UFC 86 Fight Predictions
June 28, 2008
For the main event we have a special page for our Jackson vs Griffin prediction.
Josh Koscheck Vs. Chris Lytle
This will be a great fight between two very talented welterweight contenders. Both fighters were a part of TUF in different seasons.
Josh ‘KO’ Koscheck is coming off a tough win over Dustin Hazelett with a second round knock out. Hazelett, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist, gave Koscheck a great battle that went back-and-forth.
Koscheck is a former NCAA wrestling champion. His strengths are his superior wrestling skills and aggressiveness. He has been working on his standup, but will be facing a former boxer. Koscheck will most likely stick to his roots in this fight and go for a take-down with a ground and pound. I’m interested to see if he will stand and trade shots with Lytle. In the past Koscheck’s striking is wild, with little accuracy.
Lytle is a very well rounded veteran to the sport. He is a former professional boxer with great submission skills. Lytle is also coming off a win from UFC 81 against newcomer Kyle Bradely, with an impressive first round stoppage due to strikes in 33 seconds. Lytle has won three of his last four fights and looking to add Koscheck to the list. I think this will be a good match-up for Lytle. He has trouble in fights when he is faced against good strikers, which Koscheck is not. Lytle possesses excellent, accurate punch combinations and can follow it up with great submission skills. 17 of his 25 wins have come by a submission attempt.
If they stand and trade shots, Lytle will get the best of it, forcing Koscheck to go for the take down. Lytle does not go down easily and has a good sprawl defense. If Koscheck is successful in taking Lytle down he will not have an easy time getting through his guard. Lytle has seen and fought against everything and more that Koscheck has to throw at him.
I see Koscheck being able to over power Lytle and use his wrestling to stay on top most of the fight. Koscheck will score points with take-downs and a few slams to win by a split decision.
Tyson Griffin Vs. Marcus Aurelio
This will be an exciting match-up between a jiu-jitsu expert Marcus Aurelio taking on a heavy handed and great wrestler in Tyson Griffin. Expect this fight to be action packed and to go back and forth. I feel Aurelio, a (+275) underdog pulling off the upset Saturday.
Aurelio (16-5) trains with American Top Team and has faced very tough opponents. He’s coming in confident after a spectacular win at UFC Fight Night 13 over Ryan Roberts with an arm bar in just 16 seconds. He also has victories over Takanori Gomi, and Rich Clementi.
Aurelio needs to take this fight to the mat where he is comfortable and effective. He has remarkable submission skills with 10 of his 16 wins coming off submissions. If he stands and punches with Griffin, he will most likely get the worst of it. Aurelio has made his name from his Pride Fighting career, drawing the attention of the UFC. He has won his last two fights and win over Griffin will surely get him more respect in the octagon. Griffin will be able to take down Aurelio, but this may work in Aurelio’s favor since he prefers the ground over striking.
Griffin (11-1) is considered a top 155 pound contender and is on a three fight since losing to Frank Edgar at UFC 67. He is very exciting and explosive in the octagon. His last four fight have gone to a decision, but he’s always working to make things happen. Griffin has excellent wrestling and striking skills, but lacks in the submission Jiu-Jitsu area. His wrestling is up top with the best and can take down opponents when he wants you to go down. He is the only fighter to date to have beaten WEC superstar Urijah Faber by referee stoppage.
Aurelio is a dangerous opponent for Tyson and shouldn’t be as big as a favorite at (-350). Aurelio (+280) underdog is more experienced and has the advantage if he can get it to the ground. Griffin will have the advantage striking, but is a wrestler at heart and will eventually take Aurelio down. Aurelio will have no problem fighting on his back where he can catch Griffin with a submission.
Aurelio at (+280) is just too good to pass up. I’m taking Aurelio by a third round submission victory.
Patrick Cote vs. Ricardo Almeida
This fight could possibly be for a shot or next in line to take on Anderson Silva. They are both coming off a rally of impressive wins. Expect to see what both fighters are capable of putting together in the octagon come Saturday night.
The Canadian middleweight Patrick ‘The Predator’ Cote is riding on a four fight win streak. Cote currently trains with Brazilian Top Team based in Canada along with Georges St. Pierre. Cote is a former TKO light heavyweight champion and is currently the TKO middleweight champion after defeating Jason Day in 2007.
Cote (12-4) is an excellent striker with power in both hands. His last performance was a very powerful TKO victory over Drew McFedries who just last week knocked out Marvin Eastman. Cote definitely has the advantage if this fight stays up, but on the ground Almeida has much better submission skills. Cote’s boxing has looked very good over his last four fights, stopping three of his last four opponents by punches. I’m sure Cote will come into this fight wanting to strike and look to end it quickly.
