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WEC 53 betting is about as good as it gets, as two championship belts will be on the line Thursday night. In one bout, lightweight champion Ben Henderson will try defending his title against Anthony Pettis.
Henderson, though young, is a worthy champion. The 27-year-old American is 12-1 in his career, and he’s riding an 11-fight victory streak. He won the interim lightweight title last October when current champ Jamie Varner was down with an injury. Henderson defeated Donald Cerrone in a five-round unanimous decision to earn the interim title.
In January, Henderson become the undisputed champion after topping Varner with a guillotine choke. His last fight was a championship defense in a rematch against Cerrone; again, Henderson emerged victories with a guillotine choke.
Henderson is a fantastic submission artist, as he already has eight wins via submission to his credit. The champ has excellent cardio and is a very good wrestler, and he’s escaped potential submissions plenty of times in the past. Henderson owns a black belt in Taekwondo and a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu.
Pettis is about as young as they get when it comes to a title shot. Just 23 years old, the American is already 12-1 in his career. He owns a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo, which he has used to earn four victories via knockout and six by submission (his past two wins have come via submission). Pettis earned a surprising triangle choke over Shane Roller in their fight in August; Roller is a proficient wrestler, but Pettis got the best of him.
These fighters aren’t only going after the WEC lightweight championship; they’re fighting for No. 1 contender status in the UFC. Both will be signed by UFC after this fight, and the winner on Saturday will be pitted against the winner of Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard in a title unification battle at UFC 125.
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Henderson, though young, is a worthy champion. The 27-year-old American is 12-1 in his career, and he’s riding an 11-fight victory streak. He won the interim lightweight title last October when current champ Jamie Varner was down with an injury. Henderson defeated Donald Cerrone in a five-round unanimous decision to earn the interim title.
In January, Henderson become the undisputed champion after topping Varner with a guillotine choke. His last fight was a championship defense in a rematch against Cerrone; again, Henderson emerged victories with a guillotine choke.
Henderson is a fantastic submission artist, as he already has eight wins via submission to his credit. The champ has excellent cardio and is a very good wrestler, and he’s escaped potential submissions plenty of times in the past. Henderson owns a black belt in Taekwondo and a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu.
Pettis is about as young as they get when it comes to a title shot. Just 23 years old, the American is already 12-1 in his career. He owns a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo, which he has used to earn four victories via knockout and six by submission (his past two wins have come via submission). Pettis earned a surprising triangle choke over Shane Roller in their fight in August; Roller is a proficient wrestler, but Pettis got the best of him.
These fighters aren’t only going after the WEC lightweight championship; they’re fighting for No. 1 contender status in the UFC. Both will be signed by UFC after this fight, and the winner on Saturday will be pitted against the winner of Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard in a title unification battle at UFC 125.
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UFC’s lightweight championship belt is on the line this weekend as Frankie Edgar takes on Gray Maynard. Despite being the champ, Edgar is a +115 underdog on UFC 125 betting odds, while Maynard is a -145 favorite. This is a rematch, as the fighters stepped into the octagon against each other in April 2008.
Edgar is coming off back-to-back victories against former lightweight champ B.J. Penn. Many observers called Edgar a fluke after beating Penn at UFC 112 to win the title, but he delivered with a championship defense last August at UFC 118.
The American is riding a five-fight winning streak. He’s 13-1 for his career with two knockouts and three submissions. He has a very strong wrestling background, qualifying four times for the nationals while at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, so it’s no surprise most of his fights go to the judges’ scorecard. He’s often fun to watch, as Edgar has earned Fight of the Night honors three times in his brief career.
Edgar does have one blemish on his record, though, and that lone loss came to the man he’s fighting Saturday — Maynard. The duo hooked up two years ago at UFC Fight Night, with Maynard winning a unanimous decision.
Maynard, also an American, is undefeated in his mixed martial arts career, going 11-0-1. Like Edgar, he has a strong wresting background. He was a wrestling teammate — and roommate — of Rashad Evans at Michigan State University, where he was a three-time All-American.
Most MMA fans probably remember him from The Ultimate Fighter 5, where he reached the final against Rob Emerson. Maynard slammed Emerson to the mat in the second round, injuring his ribs and forcing a tap out. But, in a bizarre twist, Maynard slammed his head on the mat at the same time. The referee claimed he couldn’t continue and each fighter was awarded a no-contest.
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Edgar is coming off back-to-back victories against former lightweight champ B.J. Penn. Many observers called Edgar a fluke after beating Penn at UFC 112 to win the title, but he delivered with a championship defense last August at UFC 118.
The American is riding a five-fight winning streak. He’s 13-1 for his career with two knockouts and three submissions. He has a very strong wrestling background, qualifying four times for the nationals while at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, so it’s no surprise most of his fights go to the judges’ scorecard. He’s often fun to watch, as Edgar has earned Fight of the Night honors three times in his brief career.
Edgar does have one blemish on his record, though, and that lone loss came to the man he’s fighting Saturday — Maynard. The duo hooked up two years ago at UFC Fight Night, with Maynard winning a unanimous decision.
Maynard, also an American, is undefeated in his mixed martial arts career, going 11-0-1. Like Edgar, he has a strong wresting background. He was a wrestling teammate — and roommate — of Rashad Evans at Michigan State University, where he was a three-time All-American.
Most MMA fans probably remember him from The Ultimate Fighter 5, where he reached the final against Rob Emerson. Maynard slammed Emerson to the mat in the second round, injuring his ribs and forcing a tap out. But, in a bizarre twist, Maynard slammed his head on the mat at the same time. The referee claimed he couldn’t continue and each fighter was awarded a no-contest.
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The new year started with a bang for UFC fans, with the first day of 2011 producing UFC 125. The card was not one of the biggest that sport has ever seen, but there were still enough matches of interest to keep gamblers heading to the windows at Las Vegas sports books.
Unlike many other sports in the US, UFC and its president, Dana White, have embraced the rebel attitude. While White wants his fighters to be accountable for their actions, the president of the fastest growing organization in sports understands what gambling means to his brand. While the NFL has pretended that gambling does not exist on their sport, the UFC has taken over as the largest fight betting sport in the country.
It used to be that boxing dominated the sports books. Odds makers could never make lines high enough to keep gamblers away from top boxers such as Cassius Clay and Mike Tyson. With UFC, it is different, any fighter can win on any given night, although the upset is still more rare than the favorite winning.
On Saturday night, UFC 125 featured a headlining event in which Frankie Edgar put his lightweight championship on the line against Gray Maynard. Edgar was the betting favorite, but it did not look like that should have been the case in the first round.
Maynard came out throwing punch after punch. By the end of the first round, Edgar had taken over 100 punches from the challenger. As he has done so many times before, however, Edgar rebounded to have a strong fight. The battle went to the judges cards, and the results netted a draw. That was an unfortunate result for gamblers who be on either Maynard or Edgar.
