Esther Lin/MMA FightingA Gambler’s Guide to UFC Fight Night 52 RJ Gardner September 17, 2014 Events UFC Fight Night 52 takes place on September 20, 2014 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan and on paper this card has a lot of potential. The fan in me loves this card but the gambler in me is a little worried as there doesn’t seem to be any great plays. But when you really dig into it, there is always money to be made and that is the goal of every gambler out there. Miesha Tate, -280 vs. Rin Nakai, +200 Rin Nakai’s undefeated record may be misleading heading into this bout as she has never faced a fighter on Meisha Tate’s level. Tate is the real deal in the women’s bantamweight division and she is looking to make a statement in this bout. The play – Take Tate to win and at +160 pair it with the bout ending before two and a half rounds Amir Sadollah, +145 vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama, -185 This fight is a bit of a head scratcher as Amir Sadollah and Yoshihiro Akiyama have not competed in two years but I still like the bout. Sadollah and Akiyama both know how to have exciting fights and I expect this bout to deliver on that front. With no recent activity to judge from, though, picking a winner in this bout is tough. I love Akiyama’s judo but he doesn’t use it and prefers to strike instead. Sadollah, on the other hand, knows how to play to his strengths. Ring rust is going to be a factor for both fighters, so whoever can shake it off first will have the advantage. The play – Take Sadollah to win Myles Jury, -505 vs. Takanori Gomi +335 Myles Jury is one of the best prospects in the UFC right now and he has yet to lose a bout in his career but even at 35, Takanori Gomi is a dangerous fighter. Gomi has great power, solid wrestling and an unorthodox attack making him difficult to prepare for. On paper, Jury should win this fight hands down and that is why is he favored so heavily but I have a feeling Gomi wants to make a statement in front of his countrymen. The play – At +335 Gomi is a great underdog play Mark Hunt, -145 vs. Roy Nelson, +125 If you are not excited about Mark Hunt fighting Roy Nelson then you are not a true MMA fan in my book. These guys represent a simpler time in MMA, before the sport was littered with elite athletes; these men are simply fighters. Hunt and Nelson have big power and crazy good chins so buckle in for a fun ride. Hunt is an elite striker with a K-1 background but Nelson is no slouch on the feet. If Nelson were able to get this fight to the ground his grappling would take over and he would win easily but Nelson wants to do more than just win; he wants to make a statement. Nelson is going to go in there and look to beat Hunt at his own game; while it is a dangerous move Nelson has the tools to do it. The play – Take Nelson to win as the slight underdog and at +540 take him to win by decision Odds by BestFightOdds.com Click here for more information on gambling and casino games