Almeida (9-2), has not competed in the UFC since 2002, but put his name back up quickly with a beautiful guillotine choke over Rob Yundt earlier this year. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert and a third degree black belt under the great Renzo Gracie. Almeida has competed in the UFC, Pride Fighting Championship, and is a former middleweight King of Pancrase.
Almeida is on a seven fight win streak. He will probably come out and throw a few punches with Cote. Then look for his opportunity to take Cote down and hunt for submission attempts. It will be a tough test for each of them. If this fight stays up, the advantage will definitely go to Cote and on the ground to Almeida. Almeida will test Cote’s ground game for sure and Cote’s last loss was due to an arm bar.
I don’t see Cote pulling it off. Almeida is more well-rounded and more experienced. I’m taking Almeida for another upset of the night with a hard fought 3rd round submission victory.
Jorge Gurgel Vs. Cole Miller
Jorge Gurgel (12-3) will take on fellow TUF alumni Cole Miller (13-3). This should be an exciting match between to men with great submission skills. People have been skeptical about Gurgel and fighting in the UFC because of his friendship with Rich Franklin. Saturday will be his chance to prove MMA fans wrong.
Miller is going to have the advantage in many ways. He is much taller , better striker, and has better submission skills. Anywhere the fight goes, Miller should get the best of it. Gurgel may have advantage wrestling, but his small frame will make it difficult to take down the long, lanky body of Miller. Miller trains with American Top Team, so we know he is very well-rounded and trains with submission experts. To keep Gurgel away Miller really needs to stay patient on his feet with leg kicks and jabs. This should frustrate Gurgel and force him to go for the shoot. This way Miller can take advantage and try to submit Gurgel.
Gurgel also needs to be patient and feel out the length and height disadvantage he will be faced with. If he stands and strikes he will most likely get picked apart unless he can get in close to Miller. Gurgel is, however, coming off a win whereas Miller dropped his last fight getting TKO’d by Jeremy Stephens. Gurgel’s last five fights have all gone the distance. He does not posses heavy hands and his boxing could use some work. I really doubt he will want to stand and strike with Miller. Gugel will have to dig down deep and rely on his wrestling and ground game to try and stay busy to ride out a decision win.
Most of the advantages are in Miller’s favor against Gurgel on Saturday. Unless Gurgel can surprisingly pull of a KO on Miller, I see Miller winning a 3rd round submission victory.
Rampage Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin Prediction
June 28, 2008
“The fight will end in a fourth round KO by Rampage,” is Pat’s prediction.
On Saturday July 5th, 2008, only two weeks after TUF 7 Finale, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson (28-6) will square off with Forrest Griffin (15-4). Quinton is putting his belt on the line for a second time after an impressive win over Dan ‘Hollywood’ Henderson back in September 2007. Both Jackson and Griffin were coaches on the last installment of TUF 7. I must say they are not the best coaches and acted like two jokesters throughout most of the show.
About Griffin
Forrest Griffin was the very first TUF winner and since has been very impressive in the octagon. During TUF 1 Finale, Forrest Griffin and Stephen Bonnar fought for the contract and really put the show TUF and UFC in the mainstream. It was an all out brawl going back and forth between the two and you’ll expect nothing less from Forrest against Jackson here on Saturday.
About Rampage
Rampage has blasted his way into the UFC after taking out Marvin Eastman, than just 3 months later destroying one of the best light heavyweights around Chuck Liddell and taking the belt home. He then went on for a first, successful title defense with a unanimous win over Dan Henderson to unify the belts and making him the undisputed heavyweight champion. The ufc 86 odds have Jackson as a slight favorite.
This will be Forrest’s biggest fight of his career, without a doubt. Forrest stunned a lot of people after a beautiful submission on Mauricio Rua back in September to secure a title shot at Rampage. Mauricio Rua is among the best in the world and I was very impressed with Griffin’s performance, proving he has the skills to throw down with any fighter. Mauricio Rua is the last man to have defeated Rampage by a knock out which will hopefully give Forrest the mental edge.
Griffin is currently on a two fight win streak. He is very tough and has never backed down from any opponent. He should give Jackson all he can handle and may surprise him in this fight. However, Forrest likes to stand and trade shots in his fight. He says he actually likes to get hit and it wakes him up in a fight. I don’t suggest he brings that mentality ito this fight. He does not have heavy hands, but has very good kicks. Rampage, on the other hand, does carry bricks in both hands and if Forrest stands and trades shot for shot, he will get put to sleep. We all know Forrest cuts very easily and needs to be careful, so lets hope this fight doesn’t end due to a doctor’s stoppage.
