Tyron Woodley (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Heading into UFC 201, the odssmakers have Robbie Lawler as the favorite to win Saturday’s bout with Tyron Woodley, but Kenny Florian is going with the latter.

The welterweight fight will headline the July 30th card, which will take place at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. In the latest “UFC Tonight“,  the commentator and analyst Florian was asked to weigh-in on the bout (quotes via FOX Sports press release).

“This will be an amazing fight. You have two very explosive individuals, both from the same team, American Top Team, so there will be a little drama there. Tyron Woodley is a phenomenal wrestler. He’s very fast. The question is, can he be fast for 25 minutes? Because Robbie Lawler is a guy who understands how to go 25 minutes hard. Tyron has a very dangerous right hand, but Lawler has power everywhere and he continues to improve and evolve.”

Woodley (15-3) is coming off a decision win over Kelvin Gastelum in January, 2015, and before that, he stopped Dong Hyun Kim in August, 2014. The champ Lawler (27-10), meanwhile, fought this past January and earned a split decision win over Carlos Condit. In his first title defense last July, Lawler stopped Rory MacDonald.

The betting lines have Lawler sitting as a favorite in the +150 to +160 range, but Florian believes Woodley will be securing championship gold at UFC 201.

“Tyron is so explosive with everything he does. First, he needs to land the takedown, just to mix things up. He has to pace himself because it’s a five-round fight. And finally, he needs to throw high kicks. We’ve seen Lawler get hit by right-handed fighters by those kicks.”

“I think his speed is going to be too much and he catches Lawler. I think Woodley gets the upset.”