Max Holloway’s scheduled UFC Featherweight Title bout with Frankie Edgar in the main event at UFC 222 had to be canceled due to Holloway suffering a leg injury. In its place, the women’s UFC Featherweight Title will be on the line as Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino clashes with Yana Kunitskaya.
Justino is a massive favorite on the UFC 222 odds in this makeshift main event going off at -1600 to defend her title. “Cyborg” just picked up her 19th straight win in a five-round battle against Holly Holm at UFC 219 in late December. Due to the fact that she was close enough to making weight that she felt comfortable taking this fight on short notice, Justino agreed to put her title back on the line to replace the previous main event. Kunitskaya, who recently came out of retirement and won the Invicta FC Bantamweight Championship, will make her UFC debut as a +800 underdog.
With Holloway out, Frankie Edgar slides down to the co-main event where he is a -175 favorite facing Brian Ortega (+145). Edgar could have taken UFC 222 off and waited for Holloway to get healthy for a rescheduled title shot, but instead decided to take a tough fight against the undefeated Ortega. The featherweight has won seven of his last eight fights and is showing his stripes as a competitor in taking this one.
The 27-year-old Ortega is 13-0 as a professional including a 5-0 record in the UFC, most recently topping Cub Swanson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 123. An upset win over Edgar could thrust Ortega into title contention sooner than expected.
Another undefeated streak will be on the line at UFC 222 as Sean O’Malley (-105) clashes with Andre Soukhamthath. O’Malley is 9-0 as a professional and coming off a successful UFC debut in a decision win over Terrion Ware last December. The 23-year-old is flashy and has plenty of talent, but will be giving up a significant experience edge to Soukhamthath, who desperately needs a win after picking up losses in two of his last three fights.
Rounding out the main card are Stefan Struve (-185) vs. Andrei Arlovski (+150) and
Ketlen Vieira (-190) vs. Cat Zingano (+155). Arlovski broke a five-fight losing streak with a win over Junior Albini at UFC Fight Night 120.
UFC 222 Betting Lines
Cristiane Justino (-1600) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (+800)
Frankie Edgar (-175) vs. Brian Ortega (+145)
Andre Soukhamthath (-125) vs. Sean O’Malley (-105)
Stefan Struve (-185) vs. Andrei Arlovski (+150)
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