Robbie Lawler vs Scott Smith II Prediction
July 24, 2008
“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler vs Scott “Hands of Stone” Smith
Pats Prediction: “By the third round, Lawler will have softened Smith up enough to move in for the kill, and will take this fight by way of a hard-earned TKO”
Probably the most anticipated fight of the evening, Lawler and Smith will face off again in a rematch of what was easily the Fight of the Night at Elite’s CBS debut show a few months ago. After their first encounter was cut short due to an accidental thumb to Smith’s eye, both the two competitors and MMA fans have been eagerly awaiting the day when they go at it again in what is sure to be an exciting encounter. To predict the outcome of this fight, all one needs to do is watch their first meeting.
While Smith was landing some decent shots, and tenaciously fighting back through Lawler’s blistering offense, it was Lawler who was scoring the more meaningful shots and controlling the pace of the fight. No one can deny that Smith is one of the toughest fighters in the sport today, especially considering the way he knocked Pete Sell unconscious in UFC while in the process of crumbling to the mat in pain as a result of one of Sell’s body-shots.
Lawler, though, is too fast and too experienced to have a victory snatched away from him the way Sell did. This rematch will probably closely resemble their first meeting, with Smith tenaciously surviving a beating and dealing out some damage of his own before finally succumbing to Lawler’s speed and accuracy.
By the third round, Lawler will have softened Smith up enough to move in for the kill, and will take this fight by way of a hard-earned TKO in what I predict will be the Fight of the Night yet again.
You can bet on this fight at Sportsbook.com with odds being -210/Lawler and +170/Smith
Elite XC Fight Predictions - July 26
July 24, 2008
For the main event prediction please we have dedicated a specific page for the Lawler vs Smith rematch. To bet on any of these fights you can pick a mma sportsbook and begin.
Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva vs Justin Eilers
In Elite XC’s inaugural Heavyweight Title bout, the heavily-favored Silva will take on former UFC Heavyweight Justin Eilers in what promises to be a stand up war. The only time this fight will go to the ground is when one of these two knocks the other one out. Silva, a titan of a man, is coming off an uninspring, sluggish split decision victory against bloated former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez. In Silva’s defense, even the much-depleted Rodriguez of today has a quality standup game and the kind of grappling that is going to make any striker slightly timid in the ring. Eilers, who is best remembered for being knocked out in highlight reel fashion by Paul Buentello and Andrei Arlovski consecutively, is a far more ideal opponent for “Bigfoot”. With no worry of being taken down, Silva will be able to work his considerable striking skills to full effect, which does not bode well for Eilers. Much like one of Silva’s previous knockout victims, “Cabbage” Correira, Eilers is a slow but powerful striker whose career is severely hampered by a suspect chin.
Pat Predicts: Look for this fight to end very similarly to Silva vs. Correira, with “Bigfoot” exploiting Eilers’ chin and sending him crashing to the mat in the first round to become Elite XC’s first-ever Heavyweight Champion.
Jake Shields vs Nick “The Goat” Thompson
Easily the most competitive fight on the card, Cesar Gracie standout Jake Shields will be taking on Nick Thompson, who trains with such monsters as Sean Sherk and Brock Lesnar at Minnesota Martial Arts Academy. This is the kind of fight that truly transcends MMA’s “style vs. style” origins, as both fighters are extremely well-rounded and either man could take this fight from any position.
This is the hardest sort of fight to predict, as Shields is extremely dangerous on the ground but can also hold his own in the standup game without any difficulty. While Shields, who trains with the Diaz Brothers at Cesar Gracie’s camp, has a dangerous submission attack, his primary strength is getting the fight to the ground and controlling his opponent from the top. This may prove a tall task, though, considering that Thompson trains with some of the best wrestlers in Mixed Martial Arts today in the form of Sherk and Lesnar. In addition, Thompson is an extremely dangerous ground fighter himself, having earned far more than half of his victories by way of submission. Both men are so accomplished at grappling that I highly doubt this fight will end by submission. The deciding factor, in my opinion, will be wrestling. Whichever fighter can wind up on top on the ground and better control his opponent will emerge from this fight victorious. In my eyes, Nick Thompson holds the edge in this category not only because of the caliber of wrestlers he trains with on a daily basis, but because of his size advantage. Shields is a fairly typical Welterweight, but Thompson is one of those rare fighters, like Gleison Tibau at the last UFC show, who can cut a tremendous amount of weight with no negative effect on his performance in the fight.
