Previewing UFC Argentina: Betting Odds, TV Schedule and Fight Analysis
UFC Fight Night 140 has flown under the radar.
With so many quality shows that the UFC airs it can sometimes be a bit difficult for fight fans to get up for one of the more smaller cards. That can be especially true when no big marquee names are on the bill.
This Saturday is more of a showcase card for some of the lesser-known faces on the roster, from intimidating strikers on the rise like Santiago Ponzinibbio and Khalil Rountree to proven veterans like Ricardo Lamas, Darren Elkins and Neil Magny.
Set to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1, here’s a preview of each main-card matchup:
Cynthia Calvillo (-165) vs Poliana Botelho (+145)
Straweight Division
Botelho, who has a professional record of 7-1 (2-0 record in the UFC), was already a slight favorite by bookmakers. But with the recent struggles of Cynthia Calvillo (6-1, 3-1 UFC) to make weight, Botelho’s chances come fight night have increased, while Calvillo is trending downward.
A marijuana suspension has kept Calvillo out of action since the end of last year. Cage rust should not be her biggest issue, but recovering from her recent weight cut will. Not only did she have to strip down, still missing weight by three pounds, she looked worse for wear:
VIDEO: Cynthia Calvillo misses weight at #ufcargentina weigh-ins. pic.twitter.com/UamGpVFSzv
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) November 16, 2018
Weight cuts are always bad but this one was especially brutal as she could barely stand on the scale.
It’s a shame that she won’t be more fit for her match; she seemed to be a future contender in the division. And Botelho is not a woman you want to go up against less than 100 percent. She possesses an uncanny ability to knock out her opponents as six of her seven wins have come via knockout—something you’ll seldom see in the women’s Straweight division.
Calvillo might be the more well rounded, and even better fighter, but after such a tough weight cut it could have a damning effect on her come fight night. That said, expect both women to fight hard. With the Straweight division thin on contenders at the top, a few wins for either woman can vault them into championship contention.
Marlon Vera (-300) vs. Guido Cannetti (+250)
Bantamweight Division
Guido Cannetti is in an ominous situation.
Although he’s not incredibly shopworn, sporting an MMA record of 8-3 (splitting four bouts in the UFC), he’s already 38 years old.
This year also marked return from a three-year hiatus. His return has been a bag of mixed results: Submitted by Kyung Ho Kang in his first bout but rebounding nicely with a decision victory over Diego Rivas. Cannetti feels rejuvenated from his long break but will be running into a much younger fighter in Marlon Vera (11-5-1)
Vera, who isn’t a world beater, is a tough out for just about any fighter outside of the upper echelon. It’s sure to be a good fight and one that neither guy can afford to lose at this point.
Cezar Ferreira (-170) vs Ian Heinisch (+150)
Middleweight Division
At one end of this matchup you have a grizzled veteran in 33-year-old Cezar Ferreira (13-6, 9-4 in the UFC). Opposing him is a guy in Ian Heinisch (11-1, 0-0 UFC) who makes his UFC debut after showcasing his skills on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series.
This is where the big boys play.
The cards stacked against Heinisch. He’s taking this fight on just one-week’s notice as Ferreira’s original opponent Tom Breese pulled out of the bout with an elbow injury. It’s hard to know what to expect from a guy who’s making his UFC debut, let alone such short notice.
We know what to expect from Ferreira; he’s a grappler who wants to turn things into grinding affair. Sure, he doesn’t have much of a chin but that may not come into play. All signs point to this being a long night at the office for Heinisch.
Khalil Rountree (-170) vs Johnny Walker (+150)
Light Heavyweight Division
Don’t leave the room when Khalil Rountree (7-2, 1 NC, 3-2, 1 NC in the UFC) and Johnny Walker (14-3, UFC debut) get together in the cage.
The best way to beat Rountree is through wrestling. Standing there to bang will not bode well.
Walker is a bit of an unknown as the 26-year-old is stepping foot inside the octagon for the first time. He does stand at a massive six-foot-five, possessing a ridiculous 81.5-inch reach. Don’t expect any takedown attempts. This is going to be a straight-up fist fight. You might see a kick here and there but these guys will be focused on throwing punches for as long as this lasts.
This fight plays out pretty simple: Whoever lands the first big shot wins.
Ricardo Lamas (-165) vs Darren Elkins (+145)
Featherweight Division
When Ricardo Lamas (18-7, 9-5 UFC) and Darren Elkins (24-6, 14-5 UFC) enter the cage this weekend, they will have a combined age of 70—Ricardo coming in at 36 and Elkins at 34. But don’t let their age fool you. These two can still fight and expect them to put on a show.
The two veterans have seen it all and are still looking for a chance to get to the top. Lamas has all the skills: good wrestling, underrated power and the ability to make you tap if you aren’t on your A-game.
Elkins on the other hand is a guy that loves to push the pace and be in your face all night.
To sum this one up, this fight will be competitive, featuring two veterans that are similar in skill-level—currently ranked No. 13 and No. 14 in the division, respectively.
Santiago Ponzinibbio (-250) vs. Neil Magny (+210)
Welterweight Division
Neil Magny (21-6, 14-5 UFC) is somewhat of an enigma.
His career has continued to ebb and flow. At one point, he wasn’t viewed as a major threat in the division. Seven wins in a rows, from 2014-15, started to change that. A respectable loss to Demian Maia, followed by three more wins in a row, kept him in the thick of things in the Welterweight division. Alternating wins and losses in four fights before back-to-back wins over Carlos Condit and Craig White have placed him in great position to raise his stock even higher.
Unfortunately for Magny, he’s matched up with one of the hottest guys in the division in Santiago Ponzinibbio (26-3, 8-2 UFC). The Argentinian is currently riding a six-fight win streak, on the verge of cracking the Top 5 of the division if he looks impressive this weekend.
Magny’s height and reach, along with his wrestling ability, could be a nightmare for his opponent.
Ponzinibbio, however, will have the hometown crowd and momentum behind him. Expect the winner of this one to get a shot at UFC gold in the near future.