In earlier results, Briann Stann defeated Chris Leban in the Co-Headliner match. Thiago Silva won big on the scorecards over Brandon Vera, and Dong Hyun Kim kept his unbeaten streak alive by gaining a decision over Nate Diaz. Clay Guida submitted Takanori Gomi in a featured match at 155 pounds.
Unlike many other sports in the US, UFC and its president, Dana White, have embraced the rebel attitude. While White wants his fighters to be accountable for their actions, the president of the fastest growing organization in sports understands what gambling means to his brand. While the NFL has pretended that gambling does not exist on their sport, the UFC has taken over as the largest fight betting sport in the country.
It used to be that boxing dominated the sports books. Odds makers could never make lines high enough to keep gamblers away from top boxers such as Cassius Clay and Mike Tyson. With UFC, it is different, any fighter can win on any given night, although the upset is still more rare than the favorite winning.
On Saturday night, UFC 125 featured a headlining event in which Frankie Edgar put his lightweight championship on the line against Gray Maynard. Edgar was the betting favorite, but it did not look like that should have been the case in the first round.
Maynard came out throwing punch after punch. By the end of the first round, Edgar had taken over 100 punches from the challenger. As he has done so many times before, however, Edgar rebounded to have a strong fight. The battle went to the judges cards, and the results netted a draw. That was an unfortunate result for gamblers who be on either Maynard or Edgar.
In earlier results, Briann Stann defeated Chris Leban in the Co-Headliner match. Thiago Silva won big on the scorecards over Brandon Vera, and Dong Hyun Kim kept his unbeaten streak alive by gaining a decision over Nate Diaz. Clay Guida submitted Takanori Gomi in a featured match at 155 pounds.
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UFC betting is back this weekend, as UFC Fight for the Troops 2 takes place Saturday night. One of the best fights of the night will be a heavyweight match between Matt Mitrione and Tim Hague.
Mitrione is the favorite with -280 odds; he stands 6-foot-3 and has an 82-inch reach. The American has a rather interesting background, as he’s a former player with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. Mitrione got his break when he joined the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter, where he lost in the quarterfinals to James McSweeney after suffering migraines and dizziness heading into the bout.
The Wisconsin native then officially launched his MMA career. He’s fought three times, winning all three matches. His first fight was a knockout over fellow former-NFLer Marcus Jones in December 2009. Mitrione followed that up with a TKO of Kimbo Slice last May. His most recent fight was a unanimous decision over Joey Beltran at UFC 119 in September.
His opponent, Tim Hague, checks in as a +220 underdog. Hague stands 6-foot-4. The Canadian boasts considerably more experience than Mitrione, as he has 16 career fights under his belt. Hauge is 12-4 in those fights, including back-to-back victories.
Hague has a solid mixed bag of skills. Of his 12 career wins, seven have come via knockout while another three have come via submission; obviously, he looks to finish fights before it gets to the judges' scorecard. Hague owns a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
After a rough three-fight losing streak, Hague has bounced back. He KO’d Zak Jensen in July before knocking out Travis Wiuff with punches in October. Both victories came in the first round and — win or lose — four of Hague’s last six fights have been settled in the first round.
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Mitrione is the favorite with -280 odds; he stands 6-foot-3 and has an 82-inch reach. The American has a rather interesting background, as he’s a former player with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. Mitrione got his break when he joined the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter, where he lost in the quarterfinals to James McSweeney after suffering migraines and dizziness heading into the bout.
The Wisconsin native then officially launched his MMA career. He’s fought three times, winning all three matches. His first fight was a knockout over fellow former-NFLer Marcus Jones in December 2009. Mitrione followed that up with a TKO of Kimbo Slice last May. His most recent fight was a unanimous decision over Joey Beltran at UFC 119 in September.
His opponent, Tim Hague, checks in as a +220 underdog. Hague stands 6-foot-4. The Canadian boasts considerably more experience than Mitrione, as he has 16 career fights under his belt. Hauge is 12-4 in those fights, including back-to-back victories.
Hague has a solid mixed bag of skills. Of his 12 career wins, seven have come via knockout while another three have come via submission; obviously, he looks to finish fights before it gets to the judges' scorecard. Hague owns a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
After a rough three-fight losing streak, Hague has bounced back. He KO’d Zak Jensen in July before knocking out Travis Wiuff with punches in October. Both victories came in the first round and — win or lose — four of Hague’s last six fights have been settled in the first round.
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Lightweight MMA fans can find some action at this weekend’s UFC: Fight for the Troops 2, as Cole Miller and Matt Wiman will step into the octagon. Miller is a -170 favorite, while Wiman is getting +140 odds as the underdog. The fighters share some history with each other, too.
Miller first arrived on the scene during The Ultimate Fighter 5. He won a few fights there before making his official UFC debut in the season finale, where he easily defeated Andy Wang with a TKO barely one minute into the first round. Miller has been very busy since then, fighting 21 total times in his career. He’s been rock solid with a 17-4 record.
Miller owns a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and most of his fights have ended on the mat; 12 of his 17 career victories have come via submission (while another three came via knockout).
He’s won four of his past five fights, with the lone loss coming in September 2009 to Efrain Escudero; Miller was knocked out by punches in the first round. He’s bounced back with two straight wins, though. Last January, he earned a first-round victory with a modified Kimura against Dan Lauzon – the same fighter who beat Miller in a controversial battle during The Ultimate Fighter 5. Miller last fought in September, when he used a rear-naked choke to top Ross Pearson in the second round.
Wiman has 17 career fights to his credit, though he got his start with the Extreme Fighting League. There, he was named middleweight champion. Wiman made his UFC debut at UFC 60 before joining The Ultimate Fighter 5. He and Miller never faced each other.
Wiman, a wrestler, has won four fights by knockout and four fights by submission. He snapped a two-fight losing streak by winning his past two bouts. The most recent fight was in June, when he used a guillotine choke to beat Mac Danzig in the first round at UFC 115.
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Miller first arrived on the scene during The Ultimate Fighter 5. He won a few fights there before making his official UFC debut in the season finale, where he easily defeated Andy Wang with a TKO barely one minute into the first round. Miller has been very busy since then, fighting 21 total times in his career. He’s been rock solid with a 17-4 record.
Miller owns a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and most of his fights have ended on the mat; 12 of his 17 career victories have come via submission (while another three came via knockout).
He’s won four of his past five fights, with the lone loss coming in September 2009 to Efrain Escudero; Miller was knocked out by punches in the first round. He’s bounced back with two straight wins, though. Last January, he earned a first-round victory with a modified Kimura against Dan Lauzon – the same fighter who beat Miller in a controversial battle during The Ultimate Fighter 5. Miller last fought in September, when he used a rear-naked choke to top Ross Pearson in the second round.
