Ronda Rousey will be looking to successfully defend her UFC Women’s Bantamweight championship for a seventh time when she takes on challenger Holly Holm at UFC 193 on Saturday as a strong -2000 betting favorite.
Rousey has owned the division since joining the UFC in 2012 while still holding the Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Championship, winning six straight fights, all inside the distance, to improve her overall professional record to a perfect 12-0.
The 28-year-old has kept busy in 2015, recording a pair of first-round victories at UFC 184 and UFC 190.
Rousey didn’t disappoint as a heavy -900 favorite in her battle with Cat Zingano at UFC 184, submitting the previously-undefeated American with a straight armbar just 14 seconds into their bout, setting the UFC record for the fastest-ever victory while paying out on -120 odds of a win in the first frame.
At UFC 190, Rousey proved equally dominant, ending challenger Bethe Correia’s night just 34 seconds into the first round, paying off as a -1400 favorite while rewarding loyal bettors who wagered on a first-round victory, which this time carried longer -300 odds.
The champion could face stiffer competition from Holm, a relative newcomer to the UFC following a successful boxing career. The Bantamweight division’s No. 7 challenger enters the Octagon on Saturday at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia as a +900 underdog to earn her first UFC crown.
Holm held several world championship belts during a decade-long boxing career, including the WBF, WBC, WBA, WIBA, IFBA, and IBA Female Welterweight and Light Welterweight titles, and was named Fighter of the Year on four occasions.
The 31-year-old posted wins by decision in her previous two UFC appearances, topping Marion Reneau by unanimous decision as a -210 favorite at UFC Fight Night 71 after getting past Raquel Pennington by split decision at UFC 184, paying out as a -900 favorite.
In other UFC 193 betting action, Joanna Jedrzejczyk takes on Valerie Letourneau as massive -2250 chalk in their battle for the UFC Women’s Strawweight title.
As well, a pair of Heavyweight bouts feature Mark Hunt battling Antonio Silva as a -270 favorite, while Stefan Struve takes on Jared Rohalt as -130 chalk. And Uriah Hall will be looking for his third straight win by TKO when he clashes with Robert Whittaker as a -140 favorite in their Middleweight matchup.