UFC Fight Night: Joanne Calderwood vs. Jennifer Maia Betting Guide (2020)
Just as it got here, it’s seemingly over, as UFC’s “Fight Island†has now come and gone after four great bouts. The UFC has done a tremendous job in testing their athletes and preventing any outbreaks that have challenged other leagues. When Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan gets underway, it will be the company’s 13th event since the shutdown began in March.
In typical company fashion, they’ve wasted no time getting back in the octagon. They now return to Las Vegas for this weekend’s fights at the UFC APEX.
While there are no belts on the line this weekend, the co-main event features two women looking for a shot at one. Flyweights Joanne Calderwood and Jennifer Maia will need to win this one first.
With all eyes (and bets) likely primed for the main event, let’s take a closer look at what should be a very entertaining c0-main.
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Joanne Calderwood (14-4-0) vs. Jennifer Maia (17-6-1)
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil, Jennifer Maia returns to the octagon Saturday night. She’s coming off just her second loss since joining the UFC in the summer of 2019. Last November, she lost to No. 1 flyweight contender Katlyn Chookagian, and she failed to make weight for the fight.
The result, a unanimous decision loss, was Maia’s eighth-straight fight that she let go to the judge’s scorecard. This has been a theme throughout her career, and it’s cost her on at least four occasions.
When Maia steps into the octagon this time, it won’t be against the opponent she trained for. Her original opponent, Viviane Araujo, tested positive for COVID and has been disqualified. In per place, Joanne Calderwood steps in on late notice, and the division’s No. 3 contender will provide Maia with a whole host of problems.
The last time we saw Calderwood fight came in September. She fought to a split decision win over Andrea Lee at UFC 242. Like three of her four contests prior, the match went to the judge’s scorecard. Since it could’ve gone either way, that’s an outcome she’ll want to prevent if she wants to secure a win on Saturday.
In this one, the low hanging fruit is a prop on this one to go the distance. Unfortunately, that line has odds off no less than -300 no matter where you look. For my money, I’ll take the more experienced, battle-tested Calderwood to win, of course by the judge’s scorecard, in what will be just a three-round fight.
Pick: Joanne Calderwood by Points +105
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TJ Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.