Wiman has 17 career fights to his credit, though he got his start with the Extreme Fighting League. There, he was named middleweight champion. Wiman made his UFC debut at UFC 60 before joining The Ultimate Fighter 5. He and Miller never faced each other.
Wiman, a wrestler, has won four fights by knockout and four fights by submission. He snapped a two-fight losing streak by winning his past two bouts. The most recent fight was in June, when he used a guillotine choke to beat Mac Danzig in the first round at UFC 115.
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Gambleholics across the globe are rejoicing because MMA’s three-week hiatus finally comes to an end this evening at “UFC Fight for the Troops 2.” The good news doesn’t stop there, as the free Spike TV broadcast will leave betters with an extra $44.95 in pay-per-view funds to put towards tonight’s investments.
“UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort” is just around the Super Bowl weekend corner, and that PPV certainly won’t pay for itself.
A spectacular lightweight scrap between Evan Dunham and Melvin Guillard will headline tonight’s freebie fight card. There hasn’t been much activity in regards to their wagering line. Dunham opened at -225 several weeks ago and has remained at that number up until game day.
“UFC Fight for the Troops 2” takes place at Fort Hood in Kileen, Texas.
Here are the complete betting lines for tonight’s fights (Courtesy of Bodog Sportsbook):
Preliminary Bouts:
Charlie Brenneman -250
Amilcar Alves +190
Will Campuzano -125
Chris Cariaso +105
Willamy Freire -130
Waylon Lowe EVEN
Mike Brown -340
Rani Yahya +260
Mike Guymon -140
DaMarques Johnson +110
Yves Edwards -260
Cody McKenzie +200
Main Bouts:
Cole Miller -170
Matt Wiman +140
Patrick Barry -250
Joey Beltran +190
Mark Hominick -250
George Roop +190
Matt Mitrione -270
Tim Hague +210
Evan Dunham -225
Melvin Guillard +185
“UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort” is just around the Super Bowl weekend corner, and that PPV certainly won’t pay for itself.
A spectacular lightweight scrap between Evan Dunham and Melvin Guillard will headline tonight’s freebie fight card. There hasn’t been much activity in regards to their wagering line. Dunham opened at -225 several weeks ago and has remained at that number up until game day.
“UFC Fight for the Troops 2” takes place at Fort Hood in Kileen, Texas.
Here are the complete betting lines for tonight’s fights (Courtesy of Bodog Sportsbook):
Preliminary Bouts:
Charlie Brenneman -250
Amilcar Alves +190
Will Campuzano -125
Chris Cariaso +105
Willamy Freire -130
Waylon Lowe EVEN
Mike Brown -340
Rani Yahya +260
Mike Guymon -140
DaMarques Johnson +110
Yves Edwards -260
Cody McKenzie +200
Main Bouts:
Cole Miller -170
Matt Wiman +140
Patrick Barry -250
Joey Beltran +190
Mark Hominick -250
George Roop +190
Matt Mitrione -270
Tim Hague +210
Evan Dunham -225
Melvin Guillard +185
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Saturday’s UFC 126 betting is as spectacular as it gets, with tons of potentially historic matches on the card. Fans are definitely looking forward to an epic battle between American light heavyweights Jon Jones and Ryan Bader.
Jones is a -325 favorite. The New York native is just 23 years old but has already enjoyed a wild, thrilling ride in mixed martial arts. Jones has 12 professional fights to his credit, and almost every time he’s put on a ridiculous display of speed and athleticism.
Jones has won all but one of his 12 career fights. The lone loss came against Matt Hamill in December 2009, thanks to a disqualification via illegal elbows. It was rather controversial, as Jones was penalized for using 12-to-6 elbows — a rule he was unaware of — but allowed to continue. Jones dominated the fight, though, and when Hamill could no longer go on, Jones was disqualified.
Those elbows are Jones’ most dangerous weapon. Seven of his 11 wins have come via knockout, and the past two were largely achieved thanks to a flurry of vicious elbows.
Bader is a +250 underdog on UFC 126 odds. The Nevada native, 27 years old, is another up-and-comer with 12 fights under his belt. He’s yet to lose a single match, winning five times via knockout and three times via submission.
Bader’s last victory was a unanimous decision over Brazilian Antonio Rogerio Nogueria. Bader likes to wrestle and three of his last four fights have gone to the judges’ cards (the fourth fight was a knockout over Keith Jardine at UFC 110). That should make for an interesting mix with Jones, who likes to come out aggressively and finish things off. Not one of Jones’ last four fights, for example, has made it past the second round.
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Jones is a -325 favorite. The New York native is just 23 years old but has already enjoyed a wild, thrilling ride in mixed martial arts. Jones has 12 professional fights to his credit, and almost every time he’s put on a ridiculous display of speed and athleticism.
Jones has won all but one of his 12 career fights. The lone loss came against Matt Hamill in December 2009, thanks to a disqualification via illegal elbows. It was rather controversial, as Jones was penalized for using 12-to-6 elbows — a rule he was unaware of — but allowed to continue. Jones dominated the fight, though, and when Hamill could no longer go on, Jones was disqualified.
Those elbows are Jones’ most dangerous weapon. Seven of his 11 wins have come via knockout, and the past two were largely achieved thanks to a flurry of vicious elbows.
Bader is a +250 underdog on UFC 126 odds. The Nevada native, 27 years old, is another up-and-comer with 12 fights under his belt. He’s yet to lose a single match, winning five times via knockout and three times via submission.
Bader’s last victory was a unanimous decision over Brazilian Antonio Rogerio Nogueria. Bader likes to wrestle and three of his last four fights have gone to the judges’ cards (the fourth fight was a knockout over Keith Jardine at UFC 110). That should make for an interesting mix with Jones, who likes to come out aggressively and finish things off. Not one of Jones’ last four fights, for example, has made it past the second round.
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In another fantastic UFC 126 betting matchup, a pair of welterweights will throw down when Jake Ellenberger faces Carlos Eduardo Rocha on Saturday. Ellenberger is a -325 favorite while Rocha checks in as a +250 underdog.
Ellenberger is just 25 years old, but he’s hardly a newcomer. The American has 28 mixed martial arts fights under his belt, winning 23 of them. While he has some versatility — five of those victories came via submission — Ellenberger should definitely be expected to bring the pain. He has 15 career knockout victories, including his last two fights.
The Omaha native has won six of his last seven fights, with the lone loss coming in his UFC debut. Ellenberger lost a split decision to Carlos Condit at UFC Fight Night in September 2009. He’s acquitted himself quite well since then, knocking out Mike Pyle in the second round at UFC 108 (January 2010) and picking up another TKO (doctor stoppage) against John Howard in the third round of UFC Live last August.
