Tracking Key Line Moves For UFC 247

The next big card on the Ultimate Fighting Championship schedule is set for Saturday February 8th, when the UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones puts his title on the line against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. The card for this event at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas is absolutely stacked, including a co-main event title fight between Women’s Flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and Katlyn Chookagian. In addition to the sheer entertainment value, there are some intriguing betting possibilities that could be worth taking a long look at ahead of this event. Here is a look at the meaning of some key line moves ahead of UFC 247.

WOMEN FLYWEIGHT BOUT: VALENTINA SCHEVCHENKO (18-3) VS. KAITLYN CHOOKAGIAN (13-2)

OPENING LINE: SHEVCHENKO -650
CURRENT LINE: SHEVCHENKO -1000

While there isn’t much value betting on this title fight, it’s certainly worth starting here when it comes to notable line movements ahead of UFC 247. The defending champion Shevchenko, who opened at -650 odds to win outright, has swung all the way to -1000 as the obvious favorite in this bout. She even climbed as high as -1200 at one point.

Chookagian can throw some bombs but Schevchenko is easily the more well-rounded fighter of the two with a complete arsenal that includes a much better takedown ability as well as takedown defense. While she doesn’t land as many strikes per minute as Chookagian, she is significantly more accurate when she does throw them. A smart, patient fighter, Schevchenko should have no issue taking out Chookagian and retaining her title.

HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT: DERRICK LEWIS (22-7) VS. ILIR LATIFI (14-7)

OPENING LINE: LEWIS -285
CURRENT LINE: LEWIS -260

While Lewis opened at -285 to win, that line has been slightly adjusted to -260 with a little bit of money coming in on Latifi. However, even though Latifi is a capable underdog, there is reason to believe that Lewis deserves the edge when it comes to betting on this fight. After all, the Texas native has won four of his last six fights and his only two defeats were at the hands of the UFC Heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and then an absolute legend in Junior dos Santos. Lewis has the edge in a number of areas – particularly in striking proximity where he will benefit from a six-inch reach advantage. However, it does look like some sharps are fading him here.

HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT: JUAN ADAMS (5-2) VS. JUSTIN TAFA (3-1)

OPENING LINE: ADAMS -190
CURRENT LINE: ADAMS -225

Another fight worth taking a look at is the heavyweight bout between Adams and Tafa. Adams initially opened at -190, but that line is up to Adams -225 to win. It seems like smart money has been on Adams as he has incredible knockout power and could easily end this bout with one punch at any given moment. While Tafa has shown some flashes of his overall potential, he is coming off an absolutely brutal first-round knockout loss to Yorgan de Castro at UFC 243 so we don’t know how he will bounce back.

BANTAMWEIGHT BOUT: MILES JOHNS (10-0) VS. MARIO BAUTISTA (7-1)

OPENING LINE: JOHNS -160
CURRENT LINE: JOHNS -135

One other notable line move that stands out is on the early preliminary card with Johns moving from -165 to -135. Clearly, some money came in on Bautista as the underdog, forcing the oddsmakers to adjust. However, Johns has been the more impressive fighter of the two throughout their young careers and we are having a hard time figuring out who would bet on Bautista to win right now.

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