How Forrest may win
Forrest does have a small size advantage. He is big for a light heavyweight and usually needs to drop 10-20 pounds to get to 205. Forrest has a good ground and pound game with decent submissions. His cardio is much better than Rampage, which will come to Forrest’s advantage if this fight goes 5 rounds. Jackson has openly admitted in the past that he doesn’t like training very hard. He may gas out in the later rounds, giving Forrest a chance to take him down.
What to look for from Rampage
Rampage is one of the most feared strikers in the sport. He has knock out power in each hand and will pounce on you and end the fight if he connects. He has a good enough sprawl defense and a pretty good wrestling game to keep Forrest at bay. He is on a six fight win streak and looking to defend his title for a second time. Rampage’s grappling and submission skills are not as sharp as Forrest’s, but I don’t believe it will be a factor in this fight. Look for Rampage to keep this fight mostly on his feet, waiting for his shot to put Forrest away.
They both have had time to heal from their injuries sustained from their last fights while coaching TUF 7. They should have no excuses and should be on top of their games come Saturday. So, sit back, enjoy the show and expect to see them try to dismantle one another.
How we predict it to happen
As long as Quinton is focused and in shape for this fight, I can’t see him losing. I’m going with Rampage landing a big shot, sending Forrest to the mat because he was trying to stand up with Rampage. The fight will end in a fourth round KO by Rampage!
View more UFC 86 fight picks or visit our UFC 86 odds page for betting lines.
TUF 7 Finale Fight Predictions
June 17, 2008
The following are fight predictions for TUF 7 Finale. For odds on the fight please visit our TUF 7 odds page.
Evan Tanner vs. Kendall Grove
“Kendall will pull off the upset with a decision win after the third round.”
Sportsbook.com Odds (Tanner (-200) / Grove (+160))
The main event of the night will feature Former UFC middleweight Champion Evan Tanner taking on the TUF season 3 winner Kendall ‘Da Spyder’ Grove. Both fighters are coming off tough losses and need a win.
Tanner is looking to rebound from a knock out loss at UFC 82 by Yushin Okami. Tanner took a knee to the head in the third minute in round two that finished him. This was Tanners first fight back from almost two years as a result of alcohol problems. One can hope he has shaken off the ring rust and is ready for Grove. With a good 5 months of training we may see some of the old, tough former UFC champion. Tanner is a very good wrestler and strong from the mat on top or on his back. He needs this win if he is to get back and be competitive in the UFC again.
This fight may be even bigger for Kendall because he has more to lose. He started off strong with three straight impressive wins in the UFC, after winning the TUF 3. Since then, he has dropped two straight fights by knock out. Tanner could be his toughest opponent to date if he comes out in shape and prepared. I believe Kendall has the skills to beat Tanner and needs to be ready and hungry come Saturday. He needs to use his kicks, jabs, and his length to keep Tanner away.
This fight is huge for both their UFC futures. It will be an exciting bout and full of action. I don’t think Kendall will lose 3 in a row. Tanner is very good and I have a lot of respect for him, but I think his days are close to done. Kendall will pull off the upset with a decision win after the third round.
Diego Sanchez vs. Luigi Fioravanti
“Diego will win this fight with a second round stoppage due to strikes.”
Sportsbook.com Odds Sanchez (-500) / Fioravanti (+300)
Diego ‘Nightmare’ Sanchez (18-2) will take on military serviceman turned MMA fighter Luigi Fioravanti (14-5) from American Top Team. This fight favors Diego Sanchez. He is a much better wrestler with more ground skills.
Diego is coming off a two fight losing stretch. Diego defeated pride veteran David Bielkhden at UFC 82 by verbal submission in the first round. Luigi is also coming off a two loss streak by defeating Luke Cummo at UFC 82 by unanimous decision. Both fighters would like to stay on a win streak, but one must go.
Diego is only 25 and has a big career ahead of him. His only two loses were against two very tough opponents in Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck that went to decisions. Those loses had dropped him down the welterweight division, but he will soon be back. Jon Fitch has now received his chance at St. Pierre for the title. Diego will most likely take Luigi down to the mat and ground and pound for the win. Diego doesn’t have huge knock out power, but isn’t afraid to exchange with his opponents. His strong points are his strength and ground game.