Pat Predicts: To me, Thompson is the best underdog pick of the night, as he will have the slight edge in the standup game and be able to control the pace of the fight en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Nick Diaz vs Thomas “The Wildman” Denny
The latest installment in the roller coaster ride that is Nick Diaz’s career. Diaz, fighting in his hometown of California, will look to put his once-promising career back on track against journeyman Thomas Denny. Ever unpredictable, Diaz badly needs a convincing win in this fight to prevent further tarnishing of the luster that once surrounded his name. Diaz, a former UFC standout in the 170 pound division, has had an up and down road over the last few years. After dropping 3 straight fights in UFC’s welterweight division after a promising start, Diaz moved down to Lightweight, shocking the world by surviving a brutal beating before catching the widely-regarded #1 lightweight in the world at the time, Takanori Gomi, in a breathtaking gogoplata. Shortly after, though, the biggest win of Diaz’s career was overturned by the California State Athletic Commission when he tested positive for marijuana use. After moving to Elite Xc, who set their Lightweight weight limit at 160 pounds just to accomodate him, Diaz’s up and down journey continued. In his debut, he looked extremely shaky, taking a razor-thin split decision against huge underdog “Iron” Mike Aina. Most observers wrote this off and chalked up Diaz’s poor performance to ring rust, nerves, and a lack of proper training. Diaz’s woes continued in his next fight though, when his face was mangled by another underdog, KJ Noons, en route to a loss when the fight was stopped due to cuts.
After a six month layoff which saw another Diaz fight cancelled due to marijuana use, Nick returned to action in Japan, causing largely unknown Katsuya Inoue’s corner to throw in the towel in the first round due to strikes. Just over one month later, Diaz returned to Elite XC, working over Mushin Corbbrey en route to a TKO victory in a fight for which he weighed in a full eight pounds over the limit. Denny, a nearly 10 year veteran of the sport and longtime staple of King of the Cage shows, has had a fairly successful career interrupted by losses to literally every single fighter he has ever faced who would be recognizable to a mainstream audience. Primarily a grappler who has finished more than half of his victories with submissions, Denny is being set up for failure in this bout in a big way. For one thing, his strength is also Diaz’s strength, but it will be hard for Denny to hang with Diaz, who is a Cesar Gracie Black Belt in jiu jitsu, on the ground. One of Diaz’s problems throughout his career has been a tendency to overrate his own striking, opting to stand and trade with guys he could probably finish easily if he just took the fight to the ground. In this case, though, Diaz really does have a sizable striking advantage, with his elusive head movement and accurate, peppering jab. In addition, Denny is being made to face the man Gary Shaw would like to be the face of Elite’s Lightweight division in his own hometown. With Diaz’s sizable advantage in both striking and grappling, Denny’s best hope in this fight is that Diaz fails his pre-fight drug test, which is hardly out of the question considering his history.
Pat Predicts: Short of that, though, look for Diaz to press his striking advantage before finishing this fight by TKO in the second round.
Shayna “The Queen of Spades” Baszler vs Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos
Yet another classic striker versus grappler matchup, this time in Elite XC’s much talked-about women’s division. Santos, who sports a perfect 4-0 record, is coming off 3 consecutive stoppages, all from strikes, on smaller Brazilian shows. Baszler, on the other hand, is a dangerous grappler who, at 9-4, has never seen a fight go the distance, garnering the submission in all 9 of her professional wins. Baszler has been finished twice by strikes, so look for her to press her experience advantage and work to get this fight to the mat as quickly as possible.
Pat Predicts: In the end, Baszler’s superior experience and grappling technique should prevail, by way armbar in the first frame.
Wilson Reis vs Bryan Caraway
Reis and Caraway face off in what promises to be a ground battle, as both guys are known to prefer the grappling game. Reis, a largely unproven 4-0 fighter, is making his third appearance for Elite XC, and is riding a four fight win streak including three consecutive victories by way of rear naked choke. Unfortunately for him, Caraway is also a prolific jiu-jitsu fighter, and also has a large edge in experience.
Pat Predicts: Look for this fight to hit the ground almost immediately, with Caraway controlling the action before catching Reis with an armbar in the second round.
Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante vs Travis “The Gladiator” Galbraith
An intriguing matchup between two lesser known fighters, this looks to be the latest installment in the ongoing “Striker vs. Grappler” saga that is as old as the sport itself. Galbraith, a Canadian journeyman, has won the huge majority of his fights by submission, and sports an impressive 15-5 professional record. Cavalcante, although no slouch on the ground himself, prefers to bang his opponents out standing. At 6-1, the only blemish on Cavalcante’s record came by way of DQ after an illegal kick against fellow Brazilian and UFC alum Marcio “Pe de Pano” Cruz. Clearly, Galbraith has the edge when it comes to fight experience, having not only fought more times, but having faced off with much more prominent fighters, including Joe Doerkson and UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre. Worth noting, though, is that Galbraith has suffered a loss every time he has stepped up his level of competition, even suffering a TKO loss to fellow journeyman Kazuhiro Nakamura. There is no denying that Cavalcante’s striking is superior to Nakamura’s, and his ground game should definitely be good enough to keep him out of trouble against Galbraith.
Pat Predicts: Look for “Feijao” to deny Galbraith’s takedown attempts before putting him to sleep with strikes in Round 1.
Elite XC Odds: Robbie Lawler vs Scott Smith 2
July 24, 2008
Live on Saturday July, 26 free on CBS from the Stockton Arena in Stockton, California will be a rematch of the controversial Title Fight between “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (15-4) and Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (13-4). We should expect to enjoy another all out stand up brawl between these two warriors as Lawler defends his Middleweight belt. Also two very exciting and talented fighters in Jake Shields (20-4-1) and Nick Thompson (36-9-1) will battle for the vacant Elite XC Welterweight Belt. Hometown favorite and MMA Bad Boy Nick Diaz (17-7) will need a win over Thomas Denny (26-16) to stay on track for a much anticipated rematch against KJ Noons. The ladies will also square of in a match between Shayna Baszler (9-4) and Cristianne “Cris” Cyborg.
These odds are from Sportsbook.com. The odds may have changed by then so to begin betting or to get full odds please visit Sportsbook.com
Elite XC Odds
Robbie Lawler vs Scott Smith
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Robbie Lawler (-210)
- Scott Smith (+170)
Antonio Silva vs Justin Eilers
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Antonio Silva (-500)
- Justin Eilers (+300)
Jake Shields vs Nick Thompson
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Jake Shields (-350)
- Nick Thompson (+275)
Nick Diaz vs Thomas Denny
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Nick Diaz (-600)
- Thomas Denny (+400)
Shayna Baszler vs Cristiane Santos
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Shayna Braszler (-210)
- Cristiane Santos (+170)
Rafael Cavalcante vs Travis Galbraith
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Rafael Cavalcante (-500)
- Travis Galbraith (+300)
Wilson Reis vs Brian Caraway
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Wilson Reis (-130)
- Brian Caraway ( even)
To compare odds or find a mma sportsbook or a top ranked US accepted sportsbook please visit our designated page which has full reviews of sites that have the best odds for betting on mma and elite xc events.
UFC 87 odds- Georges St. Pierre vs Jon Fitch
July 22, 2008
Live on Saturday August 9, 2008 Georges ‘Rush’ St. Pierre the current UFC Welterweight Champion will defend his belt against the number one contender Jon Fitch. The Co main event features the hometown favorite WWE star turned MMA fighter Brock Lesner against the always dangerous Texas Crazy Horse Heath Herring. Also what has the potential to be the fight of the night. Lightweight standouts Roger ‘El Matador’ Huerta taking on the razor elbows of Kenny ‘KenFlo’ Florian.
These odds are from Sportsbook.com. The odds may have changed by then so to begin betting or to get full odds please visit Sportsbook.com
UFC 87 Odds
Georges St. Pierre vs Jon Fitch
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Georges St. Pierre (-265)
- Jon Fitch (+205)
Bookmaker.com Odds (accepts Canadians)
- Georges St. Pierre (-350)
- Jon Fitch (+280)
Brock Lesner vs Heath Herring
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Brock Lesner (-275)
- Heath Herring (+205)
Kenny Florian vs Roger Huerta
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Kenny Florian (-140)
- Roger Huerta (+110)
Manny Gamburyan vs Rob Emerson
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Manny Gamburyan
- Rob Emerson
Jason MacDonald vs Demian Maia
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Jason MacDonald
- Demian Maia
For more UFC betting odds we have posted a review of the best sites to bet UFC fights at, and check live odds on the sites at these review pages. Betting sites are constantly changing the odds so please visit the actual betting line for exact odds.
