GSP Ignores Speculation Regarding UFC 217
Returning UFC hero Georges St-Pierre has shrugged off speculation from MMA pundits that ring rust will be his downfall in the UFC 217 main event at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Saturday, 4 November. The Canadian has won the UFC Welterweight Championship three times, but after almost four years out of the octagon, he’s complicated his comeback by going up a weight class.
St-Pierre’s main-card title challenge against UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping is the 36-year-old’s first fight in the division. Nevertheless, GSP has gone from underdog to favourite in the betting over the past week. Online sports betting sites have him at $0.90 to win, with the 38-year-old British champion not far behind at even money.
St-Pierre has told reporters he’s excited about the fight, ignoring suggestions that he’s bitten off more than he can chew after too long an absence. He’s conscious that a victory could define his legacy: if he takes Bisping’s title, he’ll become one of only four UFC fighters to hold championships in more than one weight class, joining Conor McGregor, Randy Couture and BJ Penn.
Jedrzejczyk Looking to Equal Rousey’s Record
Another title bout in the UFC 217 main card features UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk defending her crown against the USA’s Rose Namajunas. The 25-year-old American, with six wins from nine MMA fights, is outgunned by the Polish champion’s wealth of experience. It shows in the odds at online sports betting sites: Namajunas is being offered at $4.00 and above, with Jedrzejczyk severely odds-on at around $0.17.
In addition to impressive amateur credentials in earlier Kickboxing and Muay Thai careers, 30-year-old Jedrzejczyk is unbeaten in 14 MMA bouts, including five consecutive defences of her title. If she beats Namajunas, she will equal former US bantamweight Ronda Rousey’s record of six successful UFC world title defences in a row.
Rest of the Main Card Odds
The third main card title bout, an all-American affair, sees UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt, at odds of around $0.50, in a grudge title defence against former champ and former teammate TJ Dillashaw, offered at $1.50.
There are two more fights on the UFC 217 main card. US middleweight Johny Hendricks is now the $1.75 underdog to Brazilian Paulo Borrachinha, at around $0.45. Americans Stephen Thompson and Jorge Masvidal are being offered at $0.55 and $1.50 respectively in their welterweight bout.
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