Luigi started training in Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing while stationed in California and Iraq with the U.S. Marines, so we know how tough and disciplined Luigi is. He likes to stand and strike, which shows by 8 of his 12 wins by KO. his best chance of winning this fight is if he can keep this fight standing, a place Diego is not as comfortable. I don’t see him being able to stop Diego’s take-downs.
Diego will win this fight with a second round stoppage due to strikes. Diego is too strong and much more well-rounded for Luigi to handle.
Dean Lister vs. Jeremy Horn
Lister will win by a split decision after the third round.
Sportsbook.com Odds Lister (+105) / Horn (-135)
This will be a great fight between two Jiu-Jitsu masters. Expect to see thest two fighters doing a lot of grappling and looking for one another to make a mistake and get submitted.
Dean ‘Boogeyman’ Lister is an Abu Dhabi champion. I feel he has the better striking between the two fighters. He doesn’t have any knock outs to his name. He is very strong and looks for the take down. Out of his 10 wins, he has 8 by submission. He has never been knocked out or submitted himself. All of his 5 losses came by decision. He is very confident coming from 3 wins from his last 4 fights.
Jeremy ‘Gumby’ Horn is also a Jiu-Jitsu master and MMA veteran. He is coming off a bad loss where he was battered and choked out by Nate marquardt. Like the veteran he is, Jeremy took that fight on only a few days notice. Jeremy has an impressive resume with 88 victories, with 49 by submission. He also is not a very big striker, but isn’t afraid to mix it up with his opponent. He has lost 3 of his last 4 fights, so this is very important to him and his career.
This is a tough fight to pick a winner. It’s going to be a grappling match between two Jiu-Jitsu experts. I see Lister over-powering and controlling most of the fight. There will be submission attempts on both sides throughout the fight. Lister will win by a split decision after the third round.
Josh Burkman vs. Dustin Hazelett
“I’m taking Burkman to win by decision after the third round.”
This will be a very exciting match between Josh ‘The Peoples Warrior’ Burkman and Dustin ‘ McLovin’ Hazelett. Both fighters are coming off tough losses and looking to get back in the with column.
Burkman is back from a dull decision loss to Mike Swick and is anxious to get back and put on a good show. He is going to Vegas to train with Xtreme Couture to get prepared for this fight. Burkman has said this fight is going to be an all-out brawl. He is sick of people talking about his wrestling background. He is going for the knock out and will keep this fight off the mat at all costs.
Hazelett is a very dangerous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter. He is going to put a lot of pressure on Burkman, bringing the action to him. He doesn’t have heavy hands, but has great submission skills. Hazelett just had a three fight win streak taken from him by a TKO loss to the very tough Josh Koscheck. The advantage could be on Hazelett’s side if Burkman is going into this fight wanting to slug it out. Josh could get sloppy and Hazelett may get the take down easier than he may have thought.
Burkman is working hard for this fight and he is claiming to stay off his feet the whole fight, looking for a KO. If this doesn’t work out, he will probably resort to what he knows best, which is take-downs to ground and pound. I’m taking Burkman to win by decision after the third round.
Marvin Eastman vs. Drew McFedries
“I believe McFedries will be too much for Eastman to handle, and will catch him with a second round knock out.”
Marvin ‘The Beastman’ Eastman will be taking on Drew McFedries. This should be an all-out slug-fest, with someone getting caught with a big punch.
Eastman is coming off a good unanimous decision win over heavy-handed Terry Martin. This will be his last fight under his UFC contract, therefore, if he wants to get a new deal he needs a big win to show Dana he is still a threat. Eastman is very strong and comes out with a lot of intensity. He is, however, a little small for a light heavyweight and I think he is past his prime. He is very well-rounded and shows a lot of heart in the cage.
McFedries is coming off a loss to middleweight contender Patrick Cote in January. McFedries underwent surgery to repair damage from a bad staph infection in 2007. McFedries is also very strong and well-rounded. I see him coming out looking for the knock out and putting a lot of pressure on Eastman. He trains with the Miletich Camp, so you know he will be ready to send Eastman packing from the UFC.
This fight will be exciting and action packed. I believe McFedries will be too much for Eastman to handle, and will catch him with a second round knock out.
Spencer Fisher vs. Jeremy Stephens
“I say Fisher by decision after the third round.”
This will be another good match up between two pretty evenly matched fighters.
Fisher is a great boxer and spars with Jens Pulver. He is a Miletich Team member and trains with some of the greatest fighters around. He is an excellent striker and carries knock out power in both hands. He has 11 knock outs from his twenty wins. Look for him to keep this fight mostly on his feet.