UFC - Affliction Parlay Betting Advice
July 18, 2008
The key to betting successfully on MMA is the ability to figuring out which underdogs can exploit holes in their opponent’s game in order to come out on top. In general, it is not advisable to bet on favorites, no matter how sure you are that they are going to win. For one thing, the last two years of MMA have proven that anything can happen on any given night, and for another, the risk/reward ratio in betting on favorites usually isn’t worth taking any chances.
Parlay Betting Lines Online
Our favorite site to Parlay bet is Betus.com.
When Not to Parlay Bet
Unfortunately, some shows are NOT ideal for traditional MMA betting. The upcoming Affliction: Banned show is a perfect example of this. While not exactly mismatches, a lot of the fights scheduled for the event have a very clear favorite who is unlikely to lose. Luckily for MMA betters, though, the potential for profit is still there thanks to a wonderful little thing known as the parlay.
Explanation of Parlay Betting for MMA
For those who aren’t familiar with the parlay, it is a form of bet that allows you to place one bet on multiple fights in order to increase your winnings. In order to win money betting on a favorite, you have to wager a much higher amount in order to reap the same profits. By betting on multiple fights with one bet, gamblers are able to wager on favorites and still see sizable winnings from a smaller initial investment. If you bet 100 dollars on Aleksandr Emelianenko or Josh Barnett to win their fights, respectively, your winnings will be fairly paltry. Betting 100 dollars on both guys to win, though, can increase your winnings substantially. Obviously, the odds get longer the more fights you parlay together, so a larger parlay will always result in a substantially larger payoff. Betus.com offers parlay betting on MMA, and with Affliction coming up there is no better time to try out this extremely profitable form of wagering.
When are Parlay Bets Good
What’s great about parlay betting is that it can serve as a sort of insurance policy on your other bets. If you want to risk money for big profits by betting on underdogs, parlaying an additional bet on some favorites for a smaller amount is a great way to minimize the losses if things don’t go your way. If you are feeling really adventurous, you could parlay a bet on all of Affliction’s favorites. It’s a decent way to ensure some winnings if the show has no surprises. Even if you choose not to risk it by picking substantial underdogs, a parlay can still provide you with a substantial money-making opportunity. A nice, safe parlay for the Affliction: Banned show would be to bet on Aleksandr Emelianenko, Josh Barnett, and Fedor Emelianenko. All three are sizable favorites with an extremely good chance of winning their fights, but by betting on all three to win, you can place a wager on three prohibitive favorites but still manipulate the odds in your favor so as to drive your winnings up substantially.
Parlays on Favorites and Underdogs
It should also be noted that you do not have to parlay bets on favorites only. Parlaying bets on multiple underdogs can provide huge winnings, but is clearly a far more risky proposition. I personally prefer to bet on underdogs individually to play it safe, and use the parlay for those times when I don’t see any upsets happening but want to make some money off a show anyway. No matter which approach you take, though, the parlay is an exciting aspect of MMA betting that allows gamblers the chance to make a good profit even on shows that aren’t otherwise ideal for gambling. I’d head over to Betus.com and give it a try on this Affliction show, as it is a perfect candidate for a profitable parlay.
Affliction ‘Banned’: Fight Predictions
July 13, 2008
For affliction betting odds and lines please visit our Affliction banned odds page or go directly to the Affliction / UFC betting sites we recommend. We have given the main Affliction event (Fedor vs Sylvia) their own page for broad details on the fight.
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Josh Barnett vs Pedro Rizzo
A battle of former UFC Heavyweight Champions, and a rematch of one of the greatest fights in UFC history. In their first encounter, Barnett and Rizzo traded violent shots back and forth extensively before Barnett was finally finished with a brutal combo that sent him sprawling to the canvas. Unfortunately, the passage of time has removed some of the luster from this rematch.
In the time sense their last fight, there is no denying that Barnett’s game has improved. He is a much more complete fighter than he once was, and his submission attack has become one of the most formidable in the Heavyweight division. His record is sterling, with his only losses coming at the hands of Rizzo, current UFC Heavyweight champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and the once dangerous Cro Cop. Barnett also holds wins against Noguiera, Randy Couture, Olympic gold medalist Pawel Nastula, Aleksander Emelianenko, and K-1 World Grand Prix champions Semmy Schilt and Mark Hunt. Barnett is dangerous in every aspect of the game. He has powerful, clean striking, good takeowns, and excellent submissions.
