UFC Fight Night 96 staff picks: Close betting odds for Dodson-Lineker, but do our picks reflect it?

For the first time since 2009, the UFC has returned to the “Rose City” this week – Portland, Ore. – for UFC Fight Night 96.

The event takes place Saturday at Moda Center in Portland, Ore. The main card airs on FS1 following prelims on FS2 and UFC Fight Pass.

In the main event, two former flyweight contenders try to reinvent their title hopes at bantamweight. Former flyweight title challenger John Dodson (18-7 MMA, 7-2 UFC) takes on John Lineker (28-7 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in the headliner, and though he’s only a slight favorite from the oddsmakers, our MMAjunkie editors, writers and radio hosts are calling him a prohibitive favorite. Seven of our 10 staff members are taking Dodson to win.

In the co-feature, former Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks (19-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) goes after his second win in the UFC when he takes on Alex Oliveira (15-3-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC), who returns to the division after fighting four of his past five at welterweight. Only one of our 10 pickers is going with “Cowboy” Oliveira to pull off the upset against 3-1 favorite “Ill” Will.

Also on the main card, Brandon Moreno (11-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes a short notice UFC debut in a flyweight fight against Louis Smolka (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who is a unanimous pick by our staff members – and to no surprise, given he’s about a 5-1 favorite. And to open the main card, Zak Ottow (13-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is another short-notice replacement fighter in his debut against Josh Burkman (28-13 MMA, 6-8 UFC) at welterweight. Only one of our 10 staff members is picking Ottow for the upset.

In the MMAjunkie reader consensus picks, Dodson, Brooks, Smolka and Burkman are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on UFC Fight Night 96, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.