Jeremy is very well rounded and is looking to get his name better recognized in the UFC. A win over Spencer could surely grab peoples attention. He also has very heavy hands and 9 knock outs from his 13 wins. His boxing is very technical and looks to land combinations.
These two fighters will most likely keep this fight standing. It may come down to who has the sharper and more effective punch combinations. Stephens has a bright future in the UFC, but I do not believe Saturday will be his day. I say Fisher by decision after the third round.
Predicted by Pat V.
—- Click here for a UFC sportsbook and to begin betting on any of these fights.
Affliction “Banned” MMA Event
June 12, 2008
Affliction clothing has officially announced its first MMA event on July, 19 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. It is to feature a highly anticipated bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Tim ‘Maine-iac’ Sylvia. Fedor is regarded as the best heavyweight in the world. This will be only his second fight in the U.S.A. and he’s facing a top 10 heavyweight contender. The affliction odds are now up.
Afflictions MMA event has cleverly been title ‘Banned’ due to the fact that the UFC and EliteXC banned their fighters from wearing any clothing by Affliction at their fights.
This is going to be a star-studded event featuring eight MMA Superstars all together on the same night. There were rumors throughout the Internet of Affliction putting on this event and on May 20th of this year they officially announced it.
The former Pride heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko has dominated the MMA heavyweight class over the past 6 years. He will face Tim ‘Maine-iac’ Sylvia the 6′8, 260 pound giant. This event will also be featuring Josh Barnett (21-5) vs. the only fighter to have ever knocked him out, Pedro ‘The Rock’ Rizzo (16-7).
‘Big’ Ben Rothwell (29-5), former IFC heavyweight champion will take on newly acquire and former UFC heavyweight Champion Andre ‘The Pitbull’ Arlovski (13-5). This event will also include three time all-American wrestler Mike Whitehead (20-5) facing Brazilian great Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral (29-7), as well as 2000 Olympic wrestling silver medalist Matt ‘The Law’ Lindland (20-5) facing Brazilian Fabio ‘Negao’ Nasciment (8-3).
This will be a fight card not to be missed by and real MMA fan. The first hour of the event will be broadcast Live on Fox Sports Net and will feature a number of the under-card fights. The main event will be shown on Pay-Per-View for $39.95.
Donald Trump has announced his partnership with Affliction. He was quoted saying, “I have been a fan of professional Sports since childhood, and I am particularly impressed with athleticism, courage, and strength of these disciplined athletes. This particular sport resembles my business style of being fast-paced, strategic, and aggressive. I am particularly excited to partner with Affliction and become a major player in promotion of MMA: the youngest and fastest growing sport to emerge in the last century.” This is huge for Affliction because we all know almost everything Mr.Trump touches is successful.
Be sure to tune in on July 19 for this years best fight card thus far. Check back soon for fight predictions!
Odds for Affliction MMA
June 10, 2008
Odds for the new MMA show, Affliction Banned, have have begun to be posted. Affliction is now backed by Donald Trump and by some of the biggest names in MMA. Betting lines are now open at Sportsbook.com, or just about any other UFC sportsbook. Odds subject to change before event. The fights will be held July 19th on PPV.
MMA Affliction Odds
These are not the official odds and fight card matchups for the October 11, Affliction II “Day of Reckoning” event. Please check back later when full details are released.
Josh Barnett vs. Andrei Arlovski
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Josh Barnett (–)
- Andrei Arlovski (–)
Matt Lindland vs. Vitor Belfort
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Lindland (–)
- Belfort (–)
Renato “Babalu” Sobral vs. Tito Ortiz
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Sobral (–)
- Ortiz (–)
Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Matyushenko (–)
- Nogueira (–)
Roy Nelson vs. Jay White
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Nelson (–)
- White (–)
Will Affliction MMA submit?
Not likely. There is a lot riding on this new brand on MMA, not only for Affliction but for the fighters. With an event backed by guys like Trump many believe it’s bound to prove a big player in the MMA world. Not only that, but fighters are finally getting what they are worth, with main event fighters pocketing in the millions.
The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale Odds
June 10, 2008
On June 21, 2008 live on Spike TV The Ultimate Fighter & Finale will be held at The Pearl in the Palms Hotel and Casino. This will be a three-hour television broadcast High Definition (HD). Brought to you by Spike TV for the very first time. You can now place bets at Sportsbook.com
The main event will be headlined by former UFC middleweight Champion Evan Tanner (32-7) and The Ultimate Fighter 3 winner Kendall ‘Da Spyder’ Grove (8-5). The co-main event features Diego Sanchez (18-2) the winner of the first TUF taking on Luigi Fioravanti (12-3). Also featuring the TUF 7 finalist #1 vs. TUF 7 finalists #2.