Rocha, though four years older at 29, has much less experience than Ellenberger. The Brazilian has fought just nine mixed martial arts fights, and Saturday’s bout will mark just his second since joining the UFC. Despite the lack of experience, Rocha has fared quite well in his brief career, winning all nine fights. Thanks to a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a whopping eight of them came via submission, including his UFC debut. Rocha used a kneebar to top American Kris McCray in the first round at UFC 122 last November.
It’ll be interesting to see how Rocha fares in front of a wild, raucous, pro-American crowd. When he steps into the Octagon on Saturday, it will be the first time the Brazilian has ever fought professionally outside of Germany.
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Ellenberger is just 25 years old, but he’s hardly a newcomer. The American has 28 mixed martial arts fights under his belt, winning 23 of them. While he has some versatility — five of those victories came via submission — Ellenberger should definitely be expected to bring the pain. He has 15 career knockout victories, including his last two fights.
The Omaha native has won six of his last seven fights, with the lone loss coming in his UFC debut. Ellenberger lost a split decision to Carlos Condit at UFC Fight Night in September 2009. He’s acquitted himself quite well since then, knocking out Mike Pyle in the second round at UFC 108 (January 2010) and picking up another TKO (doctor stoppage) against John Howard in the third round of UFC Live last August.
Rocha, though four years older at 29, has much less experience than Ellenberger. The Brazilian has fought just nine mixed martial arts fights, and Saturday’s bout will mark just his second since joining the UFC. Despite the lack of experience, Rocha has fared quite well in his brief career, winning all nine fights. Thanks to a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a whopping eight of them came via submission, including his UFC debut. Rocha used a kneebar to top American Kris McCray in the first round at UFC 122 last November.
It’ll be interesting to see how Rocha fares in front of a wild, raucous, pro-American crowd. When he steps into the Octagon on Saturday, it will be the first time the Brazilian has ever fought professionally outside of Germany.
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Introducing the main event on an already spectacular UFC 126 betting card. Anderson Silva will attempt to defend his middleweight championship belt against fellow Brazilian Vitor Belfort.
Silva, 35, is a -250 favorite to defend his title. It’s been an odd road for Silva. He’s unquestionably one of the most talented fighters on the entire planet, yet he’s taken an absurd amount of criticism during the past few years — bizarre for a fighter riding a 13-fight winning streak.
But that’s because Silva is so enormously talented. With a career record of 27-4 — including 15 knockouts and five submissions — Silva has seemingly grown disinterested. Several of his most recent fights have been marred by lackluster efforts and boos from the crowd. It nearly cost Silva in his most recent fight, against Chael Sonnen. Sonnen controlled the fight for four rounds and appeared destined to win the championship, had it not been for a fifth-round triangle/armbar by Silva.
Silva, who owns black belts in Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Tae Kwan Do, is as talented as they come. Whether or not he delivers his best effort is the biggest question.
He can’t afford to take Belfort (+190) lightly. The 33-year-old fighter has just as much experience, going 19-8 in 27 career mixed martial arts bouts. Belfort has won his last five fights, and he packs an incredible wallop.
Of his 19 career wins, 13 have come via knockout — including eight of his last nine. When Belfort stopped Rich Franklin in the first round at UFC 103, it was his third consecutive victory via knockout punches. It was also the third straight fight Belfort won before it reached the third round.
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Silva, 35, is a -250 favorite to defend his title. It’s been an odd road for Silva. He’s unquestionably one of the most talented fighters on the entire planet, yet he’s taken an absurd amount of criticism during the past few years — bizarre for a fighter riding a 13-fight winning streak.
But that’s because Silva is so enormously talented. With a career record of 27-4 — including 15 knockouts and five submissions — Silva has seemingly grown disinterested. Several of his most recent fights have been marred by lackluster efforts and boos from the crowd. It nearly cost Silva in his most recent fight, against Chael Sonnen. Sonnen controlled the fight for four rounds and appeared destined to win the championship, had it not been for a fifth-round triangle/armbar by Silva.
Silva, who owns black belts in Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Tae Kwan Do, is as talented as they come. Whether or not he delivers his best effort is the biggest question.
He can’t afford to take Belfort (+190) lightly. The 33-year-old fighter has just as much experience, going 19-8 in 27 career mixed martial arts bouts. Belfort has won his last five fights, and he packs an incredible wallop.
Of his 19 career wins, 13 have come via knockout — including eight of his last nine. When Belfort stopped Rich Franklin in the first round at UFC 103, it was his third consecutive victory via knockout punches. It was also the third straight fight Belfort won before it reached the third round.
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UFC 126 betting might feature the best MMA card we’ll see all year. One of the most exciting matchups is between two proud, veteran light heavyweight warriors — Rich Franklin and Forrest Griffin.
Franklin, an Ohio native, is getting a little long in the tooth at 36 years old. He’s fought 34 times now, winning 28 of them. Of those six losses, though, two of them have come in his last four fights. Still, he enters Saturday’s fight as a -165 favorite.
He’s at least coming off a win. Franklin knocked out Chuck Liddell at UFC 115 in June, rebounding after getting knocked out himself by Vitor Belfort. Franklin’s other recent loss was a split decision to Dan Henderson at UFC 93.
Franklin can bring all sorts of tricks to the octagon. He’s won 15 fights by knockout and another 10 by submission and, without a doubt, has earned legendary status in MMA circles. A loss to Griffin, though, would go a long way to pushing Franklin a little closer to the exit.
Speaking of Griffin, he’s a +135 underdog on Saturday. Also an Ohio native, the 31-year-old has 23 career fights to his credit, going 17-6. Like Franklin, Griffin has faced some adversity over the last little while. He dropped back-to-back fights to Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva, suffering knockouts both times. The Silva fight was particularly awful as Griffin — known for his toughness and never-say-die attitude — seemingly gave up after being hurt by Silva.
Griffin got back on track with a split decision victory over Tito Ortiz at UFC 106 in November 2009. His demeanor leading up to this fight hasn’t been encouraging, though, with Griffin making several cryptic comments doubting his ability to win. There’s a good chance he’s simply been broken mentally at this point.
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Franklin, an Ohio native, is getting a little long in the tooth at 36 years old. He’s fought 34 times now, winning 28 of them. Of those six losses, though, two of them have come in his last four fights. Still, he enters Saturday’s fight as a -165 favorite.
He’s at least coming off a win. Franklin knocked out Chuck Liddell at UFC 115 in June, rebounding after getting knocked out himself by Vitor Belfort. Franklin’s other recent loss was a split decision to Dan Henderson at UFC 93.
