In the women’s bantamweight preliminary bout, Ashlee Evans-Smith and Norma Dumont meet at UFC on ESPN+ 42 – also called UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Clark – Saturday at the UFC’s APEX facility in Las Vegas. The prelims kick off at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+, followed by the main card on ESPN/ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET.
Evans-Smith (6-4) steps into the octagon as a moderate favorite, and the main reason is her speed. She has posted 4.86 significant strikes landed per minute while managing a 35.70 significant strikes accuracy percentage. Evans-Smith hasn’t fought since Feb. 17, 2019, the longest layoff of her career. She was expected to return after a 13-month hiatus due to injury and surgery, fighting on the UFC London card in March 2020. However, we all know COVID-19 wiped out plenty of events and sent the sports world into disarray.
Evans-Smith is just 1-3 across the past four bouts, with two losses by unanimous decision and one via submission in the first round against Sarah Moras at UFC 215. The last time she tasted victory was over two and a half calendar years ago against Bec Rawlings at UFC 223 on April 7, 2018.
Dumont (4-1) made her UFC debut on the Benavidez-Figueiredo card in Jacksonville on Feb. 29, getting knocked out in the first round against Megan Anderson. It turns out that “The Immortal” didn’t live up to her nickname. The 30-year-old from the Gordinho Fight Team now gets to face a veteran champing at the bit to get back into the octagon and get a win. It’s a tough spot.
Place your legal, online UFC 255 bets in CO, IN, NJ, WV and TN at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. New customer offer, terms and conditions apply. Bet now!
Ashlee Evans-Smith vs. Norma Dumont: Betting odds, predictions and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 2:55 p.m. ET.
The long layoff for EVANS-SMITH (-139) doesn’t concern me at all, as she knows what it takes to prepare herself during fight week, even after a long time away from the octagon. On the flip side, Dumont (+115) didn’t look good in her first fight at the UFC level, as Anderson made quick work of her.
In 10 career professional fights, Evans-Smith has three victories by knockout with no losses. She might come out with fists flying, trying to put away Dumont early. As long as she can avoid going to the canvas, as wrestling isn’t exactly her forte, she’ll get her hand raised and she’ll do it well within the distance, too.
To watch the early prelims and prelims, sign up for ESPN+ now.
Get some action on UFC on ESPN+ 42 by placing a legal sports bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Also see:
- Curtis Blaydes tests positive for COVID-19, UFC on ESPN 18 main event scrapped (MMA Junkie)
- More UFC/MMA coverage from MMA Junkie
Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=2559]