Finally, after some lackluster fare the previous two months, UFC Fight Night 203 is here, and it’s free. Top to bottom, 203 presents plenty of watchable and bettable fights on the UFC betting sites odds. We begin by parlaying two of the best fighters, then progressively stacking larger bets for a parlay that could return over $2,700 for every $100 stake.
UFC Fight Night 203 Parlay Picks
Each of the four underdogs we found is also worth an individual wager, if you prefer. However, for our progressive parlay, we break our four ‘dogs into three bets, led by our two-leg parlay.
Leg #1: Semelsberger Too Strong For Fletcher
It’s not every day we get to call a favorite as sizable as Matthew Semelsberger a great value UFC bet. But Semelsberger (9-3-0) has plenty of advantages in this matchup against newcomer AJ Fletcher. Semelsberger will be a much bigger and stronger fighter, akin to a welterweight going against a lightweight.
Fletcher (9-0-0) is a promising prospect with a penchant for flashy attacks, but he’s still raw, hittable and fighting made-of-stone Semelsberger. Semelsberger flattened a pair of fighters with the first clean punch he landed. There’s an eight-inch reach advantage. He will catch and hurt Fletcher at some point.
Bet: Matthew Semelsberger (-220)
Leg #2: Pereira Dusts Silva
Speaking of hard hitters, there’s no need to look anywhere other than the main card’s opener. Alex Pereira is the best pure striker in the division. Just ask champion Israel Adesanya, who not only lost to him twice but got viciously knocked out. He opposes Bruno Silva, also a KO artist.
But, as Daniel Cormier famously said, “There are levels to this.” Silva (22-6-0) can choose to exploit Pereira’s (4-1-0) grappling weakness. Even if he does, Pereira was able to fend off Andreas Michailidis. He should do the same here, catch Silva at some point to cash this parlay.
Bet: Alex Pereira (-180)
Parlay: Semelsberger (-220) and Pereira (-180) at +126
Leg #3: Song and Moraes Make It Quick
Song Yadong and Marlon Moraes are fighters headed in different directions. This could either be Song’s (18-5-1) christening into real contendership, or Moraes (23-9-1) having one last gasp and saving his UFC job. Either way, this one will be violent and quick, since both fighters start very fast.
Moraes does his best work in the first round, with three of his five UFC wins within the first three minutes. He’s also what gamers would describe as a “glass cannon,” a fighter who can dish it, but can’t take it. He’s been knocked out three straight times, while Song is a heavy- handed and hungry fighter. The UFC lines offering an even payout for this to end early is a must-bet.
Add: Under 1½ Rounds (+105)
Parlay: Semelsberger (-220)/Pereira (-180)/Moraes-Song Under 1½ Rounds (+105) at +363
Leg #4: Rountree Sleeps Roberson
We’re rolling with more knockouts, but flipping the script to our first underdog in this parlay. Khalil Rountree Jr. (10-5-0) is a fighter we avoid when favored, but back when a ‘dog. He’s a small one here, a polished striker who can make short work of any foe when he catches them.
Karl Roberson is also a striker, and even if he has kickboxing experience, that won’t impress anyone as Rountree dusted Muay Thai champion Gokhan Saki. This is a definite “dog or pass” situation. We like Rountree, winning his fourth straight fight as an underdog.
Add: Khalil Rountree (+110)
Parlay: Semelsberger (-220)/Pereira (-180)/Moraes-Song Under 1½ Rounds (+105)/ Rountree (+110) at +874
Leg #5: Caceres Stuns Yusuff
Did you know that Alex Caceres, aka “Bruce Leroy,” is just 33 years old, despite being in the UFC for over a decade? The lanky featherweight is still getting better, winning five straight fights (six if we include his grappling match). Caceres (19-12-0) has also won his last two bouts as an underdog, and he is a live one here.
Sodiq Yusuff has experience handling fighters like Caceres and, though shorter, he’s burlier and stronger. Yusuff (11-2-0) is also proficient in the grappling department, which has been kryptonite to Caceres. However, Caceres at odds of nearly 2-1 is too generous for how close this fight will be. Throwing this into the parlay to boost those odds to 25-1!
Add: Alex Caceres (+195)
Parlay: Semelsberger (-220)/Pereira (-180)/Moraes-Song Under 1½ Rounds (+105)/ Rountree (+110)/Caceres (+195) at +2773