Franklin can bring all sorts of tricks to the octagon. He’s won 15 fights by knockout and another 10 by submission and, without a doubt, has earned legendary status in MMA circles. A loss to Griffin, though, would go a long way to pushing Franklin a little closer to the exit.
Speaking of Griffin, he’s a +135 underdog on Saturday. Also an Ohio native, the 31-year-old has 23 career fights to his credit, going 17-6. Like Franklin, Griffin has faced some adversity over the last little while. He dropped back-to-back fights to Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva, suffering knockouts both times. The Silva fight was particularly awful as Griffin — known for his toughness and never-say-die attitude — seemingly gave up after being hurt by Silva.
Griffin got back on track with a split decision victory over Tito Ortiz at UFC 106 in November 2009. His demeanor leading up to this fight hasn’t been encouraging, though, with Griffin making several cryptic comments doubting his ability to win. There’s a good chance he’s simply been broken mentally at this point.
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MMA betting is back this weekend thanks to Strikeforce. The event marks the beginning of an eight-man World Grand Prix Heavyweight tournament. First up is the legendary Fedor Emelianenko taking on Antonio Silva. Fedor is a -525 favorite on Bodog's MMA odds.
Emelianenko has been around the block and then some. The 34-year-old Russian has held multiple championships and has 35 total fights to his credit. His record is absolutely absurd at 32-2-1. Half of those 32 victories have come via submission, while another eight came via knockout.
His skill set is impressive for such a big man. Emelianenko owns a black belt in Judo and is a Grand Master in Sambo. The list of tournaments and accolades he’s won is too long to publish here but, suffice to say, he is considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.
That said, he’s coming off arguably the first loss of his career (his previous “loss” came in 2000 when an illegal elbow opened an old cut, which eliminated Emelianenko from the tourney). He was embarrassed by Brazilian Fabricio Werdum in June, as Werdum used a triangle/armbar to submit Emelianenko in the first round.
Now he’ll take on another Brazilian, “Bigfoot” Silva. Though he’s fought in only half as many fights as Emelianenko, Silva certainly isn’t lacking in pedigree. He’s gone 15-2 in his career, and a whopping 10 of those victories came via knockout (with another three wins via submission).
The dangerous, striking Silva owns three black belts — one each in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, karate, and Judo. Like his opponent, Silva’s most recent loss also came to Werdum, as he lost a unanimous decision in November 2009. Since then, Silva has won back-to-back fights — a unanimous decision over Belarusian Andrei Arlovski and a TKO (punches) over American Mike Kyle.
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Emelianenko has been around the block and then some. The 34-year-old Russian has held multiple championships and has 35 total fights to his credit. His record is absolutely absurd at 32-2-1. Half of those 32 victories have come via submission, while another eight came via knockout.
His skill set is impressive for such a big man. Emelianenko owns a black belt in Judo and is a Grand Master in Sambo. The list of tournaments and accolades he’s won is too long to publish here but, suffice to say, he is considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.
That said, he’s coming off arguably the first loss of his career (his previous “loss” came in 2000 when an illegal elbow opened an old cut, which eliminated Emelianenko from the tourney). He was embarrassed by Brazilian Fabricio Werdum in June, as Werdum used a triangle/armbar to submit Emelianenko in the first round.
Now he’ll take on another Brazilian, “Bigfoot” Silva. Though he’s fought in only half as many fights as Emelianenko, Silva certainly isn’t lacking in pedigree. He’s gone 15-2 in his career, and a whopping 10 of those victories came via knockout (with another three wins via submission).
The dangerous, striking Silva owns three black belts — one each in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, karate, and Judo. Like his opponent, Silva’s most recent loss also came to Werdum, as he lost a unanimous decision in November 2009. Since then, Silva has won back-to-back fights — a unanimous decision over Belarusian Andrei Arlovski and a TKO (punches) over American Mike Kyle.
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The second main UFC 127 betting event pits Michael Bisping vs. Jorge Rivera. The Englishman Bisping is a heavy favorite to topple the American Rivera; Bisping’s odds are listed at -325 compared to +250 for Rivera.
Some pundits and betting experts believe Rivera is an unworthy opponent for Bisping (20-3). “The Count” is a former Ultimate Fighter reality show winner and has victories over Matt Hamill, Chris Leben, Dan Miller and Yoshihiro Akiyama. A victory over Rivera could vault him into top middleweight contender status alongside Yushin Okami.
Rivera (19-7) has a three-fight winning streak but his victories came over journeymen Nissen Osterneck, Rob Kimmons and Nate Quarry. He’s not considered in the same class as Bisping by most. Does he have a chance?
Rivera believes so. He’s talked a lot of trash leading up to Saturday’s fight, claiming he’ll knock Bisping out. Rivera definitely has a puncher’s chance, as Bisping’s chin has been called into question before. Dan Henderson brutally knocked him out while Wanderlei Silva, Denis Kang and Akiyama all wobbled him in recent bouts. Of Rivera’s 19 career victories, 13 are knockouts.
On Bisping’s side of the trash talk, he doesn’t believe Rivera can match his speed or athleticism. Bisping is anxious to expose the 38-year-old Rivera as an also-ran.
Anyone wagering on the fight probably knows what to expect. Rivera, whose style is by no means technically sound, will probably try to tag Bisping with as many haymakers as possible. Bisping will likely try to stay moving the whole time, relying on his tremendous fitness to wear Rivera out and using his speed advantage to stick-and-move and score points with the judges.
While neither Bisping nor Rivera is totally lost on the ground, we should expect this bout to stay standing. These guys just dislike each other too much. They can’t wait to punch each other in the face.
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Some pundits and betting experts believe Rivera is an unworthy opponent for Bisping (20-3). “The Count” is a former Ultimate Fighter reality show winner and has victories over Matt Hamill, Chris Leben, Dan Miller and Yoshihiro Akiyama. A victory over Rivera could vault him into top middleweight contender status alongside Yushin Okami.
Rivera (19-7) has a three-fight winning streak but his victories came over journeymen Nissen Osterneck, Rob Kimmons and Nate Quarry. He’s not considered in the same class as Bisping by most. Does he have a chance?
Rivera believes so. He’s talked a lot of trash leading up to Saturday’s fight, claiming he’ll knock Bisping out. Rivera definitely has a puncher’s chance, as Bisping’s chin has been called into question before. Dan Henderson brutally knocked him out while Wanderlei Silva, Denis Kang and Akiyama all wobbled him in recent bouts. Of Rivera’s 19 career victories, 13 are knockouts.
On Bisping’s side of the trash talk, he doesn’t believe Rivera can match his speed or athleticism. Bisping is anxious to expose the 38-year-old Rivera as an also-ran.
Anyone wagering on the fight probably knows what to expect. Rivera, whose style is by no means technically sound, will probably try to tag Bisping with as many haymakers as possible. Bisping will likely try to stay moving the whole time, relying on his tremendous fitness to wear Rivera out and using his speed advantage to stick-and-move and score points with the judges.
