Beating the Books: UFC Fight Night 140

Many observers slept on UFC Fight Night 140, but it turned into a memorable Ultimate Fighting Championship event chock full of upsets and unexpected finishes on Saturday at Parque Roca Arena in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Five underdogs cashed in, as the UFC broke down the doors to a new market.

Johnny Walker (+135)

Arguably the most notable upset of the whole card took place in the light heavyweight division, as Walker brutally knocked out the Khalil Rountree with an elbow from the clinch and follow-up punches on the ground. Walker has won seven straight fights, and with his skills and personality, he looks like he could be a future star in the shallow 205-pound division. He cashed out as a +135 underdog.

Ian Heinisch (+160)

One of the biggest surprises on a card full of them saw a short-notice Octagon newcomer in Heinisch defeat veteran Cezar Ferreira via decision. After appearing to lose the first round, Heinisch stormed back with a knockdown and more output in the second and third rounds to cruise to a unanimous nod on the scorecards. Considering the fact that he took the fight on just over a week’s notice and was fighting a guy coming off of a string of wins in Ferreira, the victory represents a significant step forward for Heinisch. The odds on his winning were +160.

Cynthia Calvillo (+150)

After Calvillo missed weight and looked terrible on the scales, many figured she would fall to Poliana Botelho. The fight ended up being a complete blowout, however, as Calvillo took Botelho to the ground and finished it with a rear-naked choke with just 12 seconds left in the first round. Calvillo is now 4-1 in the UFC and should get a highly ranked opponent in her next appearance. She cashed out as a +150 underdog.

Austin Arnett (+195)

Based on the odds, the biggest upset of the night saw Arnett take home a unanimous decision over Humberto Bandenay. Arnett was riding a three-fight losing skid into this match, and many were surprised he even got another shot in the UFC. However, he made good on the opportunity and took out Bandenay in a mostly dominant performance that showed off his cardio advantage. Arnett cashed as a +195 underdog.

Laureano Staropoli (+100)

Two of the three Argentinians on the card won, including UFC newcomer Staropoli, who outstruck Hector Aldana in a slugfest to win a unanimous decision. This was arguably the most exciting fight on the whole card, and both men were rewarded with $50,000 “Fight of the Night” bonuses. The odds on Staropoli winning were +100.

Adam Martin is a mixed martial arts journalist who has been covering the sport since 2011. He is currently the lead odds analyst for Sherdog.com, as well as the lead staff writer for MMAOddsbreaker.com. Adam is also the co-host of “The Parting Shot Podcast” on iTunes. His favorite fight of all-time is Dan Henderson-Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and he wishes Pride Fighting Championships never died. Adam is based out of Toronto, and he is a graduate of the University of Toronto and Centennial College. Get in touch with him on Twitter at @MMAdamMartin.