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Posted at 10:15 AM EST. Odds subject to change.

UFC 303 - Live on PPV

T-Mobile Arena - Las Vegas, Nevada

Anthony Smith over Roman Dolidze

11:15 PM EST. In what appears to be a hastily arranged bout for UFC 303 (fitting of a card cursed from the beginning), Anthony Smith takes on Roman Dolidze in a light heavyweight showdown. Dolidze, by the way, is stepping up from middleweight on short notice and he is in a bit of a slump with two consecutive losses. That makes this move to 205 pounds a bold one, especially against a seasoned opponent like Smith, we’ll see how it works out for him.

Smith, on the other hand, is coming off a remarkable submission victory over Vitor Petrino at UFC 301 in Brazil. While he has his flaws, Smith's ability to finish fights is undeniable, with 35 stoppages in his 38 wins. In this fight, Smith stands two inches taller than Dolidze, though their reach is identical at 76 inches. Both fight out of the orthodox stance, but Smith's experience and striking prowess give him a notable edge. Dolidze’s wrestling could be an issue, but Smith's defensive grappling and experience against higher-caliber opponents should mitigate that threat. That said, Smith's cleaner, more technical striking and higher work rate should overwhelm Dolidze, who relies on wild swings and clinch wrestling.

The chaotic circumstances leading to this fight should further tilt the scales in Smith's favor, as he has a history of performing well as an underdog and stepping up in unexpected scenarios, offering us tremendous value here at the pooch. 

Sherwood

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