This is not an attempt to suggest the rating system is more accurate than gambling odds. Gamblers can analyze each fight individually, while the rating system uses a variety of mathematical routines to supply a primary fighter rating that is focused on ranking recent achievement, with a secondary priority of gauging future expectation.
With that said, there are some caveats to using the rating vs. odds comparison straight-up — the “Gotcha” list:
- System inability to project the exact effects of a recent divisional change.
- System inability to project the exact effects of recent inactivity.
- Poor matchmaking / limited careers / “changing of the guard”.
- Notable home advantage.
- System inability to project style differences.
- System inability to factor in bad judging decisions.
But this stuff (especially #5) is pretty much common sense. We try to partially factor in #1-#3 when we compute the ratings, but #5 and #6 is something that the human can factor in, that the system can’t. For the sake of these articles, we’ll attempt to factor in #4 when relevant. Home advantage can have a slight effect, but likely not enough to sway the “I’d bet on” decision.
Experienced gamblers know that it’s not about being right the most, it’s about making the most money. So in the usual table, I’ll add the “I’d bet on” column and analyze the rating/odds gap plus points #1-4 that I listed above.I’ll leave #5 and #6 to the fully subjective analyses (except for when Leonard Garcia is involved for #6) — of which I’m sure there will be plenty.
The gotchas aren’t necessarily comprehensive, but I have noted them as I come across them and when they are considered in the decision.
Having said all that, let’s get started:
| Fight | Odds Favorite | Rating Favorite | I’d bet on | “Gotchas” |
| Duran vs. Roop | Duran (-144 / Small) | Roop (2.73x / Very Large) | Roop | #2 |
| Dillashaw vs. Tamura | Dillashaw (-524 / Very Large) | Dillashaw (2.03x / Large) | Dillashaw | |
| Story vs. Mulhern | Story (-375 / Large) | Story (1.35x / Small) | Mulhern | |
| Cruickshank vs. Makdessi | Cruickshank (-185 / Moderate) | Makdessi (1.19x / Very Small) | Makdessi | #4 |
| Mein vs. Miller | Mein (-257 / Moderate) | Mein (2.04x / Large) | Mein | #1, #4 |
| Elkins vs. Carvalho | Elkins (-237 / Moderate) | Elkins (1.65x / Moderate) | PASS | #4 |
| Cote vs. Voelker | Cote (-180 / Moderate) | Cote (1.82x / Moderate) | PASS | |
| Ricci vs. Fletcher | Ricci (-276 / Moderate) | Fletcher (1.11x / Very Small) | Fletcher | #4 |
| Camozzi vs. Ring | Ring (-117 / Pick ‘Em) | Ring (1.05x / Pick ‘Em) | PASS | #4 |
| Ellenberger vs. Marquardt | Ellenberger (-166 / Small) | Ellenberger (1.30x / Small) | PASS | |
| Condit vs. Hendricks | Hendricks (-137 / Very Small) | Hendricks (1.33x / Small) | Hendricks | |
| St. Pierre vs. Diaz | St. Pierre (-485 / Large) | St. Pierre (2.81x / Very Large) | St. Pierre | #4 |
Now, to the results — given the odds above:
The PASS suggests that the odds and ratings difference are nearly identical and/or there are too many gotchas, so neither fighter is a good bet.
Favorites to consider: Dillashaw, Hendricks and St. Pierre.
Underdogs to consider:
Mulhern over Story – Story is way too large of a favorite, so Mulhern is worth a shot in the dark.
Makdessi over Cruickshank – A tight matchup, in which the rating system favors Makdessi, who also has the home advantage.
Fletcher over Ricci – A 50/50 matchup, but one that seems way too slanted in favor of Ricci in terms of odds.
Roop over Duran – Roop is a BIG ratings favorite, which usually means the gamblers are on to something. Tread carefully.