Rizzo, on the other hand, has seen his better years pass him by since the last time these two men met. Rizzo has only fought 4 times since returning to the sport in 2005, with a 2-2 record and both losses coming by way of knockout to opponents who are not on Barnett’s level. Rizzo’s reflexes and power have been unfortunately weakened over the years, and Barnett now holds a sizable advantage in the striking category in addition to his clearly superior ground game.
Look for Barnett to trade shots early in an attempt to avenge the knockout loss, but settle for the takedown and eventual submission midway through the second round.
Alexsander Emelianenko vs Paul Buentello
The younger Emelianenko brother, Aleksander, is set to tangle with former UFC Heavyweight Paul Buentello in what is likely to be an extremely explosive standup war. Both men will definitely be looking to stand and trade shots, and it is almost guaranteed that the judges won’t be needed when this one comes to an end.
Buentello, who trains out ofAmericanKickboxing
Academy, is pretty much a pure brawler with extremely heavy hands. Despite his seemingly impressive 25-10 record, the fact is that Buentello has never defeated an opponent who would be ranked in the Top 20, and every top-level fighter he has ever faced has handled him with relative ease, most notably Andrei Arlovski who ensured his place in UFC highlight reels for decades to come with a vicious knockout.It’s bad news for Buentello, then, that Emelianenko has faster and more powerful hands than Arlovski.
In fact, Emelianenko has faster hands than anyone in the Heavyweight division. The speed with which he can throw accurate shots would be remarkable for a fighter half his size, but on a physical specimen like Aleksander it is absolutely freakish. The most notable hole in Emelianenko’s game has always been his grappling, but Buentello is tailor-made for him in that regard, as he has even less prowess on the ground than Aleks does. Aleksander is the superior striker, and has superior mobility, so except him to have easy pickings with the slow-moving Buentello.
First round knockout for the Russian.
Matt Lindland vs Fabio Negao
Former UFC Middleweight standout Matt “The Law” Lindland faces off against relative unknown Fabio Negao in a matchup that is honestly not overly intriguining. There is a very clear difference between the two when it comes to experience and level of competition.
Lindland, a former Olympic silver medalist Greco Roman wrestler and founder of the legendary Team Quest, has fought many of the best fighters in the world, including widely-regarded #1 heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko. With wins over such names as Pat Miletich, Jeremy Horn, Joe Doerkson, and Falaniko Vitale, Lindland’s fighting pedigree is unquestionable. He is unpopular with many fans for his “lay and pray” style, but it is impossible to deny that Lindland is effective at controlling his opponent and executing a gameplan.
Negao, a relative unknown, holds an 8-3 record with his only notable win coming against Roan Carneiro, who has had mixed results so far in the UFC facing low to mid-level competition. A striker who has won the majority of his fights by KO or TKO, Negao has lost to both of the top-level grapplers he has faced in the form of Demian Maia and Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares. Lindland’s wrestling is by far his best weapon and he should have no trouble imposing his will on the reatively inexperienced Brazilian.
Look for “The Law” to control Negao on the ground en route to a no-brainer unanimous decision .
Renato “Babalu” Sobral vs Mike Whitehead
Two former UFC fighters face off here, in the form of former Light Heavyweight title contender Sobral and former TUF contestant Mike Whitehead. Both men have something to prove, as Whitehead’s UFC tenure was a major disappointment, while Sobral’s time in the octagon was cut short when he was fired for refusing to release a rear naked choke on opponent David Heath.
Despite his disappointing performance on The Ultimate Fighter, Whitehead is currently riding a 12 fight win streak highlighted by wins over UFC veteran Vernon “Tiger” White and a depleted Mark Kerr. In addition, the former Pat Miletich student is now training out of Las Vegas with the hugely successful Xtreme Couture team.
Whitehead’s career record of 21-5 is definitely impressive, but Babalu is possibly the worst style matchup possible for him.For one thing, Whitehead’s plan will almost certainly be to take the fight to the ground. More than half of his wins have come by submission, and more than half of the remainder were stopped due to ground and pound. Unfortunately for Whitehead, the ground is exactly where Babalu wants the fight to go. Like Whitehead, the huge majority of Sobral’s wins have come by way of submission. Whitehead is a good grappler, but Babalu is quite simply on another level. While Whitehead is probably stronger than Babalu, and definitely has better wrestling, Sobral is more than capable of submitting Whitehead from his back or any other position.
