With just under 12 weeks to go until UFC 197: dos Anjos vs. McGregor, the featherweight champion has opened up as an underdog against the Brazilian. And, according to veteran oddsmaker Joey Oddessa, Rafael dos Anjos is the rightful favourite.
The betting expert revealed his analysis to MMA Junkie earlier today.
"Conor McGregor has defied the odds, and in spite of him being the betting favorite at fight time in all of his previous bouts at the majority of sports books, he enters UFC 197 as a small underdog at +115 in the early lines that are posted almost a dozen weeks out - and rightfully so," Oddessa told MMAjunkie. "Conor is stepping up a full weight class to challenge Rafael dos Anjos for the lightweight championship after coming off a spectacular, record-breaking knockout of Jose Aldo, who was widely regarded as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
"Rafael dos Anjos has won 10 of his last 11 bouts, and size and experience do matter. It's easy to make excuses for Aldo losing the fight, but the fact is Conor proved he is legit. But in this instance, I think he bit off more than he can chew.
"European supporters of Conor are going to have to go really heavy to the betting windows to flip Conor to the favorite. Many of the advantages he enjoyed over Aldo, including a year layoff and displeasure with the organization, are two burdens that Rafael won't have to enter the octagon with. Rafael will, however, be carrying with him a size, skill and weight advantage."
"The Notorious" earned a record-setting title fight KO when he ended Jose Aldo's reign in 13-seconds at UFC 194 last month. The Irishman has won all but one of his UFC fights via stoppage and has finished 17 of his 19 opponents. McGregor plans to make history by becoming the first ever simultaneous two-division champion when he challenges dos Anjos for the lightweight title at UFC 197.
Dos Anjos, who has stormed through the rankings to establish himself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport, shocked the world when he dethroned Anthony Pettis at UFC 185. A student of Rafael Cordeiro, the 31-year-old went on to defend his title against Donald Cerrone - via first round TKO - and is riding a 5-fight win streak.
Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Conor McGregor is expected to take place at the UFC 197 PPV on March 5th in Las Vegas, Nevada.