UFC Fight Night 20 Betting: Maynard vs Diaz Odds

UFC odds for Fight Night 20 on Monday night features a lightweight battle between Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz. There are a total of 11 fights on the UFC betting card highlighted by this battle between two lightweight contenders. Maynard -290 is a favorite in UFC odds at online sportsbooks over Diaz +230. There were some late changes to the UFC Fight Night 20 card as Steve Steinbess had to pull out due to injury. Jesse Forbes +160 takes his place in a bout against the favored Nick Catone -200 in UFC picks. Another late replacement is John Salter +200 who steps in for the injured Mike Massenzio in a fight against Gerald Harris -260.

The main Fight Night 20 card has four bouts in UFC betting odds. In addition to the Maynard-Diaz fight, it will be Efrain Escudero -240 vs. Evan Dunham +190, Aaron Simpson -350 vs. Tom Lawlor +275 and Amir Sadollah -150 vs. Brad Blackburn + 120. On the undercard in UFC odds it is Chris Leben -175 vs. Jay Silva +145, Rick Story -270 vs. Jesse Lennox +210, Thiago Tavares -260 vs. Nik Lentz +200, Rory MacDonald -210 vs. Michael Guymon +170 and Kyle Bradley +260 vs. Rafael dos Anjos -340.

Maynard comes into Fight Night 20 unbeaten at 9-0 in UFC odds. Diaz enters the fight with a record of 11-4 in UFC betting picks. If Maynard wins in UFC betting as expected against Diaz, he could get closer to a title shot in UFC betting odds against Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn. ``I'm the type of guy that loves to compete, and wants to win against the very best,'' Maynard said. ``It's been a lot of work getting to this level. I've been training all year long. If I didn't do it that way I would've lost. It's that will to win that drives me every day all year long.''

Heading into Fight Night 20, Diaz has lost two of his last three bouts in UFC odds as he was beaten by Clay Guida at UFC 94 and Joe Stevenson at TUF 9. He did win at Fight Night 19 in UFC betting against Melvin Guillard. Maynard is heavily favored in UFC picks against Diaz and for good reason. Maynard has won six straight bouts including wins against Jim Miller and Frank Edgar. In fact, he is the only fighter to beat Edgar in this lightweight division. For Maynard to win this UFC fight against Diaz he needs to keep it off the ground. Diaz is a submission expert and will be going for a hold at every opportunity. The striking edge goes to Maynard and that should be the way he gets the win on Monday night.

Lanning's UFC Betting Picks: Gray Maynard is heavily favored to dispatch Nate Diaz and rightfully so going unbeaten in his last nine UFC fights. If Maynard wants a chance at the Lightweight title, he will need to bring down Diaz in convincing fashion. My UFC pick for Monday's fight will be to take the favored Maynard -290 over Nate Diaz so I can get a 50% deposit bonus and also view all the live UFC Fight Night 20 odds that are available now.