Canadian mixed martial artists will be well represented on the main card at UFC Fight Night 89 in Ottawa on Saturday, including welterweight Rory MacDonald who returns to action for a matchup with Stephen Thompson that is listed as a virtual pick’em at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
“The Red King,” who trains out of Montreal, makes his first Octagon appearance since suffering a fifth-round TKO loss to Robbie Lawler in a UFC Welterweight title fight at UFC 189, dropping his professional record to 18-3 ahead of Saturday night’s MacDonald versus Thompson matchup at TD Place Arena.
MacDonald was pegged as -175 chalk in his second career meeting with Lawler, despite dropping a split decision as a heavy -365 favourite in their first battle at UFC 167.
Thompson has earned Performance of the Night honours on three occasions during his six-fight win streak, including first-round knockout victories in his last two contests.
“Wonderboy” laid out former champion Johny Hendricks as a heavy +200 underdog at UFC Fight Night 82 after ending Jake Ellenberger’s night as -250 chalk at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale.
Other Canadians on the main card at UFC Ottawa include Patrick Cote, who takes on Donald Cerrone as a +145 underdog at the sportsbooks.
A native of Rimouski, Que., “The Predator” is 5-1 as a UFC Welterweight, claiming knockout wins in his past two fights after seeing five of his previous clashes settled by decision.
A strong -175 favourite in his upcoming match with Cote, Cerrone submitted Alex Oliveira in the first round of his welterweight debut at UFC Fight Night 83, paying out as -300 chalk and improving his pro record to 29-7 with one no contest, including 16 wins by submission.
Light heavyweight Steve Bosse of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., is listed as -155 chalk as he looks for his 10th career first-round victory against American Sean O’Connell, who trails as a +125 underdog.
“The Quebec Kid,” Olivier Aubin-Mercier, is strong -365 chalk in his lightweight clash with France’s Thibault Gouti, who sits as an underdog for the third time in his past four outings, sporting +275 odds.
Montreal’s Valerie Letourneau will try to rebound from a disappointing unanimous decision loss to Joanna Jedrzejczyk in a battle for the UFC Women’s Strawweight crown at UFC 193, sitting as -185 chalk against Scotland’s Joanne Calderwood, who trails as a +150 underdog.
Letourneau was a massive +700 underdog in her unsuccessful title bid against Jedrzejczyk, which marked her first loss in four UFC contests.