Sobral’s standup is also better than Whitehead’s, so his options are going to be fairly limited.The other thing to consider is that Mike Whitehead’s five career losses have come in the five fights where has faced Top 10 level fighters. He is a solid fighter, but not quite ready to take on world class opposition. Babalu is nothing if not world class. When you consider that Babalu has fought and won at a much higher level than Whitehead, and that both are grapplers but Babalu is better, it becomes clear that Sobral is an easy favorite to take this one.
My pick is submission in Round 3 once Whitehead’s cardio is depleted.
Affliction: Fedor Emelianenko vs Tim Sylvia Fight Prediction
July 13, 2008
Fedor Emelianenko vs Tim Sylvia
Sportsbook.com Odds (Fedor -450 / Sylvia +300)
Post Match Results: Fedor wins in first round after 36 seconds using a rear naked choke!
Prediction: Look for a boxing match early in this fight, with Fedor taking it to the ground in Round 2 once Tim tires out and finishing it quickly via arm-bar.
The main event of the evening is also a historic matchup, as former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko faces off with former multiple-time UFC Champion Tim Sylvia. Fedor, widely considered the #1 Heavyweight in the world over the last few years, has come under some scrutiny lately for his failure to fight a Top 10 competitor. Now, all of those criticisms are being put to rest as “The Last Emperor attempts to validate his #1 ranking once and for all.
Emelianenko’s (27-1) dominance of the Heavyweight division is the stuff of legend. His record has been marred only once, by a fluke cut from an illegal elbow that was, for whatever reason, ruled a loss. In reality, Fedor has essentially manhandled his way through a who’s who list of heavyweight greats with not so much as a speed-bump along the way. After handily defeating K-1 World Grand Prix champion Semmy Schilt and perennial contender Heath Herring, Fedor utterly dominated current UFC champ Noguiera, smashing him with vicious ground and pound for twenty minutes. What followed was a reign of terror, in which Fedor tore apart every contender to his title. Wins over Kevin Randleman, Mark Coleman, Mark Hunt, Cro Cop and a second, equally dominating win over Noguiera cemented Fedor’s spot at the top of the Heavyweight ladder.
PRIDE’s closing, though, halted Emelianenko’s momentum, and he fought only twice last year, defeating middleweight Matt Lindland and the untested Hong Man Choi, neither of which helped silence the critics saying Fedor was ducking top competition. Clearly, regardless of who he faced last year, Fedor Emelianenko is as skilled and accomplished a fighter as there is in the Heavyweight division, and Tim Sylvia is going to be faced with a tough task come July 19.
This will hardly be the first time, though, that Tim Sylvia (24-4) has gone into a huge fight as a decided underdog. At UFC 41, Tim was widely expected to lose to then-champion Ricco Rodriguez. Defying all expectations, Sylvia dominated Rodriguez, knocking him out in just three minutes. After being submitted in under a minute by Andrei Arlovski, Tim entered two different rematches, each time as the underdog, and emerged victorious both times.
What really makes this fight so interesting, aside from the implications for the Heavyweight division, is that each fighter’s strengths play off his opponent’s weaknesses. Fedor’s biggest weakness is his tendency to get cut. His “loss” to Kohsaka was because of a cut on his forehead, and his second fight with Noguiera had to be stopped after an accidental headbutt split his head wide open yet again. Tim Sylvia’s long reach, punching power, and solid take-down defense make him a perfect candidate to exploit this weakness. If he can use his reach to keep Fedor at a distance, he has a good chance of using his sharp jab to open up Fedor’s head and put him in serious danger.Sylvia’s weakness, obviously, is his ground game. Any long-time UFC fan will never forget Frank Mir snapping Tim’s arm like a wishbone. Arlovski almost submitted Tim easily, and it took Noguiera about 15 seconds on the ground to make him tap.
If any fighter is capable of exploiting this weakness, it is Fedor, who has arguably the most impressive slate of submission victories in the division’s history. He submitted Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman, both of whom are light years ahead of Sylvia on the ground, with almost comical ease. If he can manage so much as one take-down against Sylvia, Fedor will win this fight easily, as the only thing more devastating than his submission game is his ground and pound.
Basically, this fight will be decided by how well Fedor can close the distance and take the action to the ground. If Tim can keep the fight standing like he did against Noguiera, there is no way Fedor can survive the same kind of beating that Noguiera had to take in order to secure a submission. In the end, though, I think that Fedor’s striking, while not on the same level as Tim’s, will at least be good enough to create openings to tie Sylvia up in the clinch and secure the takedown.
