UFC 142 Predictions & Betting Odds

Written by Jake Thompson
Saturday, 14 January 2012 18:20

Our UFC 142 predictions are ready to go, and this fight card looks profitable.

UFC 142 will play out on January 14th, 2012, at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and our predictions on the main card will hopefully have our readers winning some easy money on Saturday night.  The UFC 142 main event is a Featherweight Championship fight between champion Jose Aldo and top contender Chad Mendes, while Vitor Belfort and Anthony “Rumble” Johnson will also be on the card in a fight you won’t want to miss.

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UFC 142 Betting Odds:

Jose Aldo -250

Chad Mendes +230

Anthony Johnson +120

Vitor Belfort -130

Rousimar Palhares -525

Mike Massenzio +415

Erick Silva -550

Carlo Prater +425

Edson Barboza -280

Terry Etim +255

Thiago Tavares -135

Sam Stout +115

Gabriel Gonzaga -120

Edinaldo Oliveira +100

Yuri Alcantara -200

Michihiro Omigawa +170

Mike Pyle -500

Ricardo Funch +400

Antonio Carvalho -225

Felipe Arantes +185

UFC 142 Predictions:

Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes

Aldo is the current champion, and his brand of explosive striking and top-level Jiu Jitsu has yet to be cracked in the octagon.  Mendes has solid technical standup, and his wrestling ability will surely test Aldo’s submission game throughout.  Although Aldo is a great champion that is dangerous anywhere, Mendes should stay safe on his feet while using his smothering ability on the ground to win rounds.  A new champ takes the belt by decision.

Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson

“Rumble” Johnson weighed in 11 pounds heavy despite moving up a weight class to take this fight, so it would make sense that he’s not fully healthy.  Missing weight by that much when gaining an additional 15 pounds of allowance makes me think that something is wrong with him, and his explosiveness was a key to Johnson winning the fight.  Without that wrestling and athleticism advantage, I think Belfort can use his boxing to win by knockout over a potentially sluggish opponent.  Vitor by 1st round KO.

Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio

Palhares is his own worst enemy, and mental mistakes keep him from being amongst the truly elite at his weight class.  It is never a good idea to bet on a huge favorite with a glaring weakness like that, but I see no reason he shouldn’t be able to get past Massenzio.  You don’t want to go to the ground with a Jiu Jitsu stud like Palhares, and Massenzio doesn’t have the power striking to do much harm if the fight stays standing.  Look for Palhares to eventually secure a knee bar, and we’ll call for it to happen in the 2nd round.