While neither Bisping nor Rivera is totally lost on the ground, we should expect this bout to stay standing. These guys just dislike each other too much. They can’t wait to punch each other in the face.
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Taking place in Sydney, UFC 127 just wouldn’t be right if some Aussies didn’t compete on Saturday’s card. Kyle Noke is one of them and should have raucous crowd support behind him vs. Chris Camozzi. Noke is a -225 favorite against Camozzi (+185).
Though Noke gives the impression of being a UFC “newcomer” after appearing on the Ultimate Fighter reality show last year, he’s actually deceptively experienced. He’s 18-4-1 for his career with six knockout victories and seven submission victories.
Noke also trains with Greg Jackson, whose camp is considered the sport’s best by many pundits and UFC betting experts. He has won four straight fights, including his first two inside the UFC, and he’s 7-1-1 over his last nine bouts.
In Camozzi, Noke faces another guy who is 2-0 inside the Octagon. Camozzi (14-3) trains in Muay Thai, Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. That well-roundedness has produced four knockout wins, five submission wins, and five decision wins. Camozzi actually won a fight to enter the house in the same season as Noke on the Ultimate Fighter but withdrew because of a broken jaw.
So Noke and Camozzi have some similarities in terms of their path to the UFC. However, Noke is the much more experienced fighter. His boxing and polished wrestling ability could give Camozzi trouble. Camozzi has a good heart and dangerous Muay Thai and BJJ but is definitely susceptible to takedowns. Don’t be surprised if Noke tries to get this fight to the ground and bully his way to a win in front of his home fans.
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Though Noke gives the impression of being a UFC “newcomer” after appearing on the Ultimate Fighter reality show last year, he’s actually deceptively experienced. He’s 18-4-1 for his career with six knockout victories and seven submission victories.
Noke also trains with Greg Jackson, whose camp is considered the sport’s best by many pundits and UFC betting experts. He has won four straight fights, including his first two inside the UFC, and he’s 7-1-1 over his last nine bouts.
In Camozzi, Noke faces another guy who is 2-0 inside the Octagon. Camozzi (14-3) trains in Muay Thai, Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. That well-roundedness has produced four knockout wins, five submission wins, and five decision wins. Camozzi actually won a fight to enter the house in the same season as Noke on the Ultimate Fighter but withdrew because of a broken jaw.
So Noke and Camozzi have some similarities in terms of their path to the UFC. However, Noke is the much more experienced fighter. His boxing and polished wrestling ability could give Camozzi trouble. Camozzi has a good heart and dangerous Muay Thai and BJJ but is definitely susceptible to takedowns. Don’t be surprised if Noke tries to get this fight to the ground and bully his way to a win in front of his home fans.
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UFC 127 betting culminates this Saturday in Australia with a main event between Jon Fitch and BJ Penn. The welterweight matchup will most likely determine the No. 1 contender. If Jake Shields beats Georges St. Pierre this April, he’ll meet the winner of Fitch and Penn. If GSP wins, however, he may move up for a superfight with Anderson Silva.
Fitch vs. Penn pits two very different styles against each other. Fitch (23-3-1, 1 NC) is a dominant wrestler by trade. He likes to bully opponents, toss them onto their back, and “make them feel like they’re been put through a meat grinder,” as he puts it. He’s the favorite at -185. He’s considered one of the sport’s most boring fighters but he’s extremely effective, having won 20 of his last 21 fights.
Penn (16-7-1), the UFC 127 betting underdog at +155, brings a very different style to the Octagon. He has some of MMA’s most technically sound and powerful boxing and his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills and submissions on the ground are almost unrivalled. However, while “The Prodigy” is considered a lightweight legend, he’s been only moderately successful at welterweight. Traditionally, wrestlers like Fitch give him trouble.
Some factors could point to a Penn upset win. For one, Penn trained with former welterweight champ and legendary wrestler Matt Hughes to prepare for this fight. Sure, Penn knocked Hughes out last November, but that was the washed up version. He probably still had good pointers to give Penn.
Secondly, Fitch switched to a vegan diet entering this fight and his predicted size advantage over Penn may not be as pronounced as originally expected come Saturday.
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Fitch vs. Penn pits two very different styles against each other. Fitch (23-3-1, 1 NC) is a dominant wrestler by trade. He likes to bully opponents, toss them onto their back, and “make them feel like they’re been put through a meat grinder,” as he puts it. He’s the favorite at -185. He’s considered one of the sport’s most boring fighters but he’s extremely effective, having won 20 of his last 21 fights.
Penn (16-7-1), the UFC 127 betting underdog at +155, brings a very different style to the Octagon. He has some of MMA’s most technically sound and powerful boxing and his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills and submissions on the ground are almost unrivalled. However, while “The Prodigy” is considered a lightweight legend, he’s been only moderately successful at welterweight. Traditionally, wrestlers like Fitch give him trouble.
Some factors could point to a Penn upset win. For one, Penn trained with former welterweight champ and legendary wrestler Matt Hughes to prepare for this fight. Sure, Penn knocked Hughes out last November, but that was the washed up version. He probably still had good pointers to give Penn.
Secondly, Fitch switched to a vegan diet entering this fight and his predicted size advantage over Penn may not be as pronounced as originally expected come Saturday.
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Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann will get the major spotlight for UFC on Versus betting this Thursday but Mark Munoz vs. C.B. Dollaway is an under-the-radar fight that could affect the middleweight contender ladder.
Mark Munoz is favored at -190 compared to +155 odds for Dollaway. Munoz is 9-2 and has been very effective since dropping from light heavyweight to middleweight, going 4-1 and losing only to top 185-pound contender Yushin Okami.
Dollaway hasn’t gotten as much fanfare but he has a solid record at 11-2. An accomplished wrestler hailing from the famous Lion’s Den team, Dollaway has pulled out some very impressive submissions in his young career, including one over Joe Doerksen last fall. He enters the Munoz bout on a nice hot streak, winning three straight fights and five of his last six.
Like Dollaway, Munoz comes from a collegiate wrestling background, but he uses it differently. Dollaway gets guys to the canvas to set up his submission attempts. Munoz takes opponents down to set up a hailstorm of ground-and-pound strikes that is starting to become a trademark for him. Some experts compare Munoz’s style to that of a poor man’s Tito Ortiz.
The fight will be difficult for UFC betting fans to call as both fighters are similar. But Munoz is a justified favorite in most experts’ eyes. He’s beaten arguably better opponents of late, he has a bigger frame from his 205-pound days, and he also has experience against submission-oriented fighters. Munoz beat both Kendall Grove and Ryan Jensen convincingly.