Ultimate Fighter Finale 7 Odds
Tanner vs Grove
Sportsbook.com odds
- Evan Tanner (-200)
- Kendall Grove (+160)
Sanchez vs Fioravanti
Sportsbook.com odds
- Diego Sanchez (-500)
- Luigi Fioravanti (+300)
Fisher vs Stephens
Sportsbook.com odds
- Spencer Fisher (-240)
- Jeremy Stephens (+190)
Burkman vs Hazelett
Sportsbook.com odds
- Josh Burkman (-265)
- Dustin Hazelett (+205)
Eastman vs McFedries
Sportsbook.com odds
- Marvin Eastman (even)
- Drew McFedries (-130)
Horn vs Lister
Sportsbook.com odds
- Jeremy Horn (-135)
- Dean Lister (+105)
More bouts by participants from TUF 7 will likely be added to the fight card. Along with fights by Spencer Fisher (20-4) vs. Jeremy Stephens (13-2), Marvin Eastman (15-7-1) vs. Drew McFredries (6-3), Jeremy Horn (79-17-5) vs. Dean Lister (10-5), and Josh Burkman(9-5) vs. Dustin Hazelett (10-4). More sportsbooks that accept USA players can be found in our review.
UFC 85 Vera vs Werdum Fight Breakdown
June 4, 2008
Although Werdum is at a (+135) underdog in my opinion not getting enough credit is a good bet to take. If you want to go with an underdog from this fight card, this is your best bet.
This matchup has the potential of stealing the show from Hughes and Alves. Both fighters need this fight to hopefully be next in line for a title shot. They are both very aggressive and have expressed how much this fight means to one another. Neither fighter has been knocked out and I see one of them going down on Saturday night. Sportsbook.com has the fight (+135) Werdum and Fera as the favorite at (-165).
Vera and this Fight
Vera is coming off his first loss to Tim Sylvia which he is still bitter about. In this fight Vera broke his hand in the first round on the very first jab he threw at Sylvia. People say Vera is too small for a heavyweight, but Vera thinks that is far from the ‘Truth”. Vera says ” Yeah, I lost the fight but, its not really a loss. I didn’t get beat up. I fought the biggest dude out there and he couldn’t even put me away-with both hands.”Vera has not fought the same caliber opponents as Werdum, but is just as tough.
Vera has very good punch combinations and will look to display them on werdums body. Vera has the advantage if he can keep the fight standing. His punches and kicks are much more precise and will do damage to Werdums face and body. Vera will get the better of the exchanges and will force Werdum to go for the shoot. Although Vera is no slouch on the ground and has no problem if that’s where the fight ends up.
Werdum Fight Breakdown
Werdum is coming off a big TKO victory over Gabriel Gonzaga. Werdum is considered a submission master. He is a black-belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a brown belt in Judo. He is ranked #6 in and will be leaving everything he has in the octagon in Bedlam. He throws wild punch combinations and kicks. Werdum will need to sharpen them if he plans on standing with Vera. Werdum will have a weight an reach advantage coming into this fight along with his ground game. I see Werdum starting off the fight standing and striking with Vera. Then losing that battle and going for the take-down looking for a limb to get a hold of for a submission. Werdum trains with one of the best teams in the world, the Chute Boxe Academy. So he will be ready for whatever Vera comes at him with.
Final Say
This fight is really hard to choose a winner. Both fighters are claiming a KO or submission win and making sure it doesn’t go to the judges. I still see Vera keeping this fight on his feet for most of the time. Eventually catching Werdum with a second round KO.
Although Werdum is at a (+135) underdog in my opinion not getting enough credit is a good bet to take. If you want to go with an underdog from this fight card, this is your best bet.
To bet on this fight visit any UFC sportsbook or go directly to Sportsbook.com to place a bet.
