After more than a year outside of the Octagon, Women Strawweight champion Rose Namajunas will make her highly anticipated return when she defends her title at UFC 237. Oddly enough, the champ is an underdog to the challenger, Jessica Andrade. Let’s take a closer look at that matchup as well as the rest of the main card, including all the latest betting odds:
Rose Namajunas vs. Jessica Andrade
Odds: Andrade -130
This will not be an easy title defence by any means as Andrade has proven to be a very capable fighter. Andrade, who is coming off a knockout win over Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC 228, has won three bouts in a row. Still, the champion is extremely intelligent and it’s important not to forget how talented she is. Joanna Jedrzejczyk looked unstoppable until Rose Namajunas beat her twice. The champion has also had plenty of time to rest, train and prepare for this specific opponent. Rather than being a detriment, expect the time off to work in favour of Namajunas, who will be locked in by the time she steps inside the Octagon.
Jared Cannonier vs. Anderson Silva
Odds: Cannonier -160
Silva insisted that he wanted to be a part of the next UFC event in Brazil. Now he is set to clash with Cannonier in what could be the final fight of his career. At 44 years old, Silva isn’t the same fighter that he once was. Cannonier is younger, fastest and arguably tougher than Silva is right now, which is why he is the favourite. He earned this opportunity with a TKO win over David Branch at UFC 230 and it’s worth mentioning that 64 percent of his victories have come via knockout. Does The Spider have one more great performance left in him?
Jose Aldo vs. Alexander Volkanovski
Odds: Aldo -145
Switching to another Brazilian MMA legend, the former UFC Featherweight champion Aldo is in the midst of a career resurgence following back-to-back TKO wins over Jeremy Stephens and Renato Moicano. While Max Holloway got the best of him in consecutive knockout losses, Aldo has proven that he can still hang with some of the best that the division has to offer in his two fights since then. Volkanovski owns an impressive record, but his lack of victories over big name fighters is why he’s still the underdog in this fight.
Thiago Alves vs. Laureano Staropoli
Odds: Staropoli -115
Alves won’t be remembered in the same class as Silva or Aldo, but the Fortaleza, Brazil native has put together an impressive career in his own right. That career appears to be winding down with just two wins in his last six fights. It won’t get any easier against a potential rising star in Staropoli. “Pepi” has won six straight fights including a decision win over Hector Aldana at UFC Fight Night 140.
Francisco Trinaldo vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira
Odds: Ferreira -165
The opening fight on the main card should feature plenty of fireworks as two native Brazilians throw down with Trinaldo taking on Ferreira. Ferreira is the younger fighter and enters having won four straight. However, Trinaldo has the potential to be a dangerous opponent in this fight as he lays it all on the line looking to record back-to-back wins for the first time since 2016. These fighters have combined for three knockouts in the last four victories between them, so this could be a short fight.