Preview: UFC Fight Night 174 Whittaker vs Till

The next leg on the UFC’s Fight Island is headlined by a huge Middleweight bout between Australia’s Robert Whittaker and England’s Darren Till. We’ll preview the must view main event and also try to find another winner on the card.

Robert Whittaker ($1.74) vs Darren Till ($2.1)

Styles make fights and these two stand-up specialists look nearly certain to deliver in a fight that will have huge implications for the shape of the Middleweight division. 

Whittaker is looking to rebound from losing his title on home soil against Israel Adesanya whilst Till is coming off a victory against Kelvin Gastelum (lost to Hermansson on last week’s card) in his first fight moving up to Middleweight.

Without analysing the form guide too closely, this one looks like it could be a test of chin and heart, particularly for the Australian who has will have to answer some queries after doing what no man has ever done; going 10 consecutive rounds with Yoel Romero over two fights to win and retain the Middleweight title. 

Many argue that the blows that Whittaker sustained over those two wars could leave a lasting effect and his loss to now Middleweight champion Adesanya did nothing to expel those claims.

There are also questions over whether the 29 year old still has the hunger to compete in the world’s most demanding sport after he pulled out of a recent bout with Jarrod Cannonier due to motivational reasons.

If you are happy to cast these doubts aside and believe Whittaker when he says his break has brought him back mentally and physically stronger than he has ever been then it’s easy to see why punters have come for ‘Bobby Knuckles’ to defeat the rising Englishman.

Till was unsuccessful in his attempt to secure the Welterweight title, which is the weight division below the one two will fight on the weekend. Whittaker in comparison has been at the top of the Middleweight division for the past few years.

Both men possess a strong standup game but it could be Whittaker’s ability to change pace and come with quick flurries that could worry the Englishman, who has a wide stance and guard, similar to how Jorge Masvidal and Tyron Woodley were able to unlock victory against him.

Happy to load up on the exotics around Whittaker here.

Tip: 

• Whittaker to win double chance: KO or Submission @$3.25 5 units.

• Whittaker to win in 3^rd Round @$12 2 units.

Fabrricio Werdum ($3.70) vs Alexander Gustafsson ($1.28)

This is an interesting Heavyweight match-up between former UFC Heavyweight champion Werdum and 4-time Light Heavyweight title challenger Gustafsson.

Gustafsson steps up to Heavyweight for the first time and finds himself the short priced favourite against a man who may be 42 but still has fought the best the division has had to offer over the last ten years.

Whilst Gustafsson did take Jon Jones, arguably the greatest fighter we have ever seen, to some deep waters back in their 5 round thriller back in 2013, his recent submission loss to Anthony Smith may present some cracks that one of the Heavyweight division’s greatest ever submission artist may be able to exploit. 

Werdum has defeated or gone the distance with strikers like Alistair Overeem, Cain Velasquez and Walt Harris. He has 11 submission victories on his record and if he can survive what ‘The Mauler’ is going to throw at him with the hands then he could find himself in a position to dominate on the mat.

Tip:

• Werdum to win double chance: Submission or points @4.20 2 units.