Bookmaker.com review - Bookmaker.com sportsbook
June 4, 2008
BookMaker.com review - An honest review from a real gambler
Overview of Bookmaker.com - (US players welcome)
- Bookmaker.com is part of the BetCRIS network. Bookmaker has a very solid foundation under them and they have been in the gambling business since 1985. Bookmaker offers a wide variety of deposit options and they also have a 20% deposit bonus which you can earn in increments by wagering on their site. If you are interested in the bookmaker.com sportsbook, we highly recommend that you check out their site now! If you’d like more info about their MMA betting, continue reading below…
MMA and UFC betting at Bookmaker.com
- Bookmaker has solid lines if you like to bet on favorites. They have odds posted for all UFC events and most other MMA leagues. The lines are usually up at least 2-3 weeks in advance. The best thing about Bookmaker is they always have lines out very early for every fight. Most sportsbooks wait until 3 days before the fights to post odds for fights.
- My only knock on Bookmaker.com would be that they have a somewhat small limit on all MMA fights. If you’re a recreational bettor, than this won’t really be a problem for you.
Fight leagues which always have odds at Bookmaker.com
- UFC (includes The Ultimate Fighter)
- HDNet Fights
- Rio Heroes
- M-1 Global
- StrikeForce
Over/Under round betting
- No
Parlay Betting
- No
Minimum and maximum bet amounts
- Minimum - $5
- Maximum - $1000 for MMA fights
Deposit options at Bookmaker.com
- Creditcard (Visa)
- Bank wire
- Western Union
- eWallet Express
- Moneygram
Bonus at Bookmaker.com
- 20% free play for sportsbook players. This bonus is for a $300 minimum deposit and is available to all non-credit card deposits. The bonus has a 5x rollover on it as well. This means you need to wager whatever you deposit 5x before you can earn the bonus.
Additional gambling at Bookmaker.com
- Bookmaker.com offers bettors the option of using the sportsbook, racebook, casino and poker room with one account. They also offer mobile betting on your cell phone.
Last words
- Bookmaker.com is a very established sportsbook. They put out odds very early for most events and have great odds for UFC favorites.
Bedlam UFC 85 Picks and Lines
June 3, 2008
Matt Hughes vs. Thiago Alves
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Hughes (-200)
- Alves (+160)
This will be a great match up between a legend and a star on the rise. Hughes is a superb and strong wrestler taking on Alves, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. These are two very different styles and two extremely dangerous men.
Hughes is coming off a loss to St.Pierre for the second time. He needs this win to stay on top of the welterweight class. If he can’t put away Alves he may end up retiring. He’s had a great career so far, at 43 wins and only 6 defeats. This two time UFC Champion needs to get back to his old ways and use his wrestling skills and pure strength to dominate his opponent. If Hughes can over power and keep Alves on the mat, I see him winning.
Alves needs to keep Hughes guessing and on his feet, as well throw kicks and land power shots. I believe Alves will win this fight as long as he can deny Hughes’ take down attempts. By keeping Hughes on his feet and stopping his take downs, he will frustrate Hughes and catch him with a power shot.
Pat’s Prediction: I see Alves winning by a 3rd round KO. Being a (+160) underdog, I think this is a good bet.
Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping vs. Jason Day
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Bisping (-350)
- Day (+275)
This will be a good test for Bisping, who is 15-1. He is 5-1 in the UFC where he has showed some dominance. It’s going to be Day’s toughest opponent so far. He is not to be overlooked by Bisping. He should still be able to give him a good fight.
Bisping won The Ultimate Fighter 3 in the light heavyweight division. Bisping is a former Cage Warriors Fighting Champion in the light heavyweight division. He’s also a former Cage Rage light heavyweight champion, as well as the current FX3 light heavyweight champion. His strong points are his kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu. He has 15 wins. 10 of the wins by KO and 4 submissions, and only 1 loss. He has excellent kicks and knock out power. Bisping is very intense in the octagon and always puts pressure on his opponents. Bisping will most likely keep this fight on their feet, wearing down Day and going for the knock out.
This will be Day’s second fight in the UFC. He most recently TKO’d Alan Belcher in the first round. he has great conditioning and is very well-rounded. He has won five in a row and 10 of his last 11 fights. He’s looking to make a name and stay in the UFC. Plan on seeing him put it all out on fight night.
Pat’s Prediction: Bisping has the home crowd advantage. I don’t see him knocking out Day, but he will put on a show with a unanimous decision win.
Mike ‘Quick’ Swick vs. Marcus ‘The Irish Hand Grenade’ Davis
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Swick (-120)
- Davis (-110)
Marcus Davis stands at 5′10 and 170 lbs. He is a great boxer. He began boxing at the age 14 in the New England circuit where he compiled a record of 17-1-2. His MMA career is 14-3 with 5 KOs and 7 submissions. He is currently on an 11 win streak with his last lost coming in November 2005. He is a very dangerous striker and can also submit you. Davis is comfortable wherever the fight goes and is very well-rounded.
