It has been a long layoff for the champ, as Namajunas hasn’t fought in over a year. It will be interesting to see how Namajunas deals with the crowd and moment in Brazil. Namajunas typically allows herself to live in the moment and there might not be a more pressure filled one that she will feel on Saturday.

Jessica Andrade is the true number one contender and she has earned that spot by dominating Claudia Gadelha, Tecia Torres and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Fighting for the belt in front of her home country is an opportunity that Andrade never thought she would have and she’s confident that she will make the most of it.

Get ready for UFC 237 by watching the past performances of some of the cards biggest stars and prospects. Watch the collection here:  https://www.ufc.tv/category/ufc-237-fights-to-watch

UFC 236, Gianni came out ahead much to the surprise of nobody watching and was a Zelim Imadaev loss shy of nailing another big money parlay on fight night.

Shockingly, Karalis, who has made a living solely off gambling for the last 30 years has grown to numb to sports and betting altogether.

“I bet the entire NBA season every night,” Karalis said. “I bet the playoffs every night unless there’s no value on the board and I have not watched more than five minutes of an NBA game the entire season.”

Comparing his career to a formula that has grown dull over the years, The Greek says that the emergence and explosion of the UFC and the world of MMA has actually rejuvenated his love for the competition. With Karalis’ start spanning back decades, moving steam for wiseguys before offshore gambling was legal anywhere other than Las Vegas it seemed like a long shot to ever capture the love of gambling that he once felt.

“With the UFC, like this Saturday, my wife has already made plans,” Karalis said. “She knows I’m going to feel like that 20-year-old version of me that was betting more money than I could afford. Back when I would call and bet 500 bucks when I only had 20 in my pocket. That’s that feeling that I’ve been able to capture again. It sounds like a degenerate but deep down it’s why everyone bets.”

Karalis’s reborn love for betting is partially attributed to the action of the still budding sport but not entirely. It’s also due to his newfound role as an exclusive wise guy which has almost become a welcome new “promotion” in the world of betting. The work he used to study to make his bets for the nights is being written and passed off by The Greek himself.

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“Now it’s like I actually get to handicap,” Karalis said “I actually get to choose the bets that I’m going to share on the show and for me that the most exciting part I feel like I have action again.”

All that glitters is not gold though in the life of a sharp in sports betting. In fact, the stress has risen to the point that now The Greek’s wellbeing, livelihood and even reputation rank second to him and his family.

“I feel more pressure for other people than I do for myself,” Karalis said. “Prior, it was just me. I won and lost, and my bankroll fluctuated but I dealt with the right people and we were pretty much assured we were going to win year in and year out. Now though it’s changed because I know a guy who worked all week for $500 is going to bet $100 because of my information. He’s betting 20% of his whole week’s work because of trust in my expertise.”

While the situation is a stressful one for anybody with a heart who knows he holds the financial wellbeing of people who trust him in his hand, the warming reality is that if it’s not him, it’s bound to be somebody else. People will gamble and lose regardless of whether or not The Greek is the reason for it. Now, with the introduction of new technology that literally gives sports bettors any statistic in seconds, it also gives them just as easy of access to squares with confident voices.

“Oddsmakers, bookmakers, casinos, the guys that actually have the data will tell you that 1 out of 100 people are up on them long term in the sports books,” Karalis said. “So, are you telling me that 1 out of 100, those are the guys that are writing all the content? Of course not. They’re too busy trying to win.”

The formula at this point is simple. Every pick The Greek makes, whether win or lose, he documents. This year he’s already well over his expected income and even further ahead of the profit line.

It’s impossible to get The Greek in your back pocket for every bet you’d like to make but with UFC On The Line it takes only the amount of time per episode to find out if Karalis thinks the long layoff will have served Namajunas well, if Volkanovski is the real deal and who has been steamed. 

If you’re out to make money it doesn’t get any easier. Tune in to UFC On The Line and make your bets. In a world of gambling, why wouldn’t you want as much information from the sharps as you can get? The choice is yours, but a safe bet is that as tight as the lines and matchups are for UFC 237, we’ll see Gianni The Greek back for UFC On The Line for UFC 238 with an even fatter wallet.

Catch UFC On The Line NOW on UFC FIGHT PASS!

After a three-round war against Marion Reneau and suffering the KO to former champion Holly Holm, Correia was due for some time off but not nearly as much as she received.

The 35-year old Brazilian was originally scheduled to return in Jan. 2018 against Irene Aldana but she was ultimately forced out of her contest due to an eye problem that required her to undergo surgery.

Seven months later, Correia was once again booked for a showdown against Aldana, this time at UFC 227 in California. That’s when the bottom really fell out from under her after Correia wasn’t cleared to compete just days before the fight was scheduled to take place.

Once again her eyes were at the root of the problem and it was particularly frustrating because Correia thought she had done everything necessary to correct the prior issue she was facing. 

In fact, at no point was Correia ever in danger of never being able to compete again because of an eye injury — she just nearly lost faith when she did everything possible to come back and yet the rug was pulled out from under her. 

