Stann vs. Santiago Free Pick
LAS VEGAS, NV (TheSpread) – One of the featured bouts at UFC 130 on Saturday is a middleweight clash between Brian Stann and Jorge Santiago. Here is my pick for this contest.
View Real-Time Sports Betting Odds
Stann enters UFC 130 as the slight favorite according to oddsmakers from online sportsbook Bodog.com as he has odds of -140 to win while Santiago has a money line of +110. UFC 130 takes place from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and will air live on Pay-Per-View at 9PM ET.
WHY PICK STANN
Stann (10-3) is 2-0 in the UFC since making the move from light heavyweight to middleweight. The former military serviceman has a big fan base in the UFC due to his time in the service. The experiences he had in the service have allowed him to be a composed fighter that doesn’t panic when in a bad situation. Stann’s strengths are his striking, as he has good power and good form. His grappling is solid, but not what he is known for. In this contest Stann should be the stronger fighter with more striking power. His opponent, Santiago, has struggled in the UFC against strikers.
WHY PICK SANTIAGO
Santiago (23-8) is a fighter that had a shaky UFC run a few years ago but after finding success overseas is back to take a second attempt at winning in the octagon. A crafty muay thai striker, Santiago likes to use knees, kicks, and elbows to take out opponents and he has great submission ability on the ground despite not being much of a grappler in a wrestling sense. Stann is still somewhat unproven in the middleweight division while Santiago has established himself as somewhat of a top-10 prospect for the division. Santiago has a little more flash to his fighting style, but that doesn’t always amount to wins.
WHO TO PICK?
My pick for this contest goes with Stann. I like his composure in the cage and I think Santiago’s muay thai style will leave him open to taking a big straight hand from Stann. Santiago has already been knocked out by opponents that Stann has beaten, so I feel like this is a winnable fight for Stann.
UFC 130 FREE PICK: BRIAN STANN -140
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