MMA Odds and Ends for Thursday: Miocic defends against Overeem, Bader vs Latifi announced

Ryan BaderStipe Miocic (15-2-0) vs. Alistair Overeem (41-14-0); UFC 203, September 10. The UFC Heavyweight title will actually be defended in a timely fashion for the first time in a long time as newly crowned champion Stipe Miocic headlines the UFC’s first trip to Cleveland, Ohio this upcoming September against former Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem. Miocic recently dethroned Fabricio Werdum one and a half weeks ago while Overeem is currently riding a four-fight winning streak which includes knockout victories over former champions Junior dos Santos and Andrei Arlovski. MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas already opened the betting odds for the fight last night. Ryan Bader (20-5-0) vs. Ilir Latifi (12-4-1); UFC Hamburg, September 3. Ilir Latifi looks to prove he’s a player in the UFC light heavyweight division as he takes on TUF season eight winner and division stalwart Ryan Bader this September in the UFC’s return to Germany. Latifi is currently riding a three-fight winning streak but has yet to beat a ranked opponent while Bader most recently had his five-fight winning streak snapped by Anthony Johnson in the main event of UFC on Fox 18 this past January. Bader has likely been reduced to a gatekeeper role in the division after his last defeat and Latifi is hoping to pass a stern test. Alex Caceres (11-8-0) vs. Cole Miller (21-9-0); UFC 199, June 4. Neither of these fighters were originally expected to compete at UFC 199. The bout was supposed to be BJ Penn vs Dennis Siver but Miller replaced Siver after an injury and now Ceceres steps in for Penn after he was pulled from the fight due to admitted IV usage. Caceres is getting very little time to prepare for a solid veteran in Miller, so he’ll likely open as the underdog when the odds are released for the fight early next week.

Written by Brian Hemminger

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