Velasquez opens as favorite over Werdum ahead of rematch at UFC 207

Cain Velasquez's resolve for revenge has made him the betting favorite ahead of his December rematch with Fabricio Werdum.

Odds consultant Joey Oddessa has deemed Velasquez a -175 favorite to Werdum's +145 underdog two months before they're to tangle at UFC 207. While the Brazilian won their first meeting - and the heavyweight title - via third-round submission at UFC 188, the oddsmaker knows he'll be facing a far different Velasquez this time around.

"The Cain Velasquez -175 price gives merit to the excuses for his loss to Werdum in Mexico City," Oddessa told MMAjunkie's Dann Stupp. "The altitude, layoff and lack of preparation were all factors taken into account in the pricing of the rematch. A healthy Cain Velasquez should avenge the second loss of his UFC career and line himself up for a title shot against current champ Stipe Miocic."

True to Oddessa's prognosis, Velasquez was not himself when he tangled with Werdum. The former champ hadn't fought in over 18 months, and his usually impeccable conditioning had failed him by the third frame. He emphatically avenged his only other loss – a first-round knockout to Junior dos Santos that ended his first reign as champion – with a five-round beatdown in 2012. Velasquez took the trilogy with a repeat performance at UFC 166, enough to convince Oddessa that Werdum will suffer a similar fate.

"In rematches, Cain has avenged the only other loss of his UFC career, against Junior Dos Santos - not just one, but two times, while looking even more impressive in each outing."

Werdum lost the title to reigning champion Stipe Miocic in his first defense, but has since bested Travis Browne, who's also Velasquez's last conquest. Their rematch is rumored to determine Miocic's next challenger.

In their first meeting, Velasquez opened as a -425 favorite, Werdum a +355 underdog.