Mark Munoz is favored at -190 compared to +155 odds for Dollaway. Munoz is 9-2 and has been very effective since dropping from light heavyweight to middleweight, going 4-1 and losing only to top 185-pound contender Yushin Okami.
Dollaway hasn’t gotten as much fanfare but he has a solid record at 11-2. An accomplished wrestler hailing from the famous Lion’s Den team, Dollaway has pulled out some very impressive submissions in his young career, including one over Joe Doerksen last fall. He enters the Munoz bout on a nice hot streak, winning three straight fights and five of his last six.
Like Dollaway, Munoz comes from a collegiate wrestling background, but he uses it differently. Dollaway gets guys to the canvas to set up his submission attempts. Munoz takes opponents down to set up a hailstorm of ground-and-pound strikes that is starting to become a trademark for him. Some experts compare Munoz’s style to that of a poor man’s Tito Ortiz.
The fight will be difficult for UFC betting fans to call as both fighters are similar. But Munoz is a justified favorite in most experts’ eyes. He’s beaten arguably better opponents of late, he has a bigger frame from his 205-pound days, and he also has experience against submission-oriented fighters. Munoz beat both Kendall Grove and Ryan Jensen convincingly.
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Shane Roller vs. Thiago Tavares kicks off what should be a fun UFC on Versus betting night. Interested in checking it out? It’s on free TV. Roller has slight favorite status at -130 compared to EVEN for Tavares.
Roller (9-3) is a wrestler by trade and a prominent member of the WEC lightweight class recently imported to the UFC after the big merger. Roller has faced the best of the best in the WEC lightweight division, including Jamie Varner, Anthony Pettis and Ben Henderson. Roller has won four of his last five fights, most recently submitting Varner in the first round at WEC 53 last December.
Roller is a submission artist, with six of his nine career victories coming via tapout. His UFC debut comes against a seasoned UFC veteran in Thiago Tavares (15-3-1). Tavares also loves the submission, with 11 of his 15 wins coming that way, but he uses a different arsenal. Tavares is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
Tavares is a respectable 5-3-1 in his UFC career and is 2-0-1 over his last three bouts. He beat Manny Gamburyan by decision, battled Nik Lentz to a majority draw and, in his most recent fight, choked out Pat Audinwood via guillotine.
Any UFC betting fan who enjoys ground battles should enjoy Shane Roller vs. Thiago Tavares. Both guys look to finish their opponents on the canvas, so we should expect plenty of ground transitions and reversals. It would make sense to pick one of these two fighters to win by submission.
Roller (9-3) is a wrestler by trade and a prominent member of the WEC lightweight class recently imported to the UFC after the big merger. Roller has faced the best of the best in the WEC lightweight division, including Jamie Varner, Anthony Pettis and Ben Henderson. Roller has won four of his last five fights, most recently submitting Varner in the first round at WEC 53 last December.
Roller is a submission artist, with six of his nine career victories coming via tapout. His UFC debut comes against a seasoned UFC veteran in Thiago Tavares (15-3-1). Tavares also loves the submission, with 11 of his 15 wins coming that way, but he uses a different arsenal. Tavares is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
Tavares is a respectable 5-3-1 in his UFC career and is 2-0-1 over his last three bouts. He beat Manny Gamburyan by decision, battled Nik Lentz to a majority draw and, in his most recent fight, choked out Pat Audinwood via guillotine.
Any UFC betting fan who enjoys ground battles should enjoy Shane Roller vs. Thiago Tavares. Both guys look to finish their opponents on the canvas, so we should expect plenty of ground transitions and reversals. It would make sense to pick one of these two fighters to win by submission.
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Here’s hoping UFC on Versus betting this Thursday can top last Saturday’s disappointing UFC 127, in which the main event ended in a draw. The top bout this week pits two emerging welterweight contenders against each other: Martin Kampmann (17-4) and Diego Sanchez (22-4). Note that Sanchez is going by "The Dream" now; he’s no longer “Nightmare”.
Kampmann, or "Hitman", may not be as big of a name as the former Ultimate Fighter winner Sanchez but he’s still the favorite at -150 compared to +120 odds for Sanchez. The odds are justified for Kampmann. He has been quite effective since dropping from 185 to 170 pounds, going 4-2. Many UFC betting experts believe Kampmann should be 5-1 over that span, believing that he actually won his last fight against Jake Shields.
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Kampmann is a kickboxer with a Thai boxing background, so striking is his forte. He is very capable on the ground, with six submission victories, but he vowed this week to “punch Sanchez in the face.”
Though Sanchez has the same listed reach as Kampmann, he’s the smaller man. He’s 1-1 since moving up from 155 pounds. He looked tiny and lost against John Hathaway but dominated Paulo Thiago in his last bout. What he lacks in technical skill, he makes up in heart, fitness, and general well-roundedness. Sanchez can grapple and isn’t afraid to trade strikes, either.
But can Sanchez overcome what should be a disadvantage in the standup game? Arguably, the last elite boxer he fought was B.J. Penn, and Penn destroyed him. Kampmann is one of the welterweight division’s most skilled and experienced strikers, so he could cause major problems for Sanchez.
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Kampmann, or "Hitman", may not be as big of a name as the former Ultimate Fighter winner Sanchez but he’s still the favorite at -150 compared to +120 odds for Sanchez. The odds are justified for Kampmann. He has been quite effective since dropping from 185 to 170 pounds, going 4-2. Many UFC betting experts believe Kampmann should be 5-1 over that span, believing that he actually won his last fight against Jake Shields.
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Kampmann is a kickboxer with a Thai boxing background, so striking is his forte. He is very capable on the ground, with six submission victories, but he vowed this week to “punch Sanchez in the face.”
Though Sanchez has the same listed reach as Kampmann, he’s the smaller man. He’s 1-1 since moving up from 155 pounds. He looked tiny and lost against John Hathaway but dominated Paulo Thiago in his last bout. What he lacks in technical skill, he makes up in heart, fitness, and general well-roundedness. Sanchez can grapple and isn’t afraid to trade strikes, either.
But can Sanchez overcome what should be a disadvantage in the standup game? Arguably, the last elite boxer he fought was B.J. Penn, and Penn destroyed him. Kampmann is one of the welterweight division’s most skilled and experienced strikers, so he could cause major problems for Sanchez.
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After an ugly UFC 127 that left bettors with a push in the main event, Strikeforce has a solid opportunity to gain some positive rival press with Dan Henderson vs. Rafael Cavalcante in MMA betting this weekend.
Cavalcante (10-2), better known among fans as Feijao, is the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion. Yet he’s still a +170 underdog as he defends his belt against Henderson (26-8), a -210 favorite, this Saturday in Columbus.
