Point of interest: Odds and opinions
The oddsmakers and public seem to be riding high on the sitting champion, listing Macfarlane -550 and Jackson +425 as of this writing.
Although this isn’t quite the case of “Ronda Rousey odds” that I’m typically skeptical of, I can’t help but raise an eyebrow when seeing odds north of 5-1 in this sort of scenario.
Jackson, though perhaps not fighting consistently enough to make a name for herself, is the more experienced party who has a legitimate, layered skillset that makes her much livelier than the betting odds above portend. That said, I’m not sure I can back her approach against the current champ.
Even though Jackson stormed the proverbial castles of her last couple of counterparts (as I suspect she knew she had the grappling edge in those contests), the English challenger has shown somewhat of a propensity to let the fight come to her on the feet – something that could quietly allow her to fall behind on the cards if she’s not careful. And when being aggressive on the offensive, Jackson’s pace looks to wane, even when being dominant.
For that reason, I’ll side with Macfarlane to retain her title in her second showcase at home. I see the champion surviving some early back-and-forth scares (both on the feet and floor) en route to a late submission win in round 4.