UFC Vegas 83: Song Yadong vs. Chris Gutierrez continues on the main card with the co-main event fight in the light heavyweight division between Anthony Smith and Khalil Rountree. Smith got back into the win column after he defeated Ryan Spann by split decision meanwhile, Rountree is on the longest winning streak in his UFC career after he dominated Chris Daukaus in his UFC light heavyweight debut.
With that said, check out our UFC odds series for our Smith-Rountree prediction and pick.
Anthony Smith (37-18) most recently won a razor close split-decision against Ryan Spann in his most recent win. He is now stepping in to face surging light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree on short notice after Azamat Murzakanov had to withdraw from his fight this weekend at UFC Vegas 83.
Khalil Rountree Jr. (12-5-0, 1 NC) is looking to be in the best form of his career winning four fights in a row for the first time in his UFC career. He was set to take on Azamat Murzakanov last week at UFC Austin but that was derailed and is now taking on former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith on short notice to get the biggest win of his career this weekend at the Apex.
Here are the UFC Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Vegas 83 Odds: Anthony Smith-Khalil Rountree Jr. Odds
Anthony Smith: +170
Khalil Rountree Jr.: -205
Over 1.5 rounds: -105
Under 1.5 rounds: -125
How to Watch Anthony Smith vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
TV: ESPN+
Stream: ESPN+
Time: 7:00 PM ET/ 4:00 PM PT (Prelims)
*Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*
Why Anthony Smith Will Win
Anthony Smith has a good chance of beating Khalil Rountree at UFC Vegas 83 this weekend even on such short notice. Smith is a seasoned fighter with a wealth of experience in the octagon, and he has faced some of the toughest opponents in the division even competing against the GOAT Jon Jones for the Light Heavyweight Championship. His well-rounded skill set and ability to adapt to different fighting styles make him a formidable opponent for Rountree.
One of Smith's key strengths is his striking ability. He has a diverse striking arsenal and is known for his knockout power. If he can effectively utilize his striking to keep Rountree on the back foot, he will be in a strong position to control the fight. In addition to his striking, Smith is also a skilled grappler. He has a strong ground game and is capable of securing submissions from various positions. If he can take the fight to the ground, he will have the opportunity to showcase his grappling skills and potentially secure a submission victory which will be his best path to victory, especially given the short-notice nature of this fight. If he can do this he can make it two in a row this weekend.
Why Khalil Rountree Jr. Will Win
Khalil Rountree has a strong chance of beating Anthony Smith at UFC Vegas 83 this weekend. Rountree's recent performances have been impressive, and he is on a four-fight win streak, with three of those wins coming by knockout. This demonstrates his dangerous striking ability, especially in the context of his recent success against other strikers. Rountree's momentum and confidence could play a significant role in the outcome of the fight.
In addition to his striking, Rountree is a skilled Muay Thai fighter with the ability to control the distance and pace of the fight. His striking accuracy and power make him a threat to any opponent, including Smith. Rountree's ability to dictate the stand-up exchanges could allow him to keep Smith on the back foot and prevent him from implementing his game plan.
Furthermore, Rountree's southpaw stance could pose a challenge for Smith, who typically fights against orthodox opponents. This could disrupt Smith's rhythm and make it difficult for him to find his range and timing in the striking exchanges and when he is trying to level change. Rountree's ability to capitalize on this advantage could be a key factor in the fight and could potentially extend his longest UFC winning streak to five.
Final Anthony Smith-Khalil Rountree Jr.Prediction & Pick
Anthony Smith is stepping in on just about 12 days' notice after the originally scheduled fight between Azamat Murzakanov and Khalil Rountree Jr. was called off last week's UFC Austin fight card. Smith is coming off a close split decision victory against a familiar opponent Ryan Spann who he seemingly out-grappled and out-struck for the latter portion of the fight to get the nod on the scorecards.
Meanwhile, Rountree has looked in the best form that we've seen in his UFC career. He is coming off the longest winning streak in his UFC career after recently knocking out Chris Daukaus in the first round as he welcomed him to the light heavyweight division. Ultimately, this should be a lot closer than the odds suggest, and knowing how durable Smith truly is makes him a live underdog in this spot because of his ability to grapple which has always been Rountree's biggest glaring weakness and as long as Rountree's calf kicks aren't a bother he can seemingly take Rountree to the mat and either control him there for the entirety of the fight or submit him midway through the fight.
Final Anthony Smith-Khalil Rountree Jr. Prediction & Pick: Anthony Smith (+170), Over 1.5 Rounds (-105)