Henderson is bordering on MMA legend status. The 40-year-old former Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler has fought countless big names and has victories over Minotauro Nogueira, Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva, Rich Franklin and Michael Bisping, just to name a handful. Henderson grinds out opponents with his wrestling but also has major knockout power in both hands. He knocked out Renato Sobral, or Babalu, to earn his title shot against Cavalcante and his KO of Bisping is one of the most vicious and replayed punches in MMA history.
But are Strikeforce MMA betting experts underestimating Cavalcante? He doesn’t have the same long list of victims as Henderson but he’s 11 years younger, so that’s understandable. The Brazilian relies on Muay Thai and is a powerhouse knockout artist; nine of his 10 career wins have come via KO.
Cavalcante trains with Anderson Silva, who has a win over Henderson, and has won his last three Strikeforce bouts. Henderson has the experience advantage, but his last win over Babalu didn’t mean much since Babalu is past his prime. More concerning was Henderson’s lopsided loss to Jake Shields last year. It’s enough to make you wonder if Cavalcante will draw lots of sportsbook action as an “upset” play for Saturday.
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Cavalcante (10-2), better known among fans as Feijao, is the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion. Yet he’s still a +170 underdog as he defends his belt against Henderson (26-8), a -210 favorite, this Saturday in Columbus.
Henderson is bordering on MMA legend status. The 40-year-old former Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler has fought countless big names and has victories over Minotauro Nogueira, Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva, Rich Franklin and Michael Bisping, just to name a handful. Henderson grinds out opponents with his wrestling but also has major knockout power in both hands. He knocked out Renato Sobral, or Babalu, to earn his title shot against Cavalcante and his KO of Bisping is one of the most vicious and replayed punches in MMA history.
But are Strikeforce MMA betting experts underestimating Cavalcante? He doesn’t have the same long list of victims as Henderson but he’s 11 years younger, so that’s understandable. The Brazilian relies on Muay Thai and is a powerhouse knockout artist; nine of his 10 career wins have come via KO.
Cavalcante trains with Anderson Silva, who has a win over Henderson, and has won his last three Strikeforce bouts. Henderson has the experience advantage, but his last win over Babalu didn’t mean much since Babalu is past his prime. More concerning was Henderson’s lopsided loss to Jake Shields last year. It’s enough to make you wonder if Cavalcante will draw lots of sportsbook action as an “upset” play for Saturday.
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UFC betting returns this weekend as UFC 128 gets underway on Saturday night. The main card is quite impressive, and one of the more intriguing matches is a middleweight fight between Americans Nate Marquardt and Dan Miller.
Marquardt is a -300 favorite. He’s considered by many to be one of the best middleweights in the world — Sherdog has him at No. 4, Yahoo! Sports at No. 3 — but he’s been through a bit of a rough patch over the last year.
Marquardt has lost twice in his last three fights, a disastrous run considering he’s a very impressive 30-10-2 in his career. Both times, he lost via decision — a title fight eliminator to Chael Sonnen at UFC 109 last February (which won Fight of the Night honors); and another title eliminator to Yushin Okama at UFC 122 in November.
What he’s proven in his past few wins, though, is that he still delivers a ton of brutal punishment. Each of Marquardt’s past four fights have come via knockout or TKO. He has eight career knockouts to his credit, which is terrifying considering how effective he is on the mat. Marquardt owns a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has 15 career victories via submission.
Miller checks in as a +240 underdog. The 29-year-old fighter doesn’t have as many bouts to his credit, but he’s still a veteran with 19 career fights — experience won’t be a problem. Miller is 14-4-1 for his career, and he recently bounced back from an incredibly awful run.
After starting his MMA career 12-1-1, Miller suffered a three-fight losing streak to Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia and Michael Bisping. All three losses came via decision, and Miller’s back was against the wall in his next fight. He responded with a guillotine choke over John Salter in the second round of UFC 118, though, and he’s got back-to-back victories after earning a split decision over Joe Doerksen at UFC 124 in December.
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Marquardt is a -300 favorite. He’s considered by many to be one of the best middleweights in the world — Sherdog has him at No. 4, Yahoo! Sports at No. 3 — but he’s been through a bit of a rough patch over the last year.
Marquardt has lost twice in his last three fights, a disastrous run considering he’s a very impressive 30-10-2 in his career. Both times, he lost via decision — a title fight eliminator to Chael Sonnen at UFC 109 last February (which won Fight of the Night honors); and another title eliminator to Yushin Okama at UFC 122 in November.
What he’s proven in his past few wins, though, is that he still delivers a ton of brutal punishment. Each of Marquardt’s past four fights have come via knockout or TKO. He has eight career knockouts to his credit, which is terrifying considering how effective he is on the mat. Marquardt owns a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has 15 career victories via submission.
Miller checks in as a +240 underdog. The 29-year-old fighter doesn’t have as many bouts to his credit, but he’s still a veteran with 19 career fights — experience won’t be a problem. Miller is 14-4-1 for his career, and he recently bounced back from an incredibly awful run.
After starting his MMA career 12-1-1, Miller suffered a three-fight losing streak to Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia and Michael Bisping. All three losses came via decision, and Miller’s back was against the wall in his next fight. He responded with a guillotine choke over John Salter in the second round of UFC 118, though, and he’s got back-to-back victories after earning a split decision over Joe Doerksen at UFC 124 in December.
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Mac Danzig went into his fight with Joe Stevenson with odds of +220. That means that if Danzig could pull the upset, bettors would be receiving more than two to one on their money. Stevenson, the favorite, had odds of -300, leaving most bettors comfortable that he would score an easy win.
Danzig battled his way to win "The Ultimate Fighter" Season 6 competition, and on Saturday evening he won something even bigger, a spot on future UFC fight cards. Danzig defeated Stevenson in the first round of their match, making gamblers who took a change on the underdog ecstatic.
On the other side, Stevenson bettors had to face the reality of losing three times what they would have won. t is rare that fights of this magnitude end up in an upset, and that was exemplified by the rest of the card at UFC 124. Danzig was the only big underdog to win on the night.
In the main event, George St. Pierre again showed that he is one of the top three or four fighters in the UFC. The Welterweight champion had odds of -400 to retain his belt against Josh Koscheck. The underdog returned odds of +300, and although he made the match go the distance, the scores were not close. St. Pierre won the decision with scores of 50-45 from all three judges.
In a slight upset, Jim Miller, with odds of +110, beat favorite Charles Oliveira. The favorite had odds of -140. Stefan Struve defeated underdog Sean McCorkle, and heavy favorite Thiago Alves took care of business against John Howard in the other matches of the evening.
The UFC has become a major gambling sport in the US over the past couple of years. Boxing used to attract all of the high rollers to Las Vegas back in the day, but in recent years mixed martial arts, mainly the UFC, has become the top fighting draw for bettors.