Anthony Smith vs. Glover Teixeira headlines UFC Fight Night betting, which takes places in an empty arena in Jacksonville, Florida on Wednesday, May 13.
Smith and Teixeira were originally scheduled to meet on April 25, but that UFC Fight Night event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 shutdown. Smith enters this rescheduled bout as a -184 favorite to win while Teixeira comes back as a +156 underdog.
We break down the UFC odds and give our picks and predictions for the UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira main event.
| UFC Fight Night Odds | Anthony Smith | Glover Teixeira |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | -184 | +156 |
| Win via KO/TKO | +110 | +700 |
| Win via points | +550 | +500 |
| Win via submission | +1,000 | +500 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Smith vs Teixeira betting preview
Anthony Smith has shone since moving to light heavyweight, winning three of his four fights at 205 pounds. The lone blemish in that stretch was a decision loss to division title holder Jon Jones. Jones wailed on him for five rounds but really proved just how spot on Smith’s “Lion Heart” nickname really is.
A decision loss to arguably the greatest fighter in the sport is nothing to be ashamed of. Smith is tough, as he also showed in his last fight with Alexander Gustafsson, and able to absorb punishment while keeping his composure and attacking on smart angles. He can finish a fight in a number of ways but has scored submissions in each of this past two wins.
At 41 years old, Teixeira is well past his prime and doesn’t have the same pop on his punches as he used to. However, he can take a pounding and is most comfortable bringing the fight to the mat. He’s riding a three-fight winning streak, but that level of competition wasn't this high and he found himself in trouble at times in each of those bouts.
| Anthony Smith | Glover Teixeira | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Age | 40 |
| 6-foot-4 | Height | 6-foot-2 |
| 205 lbs | Weight | 205 lbs |
| 76 inches | Reach | 76 inches |
| 32-14 (17 KO) | Record | 30-7 (17 KO) |
Smith vs Teixeira predictions and betting picks
PREDICTION: Anthony Smith to win (-184) – Smith has more energy and versatility. He may get sucked into a wrestling match with Teixeira but won’t wear down as quickly as the Brazilian’s recent opponents. He can get a little wild with the right hand at times, but Smith is a methodical striker and is very calculated when the fight goes to the ground.
PREDICTION: Anthony Smith in Round 3 (+950) – This fight is scheduled for five rounds, which seems a little deep for a veteran like Teixeira, who’s gone past the third round only once since 2014. But Smith doesn’t push the tempo and will be more than happy picking apart Teixeira for a few rounds before going for the finish in the third.
PREDICTION: Anthony Smith via submission (+1,000) – Teixeira is a master on the mat but he’s going to have a tough time keeping up with the quick hands of Smith. A knockout victory from Smith is at +110 and while he’ll hurt Teixeira, the 18-year MMA veteran has been able to get out of trouble in recent fights. At 10/1 odds, Smith forcing him to tap is a great value bet considering he’s won his last two bouts via tap out.
