Team Faber’s Michael Chiesa Sits As Heavy Favorite Over Team Cruz’s Jeremy Larsen

As the new season of the Ultimate Fighter Live rolls on, Team Urijah Faber has taken control of the fight selection again, and this time a bout was selected they believe falls heavily in their favor.

Michael Chiesa from Team Faber will take on Jeremy Larsen from Team Cruz in the next elimination round match-up this Friday on FX.

Nick Kalikas from BetonFighting.com has installed Chiesa as a huge favorite going into the fight with his odds coming in at -400.

The comeback on Larsen as the underdog is +300 and Kalikas feels those odds are pretty well justified based on the stylistic nightmare that Chiesa presents for Larsen.

“Obviously, Chiesa has a huge advantage on the ground so that’s why he’s coming in as a decent favorite. I think he’s going to get the takedown and try to impose his will on Larsen. The fight’s going to hit the floor, it’s whether or not Larsen can survive and make this thing interesting. Larsen is a tough dude, he’s got decent wrestling for not being a wrestler. It’s a bad style match,” said Kalikas.

“It’s no secret why Faber made this match-up.”

Faber’s team regained control of the fight selections after Al Iaquinta, the team’s No. 1 pick, edged out Myles Jury in last week’s episode.

Now with Faber in control he picked a strong wrestler with solid grappling credentials to pick off one of the fighters on Cruz’s team he believes is a weaker link.

Friday night on FX will tell the tale as Michael Chiesa faces Jeremy Larsen with the chance to move onto the next round for the Ultimate Fighter Live.