Colby Covington is 14-1 as a professional including a current streak of six straight wins. The 31-year-old hopes to keep climbing in the welterweight rankings with another win this Saturday when he takes on Robbie Lawler in the main event of UFC on ESPN 5.
Covington is a -235 favorite on the UFC odds to win in Newark at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The welterweight division is so stacked in the UFC that it’s difficult to work up to a title shot, but Covington’s turn should come soon if he keeps collecting victories.
Champion Kamaru Usman, Tyron Woodley and Jorge Masvidal are currently the only welterweights ranked higher than Covington, who has won each of his last four fights by unanimous decision.
Robbie Lawler (+185) strung together five straight wins from UFC 173 through UFC 195, winning the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC 181 and successfully defending it twice before losing it to Tyron Woodley at UFC 201. Lawler has lost three of his last four fights, but his knockout power always makes him a threat as 20 of his 28 professional wins have come by way of knockout.
Jim Miller (-185) will try to pick up a win on Saturday in front of his home crowd when he takes on Clay Guida (+150) in a lightweight bout. Miller, a New Jersey native, has won two of his last three fights since going on a four-fight losing streak in his previous four fights. Guida has won three of his last four fights and hopes to spoil Miller’s homecoming.
Nasrat Haqparast (-240) faces Joaquim Silva (+190) in an intriguing matchup between two promising young lightweights. Haqparast is 10-2 as a professional and has won each of his last two fights since losing in his UFC debut. Silva is 14-1 as a professional including a 4-1 record in the UFC.
Rounding out the main card Saturday are Trevin Giles (-175) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (+145) and Scott Holtzman (-370) vs. Dong Hyun Ma (+280). After going undefeated through his first 11 fights, Giles suffered the first loss of his professional career to Zak Cummings at UFC Fight Night 152 in May.
UFC on ESPN 5 Betting Lines
Colby Covington (-235) vs. Robbie Lawler (+185)
Jim Miller (-185) vs. Clay Guida (+150)
Nasrat Haqparast (-240) vs. Joaquim Silva (+190)
Trevin Giles (-175) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (+145)
Scott Holtzman (-370) vs. Dong Hyun Ma (+280)
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