By Jed Meshew | Dec, 5th 2019 | 2 mins

UFC on ESPN 7: Overeem vs Rozenstruik Betting Odds & Tips

This Saturday, the octagon returns to Washington D.C. and it brings with it a couple of power-punching heavyweights with designs on a title run.

In the main event, former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem takes on the hot new prospect in the heavyweight division, Jairzinho Rozenstruik. In the twilight of his career, Overeem is looking to kickstart one final title run while Rozenstruik is looking to cap of a remarkable 2019 by announcing himself as a legitimate threat in the UFC. It’s a big bout with big bets available so let’s get to it.

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Overeem vs. Rozenstruik Betting Analysis

Overeem is primarily a striker and an out fighter, using speed and timing that belie his age to work consistently from distance. Overeem is even better in the clinch where he can control and delivers some of the best knees in the sport. He's also a solid wrestler and good submission grappler and one of the best ground and pounders in the division when he finds himself on top of an opponent, something that may well serve him well against Rozenstruik.

In many ways, Rozenstruik is the exact opposite of Overeem. While Overeem is one of the most well-established veterans in the sport, adept at all facets of the game, we still don’t know much about Rozenstruik’s game as he’s obliterated practically everyone he’s ever fought. Since joining the UFC this year, Rozenstruik has accrued three first-round wins in a combined time of 1:32 seconds.

That’s certainly an impressive rookie campaign but it doesn’t tell us much about him and, Overeem presents easily the toughest test of the Suriname native’s career. What we can say for sure is that Rozenstruik is an athletic and powerful striker, with fast hands and a nose for landing the KO shot

Prediction And Best Bet

The oddsmakers aren’t quite sure what to make of this fight. On the one hand, Overeem is the vastly more experience and objectively better fighter but on the other, Rozenstruik has looked like a force of nature and Overeem might have a little too much seasoning at this point. FanDuel currently has this fight as a pick’em, with both men coming in at -110. That’s tremendous news for the savvy bettor because though it’s right to be cautious with Overeem, this fight still heavily favors him.

There’s very little in MMA that Alistair Overeem hasn’t done. He’s been a world-class kickboxer, an elite grappler, and a champion in multiple organizations and ultimately, that experience will make the difference in this fight. Rozenstruik’s background is as a kickboxer and at this stage, his ground game still appears to be a work in progress. Overeem is a smart fighter and one who will certainly look to press his advantage in the grappling department against his relatively novice opponent.

There’s always the potential for “the puncher’s chance” with Rozenstruik but outside of that, it’s exceedingly likely that Overeem takes Rozenstruik down and gets the win, either by TKO or Submission. As such, I love a bet on Overeem at -110 straight with FanDuel.