Could a Bet on Amanda Nunes to Beat Rousey Pay Off?

Ronda Rousey’s return to the octagon will come in less than two weeks, and a bet on Amanda Nunes with NetBet Sportsbook to get the win might just be your best option.

It’s been well over a year since arguably the UFC’s biggest star has stepped into the cage. In an extraordinarily short period of time, Ronda Rousey went from a relatively unknown yet accomplished judoka to one of mixed martial arts’ most feared competitors. From March of 2011 to November of 2015 she accumulated an incredible unbeaten streak of 12-0, with each victory coming in more devastating fashion than the last. Then she fought Holly Holm.

Nunes vs. Rousey betting odds

• Ronda Rousey – 10/17
• Amanda Nunes – 6/5

It was clear early in the fight with Holm that this was not going to be a usual Ronda fight. Her aggressive, move forward approach was negated by Holm, who held a 33-2-3 professional boxing record and trained with arguably the best team in MMA. Holm’s straight left landed at will throughout the first round, and the effects were taking an evident toll on Rousey.

Less than a minute into the second round, Holly once again landed the straight left and wobbled the champion. In one of the most stunning upsets in MMA history, and biggest stories in UK gambling news, she turned Rousey around and landed a perfectly timed head-kick to knock out the champion and earn the bantamweight title.

Who is Amanda Nunes?

While Ronda Rousey was tearing through the division, landing numerous sponsorships and movie roles along the way, Amanda Nunes was quietly advancing her way up the rankings. The Brazilian standout had a brief run in Strikeforce and Invicta early in her career, going 2-2 in those promotions.

It’s only when she arrived to the UFC in August of 2013 that we saw just how dangerous she was. She quickly rattled off two straight 1st round TKO victories before being matched up with top contender Cat Zingano. After a dominant first round, Nunes slowed down and was finished by Cat late in the fight. That would be her last hiccup to date, as she is currently riding a four-fight win streak, including a championship victory over Miesha Tate at UFC 200. After her latest victory, a bet on Amanda Nunes to get the win next weekend seems highly logical.

Where has Rousey been?

After her devastating loss to Holly Holm, Ronda Rousey has been almost completely out of the public spotlight. There’s no denying she was one of the busiest fighters in the sport in terms of media requirements, and one can only imagine how that would affect her training heading into a fight.

Rousey made a short appearance on Ellen in February, shocking the world by revealing she had suicidal thoughts after her knockout defeat. “What am I anymore if I’m not this?’ I was literally sitting there and thinking about killing myself,” she said.

Luckily, Ronda found the help she needed from family and friends, and stayed busy in her off-time from MMA by taking a number of movie roles. There are certainly questions about where her head is at heading into this fight on December 30th, and many MMA analysts are placing a bet on Amanda Nunes to beat Ronda Rousey by speculating she will not be the same after her brutal KO loss.

Nunes vs. Rousey betting odds

Despite Nunes riding a four-fight win streak and winning the title from Miesha Tate this past July, she is the betting underdog heading into UFC 207, albeit only slightly, according to most online sportsbooks in the UK. This is likely due to the fact that we’ve seen her lose in the past, and cardio issues have been a factor throughout her career. Nunes’ odds to beat Rousey currently sit at 6/5, according to NetBet Sportsbook.

Before UFC 193, Rousey was seen as unstoppable. We had never witnessed such a dangerous combination of elite skill and unparalleled aggression in WMMA, which allowed her to easily coast by her competition. That aura of invincibility is no doubt broken, but an impressive win over Nunes could help to erase the image of her only loss. Rousey’s odds to beat Nunes currently sit at 10/17.

So is a bet on Amanda Nunes a good idea? Well, there are numerous ways to look at it. She has been the much busier fighter as of late, and her latest win was the true demonstration of her striking prowess. It is precisely this striking game that could earn her the victory at UFC 207, and you can expect her to utilize a somewhat similar game plan to Holly Holm.

Will you bet on Amanda Nunes to beat Ronda Rousey next weekend? How will the fight end? Tell us what you think by leaving a comment below, and make sure to check out NetBet Sportsbook to find the best betting odds for UFC 207!