Mike ‘Quick’ Swick stands 6′ and 170 pounds. He specializes in kickboxing. He got his nickname ‘Quick’ from putting his opponents away in a hurry. He has won 6 of his last 7 fights and is currently at 11 wins and 2 loses. He didn’t look that great on his last fight against a tough opponent in Josh Burkman by a majority decision. he looked a little slower than usual and didn’t have that spark he usually carries with him. He is always dangerous though and likes to come out slugging.
This may be the hardest fight to judge on this card. These two Ultimate Fighter Alumni will both come in looking for a knock out. Expect one of them to get caught with a big punch.
Pat’s Prediction: I’m going with Swick, 3rd round KO.
Fabricio Werdum vs. Brandon ‘The Truth’ Fera
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Werdum (+135)
- Brandon (-165)
This will be a great fight between two big men. Werdum is a very skilled in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu who will be faced with Vera, a great wrestler and Muy Thai fighter. They both have great ground skills and powerful hands.
Vera is coming off his first loss to big Tim Sylvia by a unanimous decision. Vera needs to get back to his winning ways and Werdum is standing in front of him. Expect Vera to be very aggressive and looking for big shots. 6 of his wins are by knock out and I see another one coming in this fight. If it goes on the ground he is also comfortable there.
Werdum is coming from a big second round TKO over Gabriel Gonzaga. His MMA record stands at 10 wins and 3 losses. Of these wins, 3 were by KO and 6 by submission. He also has heavy hands, but can submit you even easier. A win for Werdum can put him in line for a title shot soon.
Pat’s Prediction: I see Vera wanting this fight more and coming out very aggressive. It’s going to be very close and they will probably stand and trade shots until someone connects. I see Vera connecting first with a second round KO.
Nate ‘The Great’ Marquardt vs. Thales Leites
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Marquardt (-185)
- Leites (+155)
Nate ‘The Great’ Marquardt is a submission master with 14 submission wins out of his 26. He is a good boxer, but doesn’t have knock out power. Nate is a seven-time middleweight King of Pancrase Champion. Nate possesses great cardio and is extremely well-rounded. He has won 7 of his last 8 fights with that loss coming to the champion Anderson Silva. Nate is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and likes to go to the mat and look for an arm or leg to submit his opponents.
Thales is a very dangerous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter. He will come in this fight looking to take Nate down. He has never been knocked out and is 12-1 with 8 wins by submission. Thales can also strike, but will be more comfortable taking this to the mat. It will be very difficult to submit Marquardt though as he is just as good.
Pat’s Prediction: This fight is going to be a tough call, but I’m going with Nate by decision.
Alves to Pull off Upset Against Hughes?
June 2, 2008
“I believe Alves will pull off the upset and finish Hughes with punches and a 3rd round KO,” says Pat of MMAbettingblog.
The Main Event
The main event of the night is Matt Hughes vs. Thiago ‘Pitbull’ Alves. This will be a great test to Hughes to see if he still wants to be in the UFC. He’s been flirting with retirement and a loss here may do it for him. Alves is hungry and wants to stay on his plan for a title fight.
Hughes Fight Breakdown
Hughes is known as the most dominant welterweight in the UFC. He is a two-time UFC Champion with 7 total title defenses to his name. His wrestling skills are among the best the UFC has ever seen. Matt would love nothing more than to put Alves away so he can meet up with Matt Serra. Win or lose, he will likely face Serra. This is something Hughes and Serra both want in order to settle their ongoing feud with one another.
Hughes must look to use his superior wrestling skills and take Alves to the mat. His striking is not as good as Alves’. Hughes is bigger and stronger. He needs to bully Alves around like the old Hughes once did. In his last few fights I believe he has lost some of his intensity and needs to be on his best to beat Alves.
Alves Fight Breakdown
Alves is red hot and very confident coming into this fight. He has excellent Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills along with some heavy hands. He is coming off a very impressive TKO over Karo Parisyan. He has KO or TDO’s his last 5 opponents. A win over a legend like Hughes would do a lot for him personally, as well as for his career. It is one step closer to a title fight with the champion St.Pierre.
Pat’s Predictions (Last EliteXC event Pat went 5 for 5)
Look for Alves to keep this fight on his feet, delivering kicks and solid strikes. Hughes will most likely take it to the mat where he can win this fight.
I believe Alves will pull off the upset and finish Hughes with punches and a 3rd round KO.
To begin betting on this event find a UFC sportsbook or go directly to Sportsbook.com.
Written by Pat V.
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