Bettors on this weekend’s UFC 196 are finding it hard to resist taking a flier on +400 underdog Nate Diaz in his non-title welterweight bout against featherweight champion Conor McGregor.
William Hill US, which operates 105 sports books in Nevada, reports that 83 percent of tickets written have been in favor of Diaz, but those account for just nine percent of the money wagered on the fight. Results are similar at BetOnline, where more bets have been taken on Diaz than McGregor, Miesha Tate and Holly Holm combined.
McGregor (19-2, 17 KOs), who opened in the -350 neighborhood and now sits at -500 at William Hill, is moving up two weight classes for the fight, which will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He was expected to be fighting lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos this weekend, but it was announced Feb. 23 that the Brazilian fighter was withdrawing due to a reported foot injury.
Diaz (18-10, 4 KOs) will also be fighting one class above his usual lightweight designation.
Holm was a -320 favorite as of Wednesday at William Hill and was listed at -345 on Thursday morning at BetOnline in her first fight since upsetting Ronda Rousey in November.
AROUND THE WEB
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TWEETS OF NOTE
Updated Presidential Odds (via Bookmaker)
Hillary Clinton -207
Donald Trump +247
Marco Rubio +1700
Bernie Sanders +3700
Ted Cruz +5500— Sports Insights (@SportsInsights) March 2, 2016
I’m told a deal to bail out @FantasyHub could be finalized by end of day or tomorrow. Goal is to square everyone up. Cross your fingers. — David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) March 2, 2016
ODDS & ENDS
- Against his employer’s wishes, Curt Schilling continues to weigh in with his opinions on politics. ESPN says it is “addressing” his most recent missive on Hillary Clinton.
- On online book has Tom Hardy installed as the 2/1 favorite to be the next James Bond.
- Family finds seven Ty Cobb cards over a century old in deceased great-grandfather’s house. The find is estimated to be worth $1 million.