“I was pretty confident I would be back,” Correia said ahead of her return at UFC 237. “My doctors left it up to me if I would go back or not because they healed me. To me, the worst moment was getting my fight cancelled in California three days ahead [of the event]. That was the moment that made me really think about quitting and just made me really fall apart. That was the toughest.”

Like any injury, Correia knew she had to take the time to allow her eyes to heal following surgery but she thought everything had been solved when she arrived to fight at UFC 227.

According to Correia, the hardest part about that week spent in California was already putting in the time and effort to go through a training camp in preparation to compete and then she was told just three days out from the event that she wouldn’t be allowed to fight. 
 

“I was prepared to fight. That weighed a lot on me,” Correia said. “I believe everything happens for a reason and has a moment to happen, so destiny made it so I could face Irene again and the possibility of facing her again so now the time is right and that made me even more motivated to come in and give a great performance. This has been my best camp because I have been so motivated to get back.

“I think it showed how strong I am and how much I’m a warrior. Fighting is not for everyone and I showed that I could persist and be great.”

After two failed attempts at making this fight happen, Correia is once again just a day away from facing Aldana, who comes into the contest off back-to-back wins including a Fight of the Night performance in her last outing this past September.

While Correia would have gladly faced whoever was put in front of her, she was particularly happy to take on Aldana after spending the better part of two past training camps getting ready for this specific opponent. 

“It’s actually the third time that the UFC put together this fight. The first two times I had some health issues but the third time’s the charm,” Correia said. “I have studied Irene and watched her fights many times and I feel completely prepared. I think there’s no way this fight isn’t happening. Everything is perfect and I’m ready

“I’m just really happy to be back. My time off felt like wars to me. My last fight was complicated so it was good for me to go back and this camp has been amazing and complete. I’m really excited to be back and give my best for the audience.”

Styles make fights and Correia knows that Aldana is a tailor-made opponent to put on a compelling matchup for the fans witnessing UFC 237 this weekend.

Correia has built her own reputation on a high intensity, volume striking output and that is exactly the kind of fight she expects from Aldana in return.

“I’m really excited,” Correia said. “First because Aldana is from Mexico and I love Mexico. I hope one day I can visit there and I have a lot of fans over there so I’m really excited for that. I know we will put on a show. It’s definitely going to be a great fight for the fans.”

Because she was forced to the sidelines for an extended period of time, Correia definitely appreciates the fact that she’s finally back doing what she loves to do the most.

If there was an added bonus to this particular fight it’s that Correia gets to compete in front of a home audience in Brazil.

It’s been nearly six years since Correia was able to secure a victory in her native country and nothing would be sweeter than making her return after almost two years away and then getting a win in Brazil.

“It’s perfect,” Correia stated. “When I heard there would be an event in Brazil, I was thinking about challenging someone so I could get a fight but then I got the invitation from the UFC. I had just gotten back into training so it was perfect. 

“The perfect timing and the perfect place to mark my return to the Octagon.”

(Ed. Note – Correia failed to make weight for Saturday’s bout, coming in at 141 pounds. Correia will be fined and the fight with Aldana will proceed as scheduled.)

Then again, to the UFC strawweight champion, the entire week leading up to her first title defense against Joanna Jedrzejczyk in April 2018 had been one long fight.

From quirky mishaps while in Brooklyn to being in the bus during the highly-publicized Conor McGregor incident after the UFC 223 media day at Barclays Center, nothing was going right for the new champion about to fight the woman who she took the title from five months earlier.

But “Thug Rose” was going to fight. It’s what she does, even if things still weren’t settled as she got her hands wrapped for battle.

“It felt like a nightmare warming up for that fight,” Namajunas said. “A total contrast to the first fight I had with her. I felt like something was just not right. I was so tense squeezing my hands that I had blood all over my hands. I just had to pull it together and calm myself. It was just one of those things. You have to roll with it, control your breathing, let go and perform.”

Eventually, it all clicked and Namajunas was ready to fight. And fight she did, winning a unanimous five-round decision over Jedrzejczyk. It was a close five-rounder, but after everything that went on before the Octagon door shut, it was career-defining for the champion, who defends that crown this Saturday against Jessica Andrade.

Again, Namajunas will have more than a fight to deal with. This time, it will be the champion going to the challenger’s home turf in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with everything that comes along with that. But Namajunas isn’t concerned with boos, chants or wearing the black hat come Saturday night.

“I’m really excited to perform in front of my Brazilian fans,” she said. “Defending my belt in Brazil will mean a lot to the people of Brazil but also to the world of MMA and to myself to face my fears and challenge myself. This is a great opportunity to become very internationally well-known and respected and loved.”

It’s impossible to not already be a fan of the 26-year-old Milwaukee native, but loyalties run deep in Brazil, and the equally likeable Andrade will certainly have her home fans cheering her on this weekend. Oddsmakers have even installed “Bate Estaca” as a favorite in her second world championship bout, another development that doesn’t make Namajunas blink.

“Being an underdog, I’m no stranger to that,” said Namajunas, who shocked the world in 2017 when she knocked Jedrzejczyk in a little over three minutes to win the 115-pound crown. “If you look at some of my past fights, some of my weaknesses play into her strengths. But I can assure everybody that I’m working on those and I’ve completely evolved. In my head, I always consider myself to be the favorite. She’s had some great performances, she’s improved a lot, so it makes sense, but I’m not buying into that.”

