Middleweight champion Michael Bisping has motivation and a home nation crowd as he makes his first title defense against Dan Henderson at UFC 204 on Saturday.
The confrontation in Manchester, England, seems tailor-made for Bisping, who has a chance to avenge a 2009 knockout defeat against Henderson. The 37-year-old Bisping, who has never lost a fight in his native Great Britain, is listed as a -235 favorite at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Henderson, age 46, is a +185 underdog.
Bisping will enter the cage after getting more prep time than he had ahead of his surprise knockout of Luke Rockhold at UFC 199. As the younger fighter, he should have an edge in stamina against Henderson. Henderson still has his strong right hand, but might have trouble frequently setting it up against a good defensive wrestler in Bisping.
In the co-main event, middleweight Gegard Mousasi is an overwhelming -335 favorite against +255 longshot Vitor Belfort on the UFC betting lines. Both are strikers, but Mousasi has the technique to maintain his guard, which could defuse Belfort’s potential for the knockout. Belfort’s last six fights have all ended by KO or TKO.
Ovince Saint Preux is listed at -155 against slight +125 underdog Jimi Manuwa in their light heavyweight bout. Saint Preux turned a lot of heads by going the distance with Jon Jones at his last fight in late April, while Manuwa is more of a mystery since he has not fought in more than a year. Saint Preux will be out for a quick finish and a statement win, but that might backfire against Manuwa, who has had 13 of his 15 pro wins via knockout.
Stefan Struve is a -185 favorite against Daniel Omielanczuk, who has a +150 payout for a victory in their heavyweight bought. Struve is an intimidating seven-footer whose reach with both his fists and feet is inimitable. Struve is the higher-volume striker, but the six-foot Omielanczuk is the more accurate of the two. With the full-foot disparity in height, it’s Struve’s bout to lose.
Featherweight contender Mirsad Bektic is listed at -700 against late substitute Russell Doane, who is set at +450. Bektic is 10-0 since turning pro in mid-2011. Doane is a substitute for a substitute (replacing Jeremy Kennedy, who replaced original opponent Arnold Allen) who is almost moving up a weight class to fight on short notice. Stranger things have happened, but that’s hardly a favorable situation for a fighter.
