It was a gifted striker that ended Ronda Rousey’s reign as UFC women’s bantamweight champ. But noted oddsmaker Joey Oddessa has opened Rousey (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) as more than a 3-1 favorite against striking specialist Amanda Nunes (13-4 MMA, 6-1 UFC).

And he says there may be value in that opening line.

“Ronda Rousey is just over a 3-1 favorite (-320) in her recently announced matchup against current UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes,” Oddessa told MMAjunkie. “The truth is Rousey should be an even bigger favorite.”

Rousey haters may see things a little differently. After all, after seeing Rousey starched by Holly Holm at UFC 193, it may be difficult to envision the Olympic judoka faring better against Nunes, who may not be quite as technical as Holm but may be even more powerful.

Still, Oddessa believes Rousey will be a completely different fighter at UFC 207.

“Ronda went into the Holm bout with one of the poorest gameplans of any bout in her career and got taken to school,” Oddessa said. “Now, a year later, she’s back on track to become UFC champion again.”

Nunes claimed the belt at UFC 200 with a first-round finish of then-champ Miesha Tate. The Brazilian battered Tate on the feet before finishing her on the floor with a rear-naked choke.

Despite Nunes’ obvious striking advantages, Oddessa believes Rousey is the rightful favorite.

“Statisticians will differ and say there is value in the defending champ Nunes,” Oddessa said. “I can say with confidence Nunes is one of the very few UFC champions who will enter into their bout as an underdog in the coming year. UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, who would have lost in any other country than his own in his first UFC title defense, will be the other to own that distinction in the coming year.

“The often used A-beat-B, so B-beats-C MMA junk math will fall on its face in yet another changing of hands with the UFC titles. The inactive Rousey will come back, and she will win decisively.”

UFC 207 takes place Dec. 30 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. The evening’s main card, including the Nunes vs. Rousey headliner, airs on pay-per-view.

For more on UFC 207, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.