That’s champ talk, even if Namajunas plans on fighting like a hungry challenger at Jeunesse Arena.

MORE THUG ROSE: Namajunas Capturing Gold | Training Day – Rose Namajunas | Namajunas Excited | Roses’ Greatest Hits

“With an opponent like Andrade, I’m technically defending my belt, but I’m not believing in that,” she said. “I’m an offensive fighter. I’m not going into this fight to stick and move and run away. I’m going into this fight with the intentions of finishing her in a dominant fashion.”

That’s matter of fact from Namajunas, not done with the hint of malice. This is business, and she’s taking the emotion out of it, just like she did in Brooklyn. The only thing that’s changed is the location.

“I have a lot of respect for Andrade,” she said. “It’s gonna be a real fight. You’re not gonna have a lot of smack talk, we’re gonna be very complimentary of each other, but also very confident in our own selves. The fight sells itself.”

Cannonier’s journey to the UFC began years ago when he was in the army and he participated in combat. He fell in love with the competition and learning how to defend himself. After the army, Cannonier took a position with the FAA maintaining satellite communications in Anchorage, Alaska.

Then he decided to find a jiu jitsu gym to do some training. Cannonier walked into the gym weighing over 300lbs. The combination of his training in the army and jiu jitsu really inspired him to take some amateur fights.

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It took just about a year for Cannonier to get his first professional fight at 26 years old. Not bad for a guy who put himself on the mixed martial arts fast track after getting a late start into training. Cannonier was fighting at heavyweight, a tough task for a guy his size but yet he was still very success in the promotions leading up to his UFC debut.

“Suffice to say that when I got into the UFC it was a completely different playing ground and field to operate in,” Cannonier said. “Those heavyweights are way bigger, way strong, everything, just better all-around. Being who I am now if I look back and see that person I would be like, ‘I probably wasn’t ready’, for the UFC physically. I was definitely ready mentally.”

Cannonier believes he showed that by defeating heavyweight Cyril Asker at UFC Zagreb in 2016. From there he dropped the weight, moved down to light heavyweight and beat the tough Ion Cutelaba. That victory set up a showdown with title contender Glover Teixeira. Despite losing that fight, Cannonier showed great potential that caught the eyes of UFC brass. Cannonier decided to quit his job with the FAA, move to Arizona and pursue MMA as a full-time career.

After going 1-2 in his next three fights, with losses to current top six ranked light heavyweights Jan Blachowicz and Dominick Reyes, Cannonier received a call to take on ranked middleweight David Branch on short notice. He accepted that fight at UFC 230, won in convincing fashion and earned himself a showdown with the great “Spider Siliva.”

For the 35 year old Cannonier, he believes that his win over Branch is just the beginning of him tapping into his true potential.

“You know my last fight is the start of that ascension,” Cannonier said. “I wanna keep that ball rolling. Keep going up up up up. I’m ready. They know they see. My training partners know that I have potential to be at the top of this game and that’s why the UFC gave me the contract to fight Glover so long ago. They knew it back then. And I’m going to show it Saturday.”

MORE UFC 237: Namajunas Excited | Must-See Jose Aldo | Top 5 Spider Moments | Aldo Not Alone | BJ Penn | Open Workout Recap | Trinaldo Lives To Fight | Guida Fired Up | Irene Aldana Q&A | Order UFC 237

As for his match-up with Silva, Cannonier has the upmost respect for the former champion but once that Octagon door closes he knows just how much he as to gain from beating a guy like Silva.

“(Anderson Silva) is a big name but that’s a non-factor. I’m not fighting your name I’m fighting your body,” Cannonier said. “I hit really hard and I’m really fast. My defense has gotten even sounder as I’ve worked on it in the gym. Most of that stuff that he catches people with I don’t see working on me. Sometimes he lets his opponents hit and him that probably wouldn’t be a good idea to do that against me because I don’t throw soft punches in there. If he wants to play that game I will definitely oblige him.”

Cannonier is most excited to know that Silva is a game opponent and that his style will help make the fight fun. “The Killa Gorilla” has been waiting for a fight like this and he is going to make sure to put on a performance that fans and UFC brass will remember.

“If he wants to stand there and mix it up I’m going to get right in his face,” Cannonier said. “I’m not going to stay right outside of his range and watch him and marvel at his magnificence or anything like that. I’m going to get all up in his grill and break it as best as I can. It’s going to be legendary, that’s for sure.”

Make sure you tune in to see if Cannonier can continue his rise by defeating one of the greatest of all-time in Anderson Silva. UFC 237 begins Saturday at 6:15pm/ 3:15pm ETPT with the UFC Fight Pass Early prelims. The ESPN+ prelims begin at 8pm/5pm ET.

The UFC 237 main card will start at 10pm/7pm ETPT and is only available on Pay-Per-View. Order the card here.

Gavin Porter is a digital producer and writer for UFC.com, follow him on Twitter at @PorterUFCNews