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Limited sporting events has us looking towards the UFC Saturday with Kevin Lee vs. Charles Oliveira
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UFC vows to hold its regularly scheduled events for now with restrictions on attendance
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A lightweight bout between contenders Kevin Lee and Charles Oliveira will serve as the main event for UFC 170 Saturday night in Brazil. With the rest of the sports world going dark due to concerns over the coronavirus, UFC will hold its regularly scheduled events for now with restrictions on attendance. Short of getting a pickup game together at the local park, this appears to be the only sporting event going this weekend. Saturday’s main card consists of five fights with an additional seven fights making up the preliminary card. Visit BookMaker.eu for current odds for all bouts and to make your wager.
UFC Fight Night 170 – Kevin Lee vs. Charles Oliveira
Date and Time: Saturday, March 14, 2020, 5 p.m. ET
Location: Nilson Nelson Gymnasium, Brasilia, Brazil
Lee vs. Oliveira TV Coverage: ESPN+
UFC Fight Night 170 Odds at BookMaker.eu
Charles Oliveira +115
Kevin Lee -145
Rounds: Over 2.5 +124/Under 2.5 -155
Fight goes/doesn’t go to decision: +255 / -365
Kevin Lee vs. Charles Oliveira Preview
The main event of the 12-bout card features two of the best submission artists in the sport. Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira (28-8, 8 KOs, 18 SUBs) comes off as the slight underdog despite entering the octagon on a six-fight winning streak. His 13 subs are the most in UFC history and he has 18 total throughout his career, though his last two bouts finished with a first round knockout of Jared “Flash” Gordon and a TKO over Nik Lentz.
Showing off his fighting skills Oliveira pummeled Lentz by a 2-to-1 margin in strikes with the fight called in the second round. Ironically, that May 18, 2019 UFC Fight Night featured Kevin Lee (18-5, 3 KOs, 8 SUBs) against Rafael dos Anjos in the main event. Lee moved up to the welterweight class for this fight and succumbed to a fourth round arm choke submission, dropping his second straight fight.
A few months later Lee announced a move back to his more comfortable lightweight division and the move paid off. He spectacularly ended a stretch of three losses in four fights with a head kick knockout of previously undefeated Gregor Gillespie last November, paying handsomely as an underdog. That result also puts the winner of Saturday’s bout squarely in line for a title bid down the road.
The Motown Phenom isn’t used to losing with only two defeats in his first 16 bouts. A submission loss to Tony Ferguson in 2017 for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship dropped his record to 16-3. A unanimous decision loss to Al Iaquinta in December 2018 preceded his move up a weight class.
There’s no denying Lee has the tools to be a champion in either weight class, he just hasn’t put it all together. His last three losses all reached the final round when he ran out of steam. Working on his stamina will allow him to be more effective, especially against a smooth fighter like Oliveira. A lack of consistency throughout his career has prevented Do Bronx from moving up the list of lightweight contenders. That’s hasn’t been a problem during his six-fight winning streak, though.
SIGNIFICANT STRIKES
Strikes landed per minute: Lee 4.06 / Oliveira 3.18
Striking accuracy: Lee 43% / Oliveira 50%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Lee 3.17 / Oliveira 3.01
Striking defense: Lee 52% / Oliveira 54%
GRAPPLING
Takedowns per 15 minutes: Lee 3.1 / Oliveira 2.8
Takedown accuracy: Lee 43% / Oliveira 43%
Takedown defense: Lee 80% / Oliveira 58%
Submissions per 15 minutes: Lee 0.98 / Oliveira 2.8
The numbers suggest a close fight between these two lightweight hopefuls, and with a step toward a title bout in the offing to the winner it won’t lack for excitement. Lee has an edge in striking while Oliveira will try and get this one on the mat. His submission numbers are startling and if Do Bronx gets Lee down and into the later rounds he’s got the edge.
Bet Lee vs. Oliveira at BookMaker.eu
First off this bout isn’t going the distance. Neither fighter has a history of playing to the judges choosing instead to decide the outcome themselves. Lee is a more accomplished fighter, but Oliveira showed wicked striking skills his last two fights, an area he’s certainly worked on. Oliveira is running out of time for that elusive title shot. He’s been a more focused and consistent fighter during his win streak, and he’s going all out for a shot at the belt.
Lee vs. Oliveira UFC Pick: Charles Oliveira by submission
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today.
- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com
