Joaquin Buckley vs Antonio Arroyo Odds, Preview and Prediction, September 18 (9/18): UFC

Credit: photo by Jason Da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

 

Odds

Time (Main Card)	7:00 p.m. EST
Joaquin Buckley money line	-200
Antonio Arroyo money line	+170

 

Key stats

	Joaquin Buckley	Antonio Arroyo
Height	5'10	6'3
Weight	185	185
Reach	76'	73'
Record	12-4	9-4
Streak	L1	L2
Last 5	3-2	3-2

 

Preview

The opening fight of the main card comes in the Middleweight division, as Joaquin Buckley takes on Antonio Arroyo in what could be your ‘Fight of the Night’. Buckley is coming off a shocking defeat, as he was viciously knocked out by Alessio Di Chirico. Before the loss, Buckley had won two consecutive fights, with one of them being one of the best knockouts you’ll ever see. Meanwhile, Arroyo enters this fight on a two-fight skid. Yet to taste victory inside the UFC, Arroyo has been undone by his lack of takedown defense. Physically imposing, it remains to be seen what exactly Arroyo can do if given the chance to be in a striking contest.

Prediction

There is a bit of a wildcard feeling in this fight, as Antonio Arroyo has yet to display the striking abilities that got him into the UFC. Given Joaquin Buckley is a striker, it’s fair to assume we will see Arroyo at his best. With a karate stance, Arroyo looks to keep opponents at a distance while peppering a jab and landing high kicks. Physically big for the weight class, Arroyo checks in 6’3. That’s problematic for Buckley, who at 5’10 is already on the smaller size-wise for the Middleweight division. Then again, the powerful striker has delivered two impressive knockouts thus far in the UFC. 

As for a prediction, I’m going upset and picking Arroyo. I think the oddsmakers are a little off in this fight. I don’t see Buckley as a moderate favorite, especially given he’s been knocked out in two of his four fights in the UFC. I don’t think it’s necessarily a durability issue with Buckley, more than his style leaves him open to getting tagged. Obviously he does his fair share of tagging opponents too, but in what is expected to be a striking contest, I liken Arroyo’s size and karate style to give Buckley fits. I also believe that since I don’t expect wrestling or grappling in this fight, Arroyo will show off a much better gas tank than he has in his last two fight’s. In the end, I foresee the judges not being needed in this one, as I predict Arroyo wins this slugfest via TKO.

PICK: Antonio Arroyo (+170)

 

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