Brando Pericic Opens as Betting Favorite Over Ranked Shamil Gaziev at UFC Perth
Betting markets favor Australian hometown fighter Brando Pericic over No. 14 ranked Shamil Gaziev as their UFC Perth bout draws closer.
Odds defy rankings ahead of Perth card
With UFC Perth on the horizon, the betting markets are telling an interesting story. Australian contender Brando Pericic is being favored over ranked opponent Shamil Gaziev, despite Gaziev holding a spot at number fourteen in his weight class and carrying more UFC experience.
The gap in ranking and experience would typically point toward Gaziev as the expected favorite, making the market movement a notable storyline heading into the event.
Home advantage a likely factor
Pericic's status as a local fighter competing in front of a home crowd in Perth is widely seen as a contributing factor to the odds shift. In MMA, the energy of fighting on home soil can carry real weight, both in the minds of bettors and, potentially, inside the cage itself.
How the odds continue to develop in the final days before the event remains to be seen. Both fighters will be aware of where the market stands, but as always, the outcome will be settled between the ropes — or rather, inside the fence.
--- Source: https://thebodylockmma.com/ufc/odds/shamil-gaziev-vs-brando-pericic-odds-shift-as-ufc-perth-fight-approaches/