill.com.au see’s this fight going in one direction: Ryan Bader’s. They have Bader at $1.37 and Latifi on $3.

With such wild odds of $3 on Latifi there might be a little value to be found in him.

This fight will be won and lost in the first round. If Latifi can come out with power and cunning against Bader in the first round and score a KO, TKO or submission, then the fight is his. However if the fight goes beyond the first round, it is hard to see anyone but Bader walking away with the win.

Tip: Bader to win at $1.37 – throw it in your multis