It didn’t last long, but some sports bettors had the opportunity to bet on UFC contender Miranda Maverick at pretty juicy odds.
Maverick (11-2) meets fellow flyweight contender Maycee Barber (8-2) at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 27 event in Las Vegas. The bout is part of the ESPN-televised main card (7 p.m.).
Maverick, a Virginia resident and Old Dominion University graduate student, has won five straight fights, including both of her UFC bouts. Meanwhile, her opponent, who was once one of the division’s brightest prospects, has lost two straight fights.
So, how did Maverick open as a substantial underdog when Virginia sports betting oddsmakers first posted lines for the fight?
And if you do want to bet on Maverick, is it possible to sweeten to deal? Thanks to William Hill in Virginia, you can get a special UFC Odds Boost for Virginia’s own.
UFC Odds Boost and “ITD”
Before regulated US sportsbooks posted odds for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 27 event, some international books posted lines. However, when they hung a too-good-to-be-true line of +180 on Maverick, sharp bettors pounced.
By the time VA sportsbooks began posting lines, Maverick was already a substantial favorite. The line initially plummeted to -180 for Maverick. However, over the past few weeks, it’s drifted back toward Barber. At William Hill VA, Maverick was -150 as of the morning of the fight.
At those odds, you’d have to wager $150 to net $100 in profit.
But what if you could get “plus-money” on Maverick? Thanks to William Hill, you can get a 5-1 payoff (+500) if Maverick wins “inside the distance.”
In MMA betting, “ITD” simply means that a fighter somehow wins without going to the scorecards. That means the fight can claim a victory via:
- Knockout
- Technical knockout
- Submission
- Disqualification
That’s why the actual UFC Odds Boost from William Hill VA states:
“Miranda Maverick By KO/TKO/DQ or Submission vs Maycee Barber“
William Hill oddsmakers initially set that ITD prop bet on Maverick at +400 odds. But Virginians who want to bet on a Virginia-based fighter can get Maverick ITD at +500 odds.
At those odds, a winning $100 bet on Maverick to win by KO/TKO/sub/DQ would net you $500 in profit.
Can Maverick get a stoppage win?
It’s no secret that women’s fights in the UFC tend to “go the distance.” That simply means fighters continue duking it out until the final bell with no stoppage (five rounds for title fights and main events, and three rounds for other fights).
Since turning pro in 2016, Maverick has posted six stoppages (five submissions and one TKO via doctor’s stoppage) in nine career pro wins.
Granted, despite her two-fight skid, Barber is still a significant step up in competition. In 10 career fights, the No. 14 ranked fighter in her division has suffered just two losses. And both of those defeats came via decision to reputable opponents (former UFC title challenger Roxanne Modafferi and contender Alexa Grasso).
Maverick, who’s ranked No. 13, is going to need to display some of her trademark strength, underlooked ground game, and possibly her best-of-class cardio if the fight drags out.
Another reason some bettors are big on Maverick? In an interview with PlayVirginia early this year, the 24-year-old seems to have a good mindset:
“I do try to market myself. I just try to stay humble within that, if that makes sense … Because I do know the negativities that that can lead to in the future if you get too big-headed about yourself. … I want to show that work ethic really does pay off. I didn’t come from a rich family. It didn’t come from a line of pro athletes. I didn’t come from a line of fighters. Like, none of that happened. I’ve worked hard to get where I am with the help of my supporters, God, and my family.
Other UFC Odds Boosts for Saturday
Saturday’s UFC event features a bantamweight bout between top contender Cory Sandhagen (-200) and former champion TJ Dillashaw (+170). The latter returns from a 30-month layoff due to a high-profile drug-testing failure, which he ultimately fessed up to.
Ahead of tonight’s fights, William Hill has posted Odds Boosts related to that fight too. And if you’re backing Sandhagen, they’re worth considering:
- Cory Sandhagen By Decision vs T.J. Dillashaw: +500
- Cory Sandhagen, Kyler Phillips, Darrick Minner & Miranda Maverick All Win on July 24: +500
Other UFC Odds Boosts for the card include:
- Raulian Paiva By Decision vs Kyler Phillips: +500
- Darren Elkins By KO/TKO/DQ or Submission vs Darrick Minner: +400
