Rear-Naked Choke Radio hosts Joe Rizzo (@rearnakedchoke) and Jason Kelly (@JayKellyMMA) talked betting angles surrounding UFC on Fox 18, the shambles of UFC 196 after losing the main event heavyweight title fight between Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez, and options for the promotion’s big-man division.
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UFC on Fox 18 features a main attraction including light heavyweights Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Ryan Bader, with a co-main event between heavyweight veterans Josh Barnett and Ben Rothwell. Along with that pair of fights, Rizzo and Kelly looked at the betting lines and parlays on the rest of the 13-fight card, including bouts between Iuri Alcântara vs. Jimmie Rivera and Bryan Barberena vs. Sage Northcutt to kickoff the main card.
On Feb. 6, UFC 196 was scheduled to be capped off with heavyweight title rematch between the champ, Werdum, and Velasquez, but the challenger withdrew due to injury. In an obvious stunt, the UFC offered Stipe Miocic a chance to step in a as a late replacement, which he promptly accepted. The following morning, Werdum pulled out citing injury to his foot and back, which cancelled the main event.
Rizzo and Kelly discussed possible options, whether it be pulling a fight from another upcoming show to fill out the main event for UFC 196, or upgrading a bout already scheduled for that night.
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