Like Silva vs Irvin I will be placing a bet for Sylvia in hopes of an upset and a big return as he does have a punchers chance also.
Look for a boxing match early in this fight, with Fedor taking it to the ground in Round 2 once Tim tires out and finishing it quickly via arm-bar.
UFC Fight Night 14: Silva vs Irvin Fight Predictions
July 13, 2008
Anderson Silva vs James Irvin
Sportsbook.com Odds ( -600 Silva / Irvin +400 )
Prediction: I see Irvin giving more than most people think, but getting caught with a kick to the head, then finished in the second round.
Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva will be making his debut at light heavyweight against the heavy handed striker James ‘The Sandman’ Irvin. This will be a good test for Silva to see if he can handle moving up twenty pounds. Irvin is no push over and should be able to give Silva a run for his money.
Silva (21-4) is on a seven fight win streak. He has just blown through the UFC middleweight division including three successful title defenses. He is so dangerous everywhere in the octagon. Anywhere this fight goes Silva should get the best of it. He is a Muay expert with devastating knees, elbows, kicks, and even carries knock out power in his hands. Silva is always calm and waits for the right time to strike. On his seven fight win streak, he has finished all of his opponents and hasn’t gone past the second round.
James Irvin (14-4) is a very good wrestler and carries heavy hands. He must come into the fight calm and smart, then wait for Silva to make a mistake. If Irvin is successful in taking take Silva he must watch out because Silva is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Irvin must go to work fast and rain down elbows and fists to overwhelm Silva. If standing, Irvin has good striking and needs to land a big shot to the chin. Silva should not underestimate Irvin’s power or he may be put to sleep.
Irvin is a little bigger and is used to fighting at light heavyweight. Irvin should avoid the clinch and be careful of Silva’s deadly knees. Irvin is a big underdog at (+400) with a puncher chance to pull off the upset. I plan on putting $50-$100 down in this fight for a big return.
Silva has better technical striking and his overall skills top Irvin. I see Irvin giving more than most people think, but getting caught with a kick to the head, then finished in the second round.
Brandon Vera vs. Reese Andy
Vera is looking to rebound over two straight losses in the heavyweight division. Vera is taking on Reese Andy, newly acquired from the IFL. I don’t see Vera losing three in a row and coming our really aggressive.
Brandon ‘The Truth’ Vera (8-2), a former heavyweight contender will make his lightweight debut on Saturday night. Vera, coming back from a controversial loss to Fabricio Werdum at UFC 85. Vera thought the fight was stopped too early. Vera is very well rounded with tons of power in his hands and legs. Six of his eight wins have come by knock out. He will look to make some noise and shake up the light heavyweight division with a big win.
Reese Andy (7-1) is on a four fight win streak. Andy, like Vera, fights usually as a heavyweight and this will no doubt be his toughest fight to date. Andy was a three-time all American wrestler at the University of Wyoming. He spent most of his career in the IFL going 5-1. Andy will probably start off striking then looking for a way to wrestle Vera to the mat.
I see this fight like throwing Andy to the wolves. The UFC doesn’t want to see Vera lose again. Vera has the advantage all day long. Andy’s only chance is to try to take Vera down and hope to ground and pound. Vera is going to land kicks and punches at will. I take Vera by a second round knock out.
Anthony Johnson vs. Kevin Burns
Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson and Kevin Burns are each coming off impressive wins. Both fighters are looking for a another UFC win to make their way up the middleweight ladder.
Johnson (5-1) made short work of TUF 6 finalists Tommy Speer at UFN 13 with a devastating knock out. Back in June at Fight Night 10, Johnson’s UFC debut, he took out Chad Reiner in just 12 seconds. In between those two fights he did lose to Rich Clementi by submission. Johnson is very athletic and throws punches with intent to kill. Johnson will try to keep this fight standing, using his brute strength and throwing his fists.
Kevin Burns (6-1) taking his previous fight in just two weeks notice at UFC 85 shocked a lot of people. He submitted Jiu- Jitsu expert Roan Carneiro with a triangle choke. That submission earned him a $50,000 bonus for submission of the night. Burns is not a big striker and will try to avoid a Johnson knock out by taking him down. Burns is on a four fight win streak with 3 submissions and one knock out.
Johnson is much stronger and a great wrestler, but prefers to strike. Burns will be over-matched Saturday night. I’m calling Johnson with knock out of the night in the first round.
