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The UFC travels overseas to the Sajik Arena in Busan, South Korea for UFC Fight Night 165. The main event takes place in the featherweight division where Frankie Edgar takes on the “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. The co-main takes place in the light heavyweight division where Volkan Oezdemir faces off against Aleksandar Rakic. Also, on the main card Doo Ho Choi takes on Charles Jourdain, Da Un Jung faces off against Mike Rodriguez, Jun Yong Park goes up against Marc-Andre Barriault and Kyung Ho Kang vs. Liu Pingyuan.
The prelims will stream on ESPN+ on Saturday beginning at 1:00 AM (CST) with the main card starting at 4:00 AM (CST) also on ESPN+.
Note: The predictions in this column do not necessarily mean that I will be betting them. I have changed my mind in the past and gone the other way after conducting more research. For all my official bets follow me on Twitter @MichaelGrocke.
Main Card
Chan Sung Jung (15-5) vs. Frankie Edgar (23-7-1) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Current Odds: Jung -175; Edgar +145
Longtime UFC vet Frankie Edgar is 1-2 over his previous three bouts. The losses are to Brian Ortega and most recently, Max Holloway. A victory over Cub Swanson came in between the two loses. At thirty-eight-years-old Edgar will make the walk for the thirty-second time and the twenty-sixth time for the UFC. Twelve of ‘The Answers” twenty-three career victories went to the judge’s scorecards.
Chan Sung Jung is 2-2 over his previous four, alternating wins and losses. His most recent fight was at UFC Fight Night 154 where he defeated Renato Carneiro via (T)KO in under a minute. All but two of the South Korean’s fifteen career wins ended inside the distance. Five by (T)KO and eight by way of submission. The thirty-two-year-old makes the walk for the twenty-first time when he steps into the octagon opposite Edgar.
My official pick: Jung by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Volkan Oezdemir (16-4) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (12-1) – Light Heavyweight 205 lbs.
Current Odds: Rakic -150; Oezdemir +120
Volkan Oezdemir was on a three-fight losing streak until he beat Ilir Latifi via knockout in his most recent fight at UFC Fight Night 156. The Swiss fighter has thirteen finishes in his sixteen career victories. At thirty-years-old, “No Time” will make the walk for the twenty-first time.
After losing his professional debut back in October 2011, Aleksandar Rakic has rattled off twelve straight victories. His most recent win occurred at UFC Fight Night 153 where he defeated Jimi Manuwa via knockout forty-two seconds into the fight. The Austrian born fighter has finished ten of his twelve career victories. All but one is by (T)KO. The twenty-seven-year-old makes the walk for the fourteenth time.
My official pick: Rakic by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass
Doo Ho Choi (14-3) vs. Charles Jourdain (9-2) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Current Odds: Choi -335; Jourdain +260
South Korea’s own Doo Ho Choi enters the fight on a two-fight skid. His most recent loss was at UFC Fight Night 124 where Jeremy Stephens finished him in the second round. Twelve of his fourteen career victories ended inside the distance. All but one is by (T)KO. This will be the twenty-eight-year-old’s eighteenth pro bout.
After winning four in a row, Charles Jourdain dropped a unanimous decision to Desmond Green at UFC Fight Night 152. It was also his UFC debut. The Canadian born fighter has finished all nine of his career victories. This will be the twenty-four-year-old’s twelfth pro bout.
My official pick: Choi by (T)KO.
From a betting perspective: Pass. I’m interested to see how Choi looks after the layoff.
Da Un Jung (12-2) vs. Mike Rodriguez (10-4) – Light Heavyweight 205 lbs.
Current Odds: Rodriguez -120; Jung -110
South Korean fighter Da Un Jung enters the fight looking for his twelfth straight victory. His most recent win was at UFC Fight 157 where he subbed Khadis Ibrahimov in the third round. All but one of his twelve career victories ended inside the distance. Nine by (T)KO to go along with two via submission. This will be the thirty-one-year old’s fifteenth professional fight.
Mike Rodriguez enters the fight 1-2 over his previous three fights. His most recent fight was at UFC Fight Night 155 where he dropped a unanimous decision to John Allan Arte. The American born fighter has finished all ten of his career victories. He’ll make the walk for the fifteenth time.
My official pick: Jung by decision, but with little confidence.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Jun Yong Park (10-4) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (11-3) – Middleweight 185 lbs.
Current Odds: Barriault -130; Park +100
Jun Yong Park was on a seven-fight winning streak until he lost to Anthony Hernandez in his most recent fight at UFC Fight Night 157. It was also the South Korean’s UFC debut. Eight of Park’s ten career wins ended inside the distance. This will be the twenty-eight-year-old’s fifteenth pro bout.
Marc-Andre Barriault comes into his fight against Park on a two-fight losing streak. His most recent loss was to Krzysztof Jotko at UFC 240. The Canadian born fighter makes the walk for the fifteenth time. He’s finished eight of his eleven career wins. All by (T)KO.
My official pick: Barriault by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Kyung Ho Kang (16-8, 1 NC) vs. Pingyuan Liu (13-6) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Current Odds: Kang -260; Liu +200
Pingyuan Liu had won ten fights in a row until getting finished by Jonathan Martinez at UFC Fight Night 155. He is 2-1 in the UFC. Ten of the Chinese born fighter’s fifteen career victories ended inside the distance. At twenty-six-years-of-age, Liu will make the walk for the twenty-first time.
South Korea’s Kyung Ho Kang enters the fight on a two-fight win streak and 5-1 over his last six. Thirteen of his sixteen wins ended inside the distance; eleven via submission. The thirty-two-year-old makes the walk for the twenty-sixth time when he steps into the cage opposite Liu.
My official pick: Kang by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Prelims Quick Picks
Ciryl Gane (5-0) vs. Tanner Boser (17-5-1) – Heavyweight 265 lbs.
Current Odds: Gane -600; Boser +400
My official pick: Gane by submission.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Sung Woo Choi (7-3) vs. Suman Mokhtarian (8-1) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Current Odds: Choi -290; Mokhtarian +230
My official pick: Choi by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Dong Hyun Ma (16-10-3) vs. Omar Morales (8-0) – Middleweight 155 lbs.
Current Odds: Morales -200; Ma +160
My official pick: Morales by decision.
From a betting perspective: I made a 1* bet on Omar Morales at -185 on Monday, 12/16.
Alexandre Pantoja (21-4) vs. Matt Schnell (14-4) – Flyweight 125 lbs.
Current Odds: Pantoja -240; Schnell +200
My official pick: Pantoja by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Raoni Barcelos (14-1) vs. Said Nurmagomedov (13-1) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Current Odds: Barcelos -115; Nurmagomedov -115
My official pick: Nurmagomedov by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Amanda Lemos (6-1-1) vs. Miranda Granger (5-0) – Flyweight 125 lbs.
Current Odds: Granger -185; Lemos +155
My official pick: Granger by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Heili Alateng (13-7-1) vs. Ryan Benoit (10-5) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Current Odds: Benoit -120; Alateng -110
My official pick: Alateng by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Enjoy the fights!