Hermes Franca vs. Frank Edgar
This should be an exciting fight between Hermes Franca and Frank Edgar. Both fighters are looking to rebound from losses.
The return of Hermes Franca (16-8) has finally come. This will be his first fight in a year due to his steroid suspension from his fight with Sean Sherk. A year ago, Franca was one of the most exciting lightweights in the UFC. Prior to his loss to Sherk, he was on an eight fight win streak. He is a very dangerous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter who is always pressuring his opponents. Only one of his 18 wins have gone to decision.
Edgar (8-1), is a very good wrestler and is currently the only fighter to have beaten Tyson Griffin. He will probably have to use his wrestling in this fight. Franca had problems with the superior wrestling of Sherk in his last loss. Edgar had also taken out the always dangerous Spencer Fisher by unanimous decision. He will have his hands full Saturday night.
Franca will pull off the upset as he is (+135 ) underdog Saturday night. With a year off, I believe he will be as eager as ever to get back up the ranks and contend for the belt. He is more well rounded and will be more than Edgar can handle. Franca by unanimous decision.
Rory Markham vs. Brodie Farber
This will be a competitive match up between two UFC newcomers. Both would love to start off in the UFC with an impressive win, but only one can.
Rory Markham (14-4) is a former IFL welterweight fighter. He is a heavy handed striker and shows tons of heart and determination in the cage. Markham has won seven of his last nine fights. His most recent victory came over Jay Ellis due to triangle choke at the Adrenaline MMA event. Markham is a team militech fighter and has put together an impressive 7-2 record with the IFL. Markham has only a month to train for this fight prior to his last fight.
Brodie Farber (13-3) has done most of his fighting in Mexico with MMA Extreme. Farber is a former Rage in the Cage middleweight champion. He is currently on a six fight win streak with 3 by knock out and 3 by submissions.
Markham is more experienced and more well rounded than Farber. I”m calling Markham with a third round knock out.
Cain Velasquez vs Jake O’brien
After being dropped by the UFC Jake O’Brien has been reinstated in the UFC to take on Cain Velasquez. Both fighters are former Division I wrestlers who actually met before in collegiate competition
Cain has been labeled the nest big thing in the heavyweight division. This is a lot to live up to, seeing he has only three professional MMA fights. He is currently training with American Kickboxing Academy, and has impressed many of his training partners. AKA owner and trainer, Javier Mendez thinks Cain has what it takes to be heavyweight champion.
Velasquez (3-0) has an excellent background in wrestling and is extremely athletic. He has been working on his striking and Jiu Jitsu. Cain displays very fast hands for a heavyweight and look for them to show up on O’Brien.
Jake O’Brien (10-1) is not a very exciting fighter to watch. He goes tight in for the take down and lays on top of his opponents, bagging out the win. His only loss has come by the hands of Andrei Arlovski. O’Brien relies mainly on his strong wrestling during his fights. He will need to bring more of his arsenal to the octagon if he plans on beating Velasquez.
This is a fight between two excellent wrestlers who should cancel each other out. I believe O’brien will be frustrated due to his take down attempts being stuffed and forced to stand and trade shots with Cain. Cain will show off his striking and TKO O’Brien in the second round.
UFC Fight Night 14 Odds: Silva vs Irvin
July 7, 2008
Live on July 19, 2008 Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva will move up to Light Heavyweight to square off with James ‘The Sandman’ Irvin at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Co main event will feature Brandon ‘The Truth’ Vera who will be moving down to Light Heavyweight to face IFL veteran Reese Andy.
These odds are from Sportsbook.com. The odds may have changed by then so to begin betting or to get full odds please visit Sportsbook.com
UFC Fight Night 14 Odds
Anderson Silva vs James Irvin
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Anderson Silva (-625)
- James Irvin (+425)
Brandon Vera vs Reese Andy
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Brandon Vera (-625)
- Reese Andy (+425)
Hermes Franca vs Frank Edgar
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Hermes Franca (+135)
- Frank Edgar (-165)
Anthony Johnson vs Kevin Burns
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Anthony Johnson (-275)
- Kevin Burns (+215)
Rory Markham vs Brodie Farber
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Rory Markham (-260)
- Brodie Farber (+200)
For more UFC betting odds we have posted a review of the best sites to bet UFC fights at, and check live odds on the sites at these review pages. Most sites will usually have a live feed for any updates that have been made to the odds since the writing of this UFC Fight Night 14 odds article.
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