Event: WEC 40 – Torres vs. Mizugaki

Date: Sunday, April 5, 2009

Venue: UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois

Broadcast: Live Free on Versus at 9:00 p.m. E.T.

• Miguel Torres (35-1) vs. Takeya Mizugaki (11-2-2)  (Main Event)
• Jeff Curran (31-9-1) vs. Joseph Benavidez (9-0)
• Shane Roller (5-1) vs. Ben Henderson (8-1)
• Raphael Assuncao  vs. Jameel Massouh

Preliminary Card

• Anthony Njokuani (10-2) vs. Anthony Pettis
• Dominick Cruz (12-1) vs. Ivan Lopez
• Cub Swanson (13-2) vs. Diego Nunes (12-0)
• Wagnney Fabiano (11-1) vs. Fredson Paixao (8-2)
• Eddie Wineland (12-4-1) vs. Rani Yahya (13-4)
• Manny Tapia (10-1-1) vs. Akitoshi Tamura (12-7-2)
• Rafael Dias (12-5-1) vs. Cole Province (6-1)

Live on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at the Sommet Center in Nashville, TN former WEC welterweight champion “The Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit (23-4) will enter the UFC octagon for the first time against Xtreme Couture’s Martin Kampmann (14-2). Condit will look to show UFC fans that he trully is a champion and needs a win  to start his climb for a title shot.  Kampmann will definitely be a tough test and will look to spoil any hopes of a debut win for Condit, to show that he will be the one making his way up.  We also have The Ultimate Fighter 8 light heavyweight champ Ryan “Darth” Bader (8-0) returning after defeating jiu jitsu ace Vinny Magalhaes to square off with Carmello Marrero (10-2).  Marrero will be returning to the UFC after going one in three with a big win over Cheick Kongo back in UFC 64.  Also hot headed Junie Browning (3-1) will be on the main card taking on Cole Miller (13-3)

Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann

 Sportsbook.com Odds

• Condit           (-110)
• Kampmann  (-120)

Betus.com Odds

• Condit          (-120)
• Kampmann (-120)

Condit vs. Kampmann prediction page

Ryan Bader vs. Carmelo Marrero

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Bader      (-500)
• Marrero  (+300)

Betus.com Odds

• Bader      (-500)
• Marrero (+300)

Bader vs. Marrero prediction page

Tyson Griffin vs. Rafael Dos Anjos

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Griffin        (-365)
• Dos Anjos  (+285)

Betus.com Odds

• Griffin       (-500)
• Dos Anjos (+300)

Griffin vs. Dos Anjos prediction page

Junie Browning vs. Cole Miller

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Browning  (-105)
• Miller         (-125)

Browning vs. Miller prediction page

Gleison Tibau vs. Jeremy Stephens

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Tibau        (-145)
• Stephens  (+115)

Ricardo Almeida vs. Matt Horwich

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Almeida  (-275)
• Horwich  (+215)

Brock Larson vs. Jesse Sanders

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Larson     (-450)
• Sanders   (+300)

Jorge Rivera vs. Nissen Osterneck

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Rivera        (-135)
• Osterneck  (+105)

Rob Kimmons vs. Joe Vedepo

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Kimmons  (-275)
• Vedepo      (+215)

Tim McKenzie vs. Aaron Simpson

Sportsbook.com Odds

• McKenzie (+145)
• Simpson    (-175)

Steve Steinbeiss vs. Ryan Jensen

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Steinbeiss  (+160)
• Jensen        (-200)

Tim Credeur vs. Nick Catone

• Credeur  (-135)
• Catone    (+105)

I will have current odds and fight predictions for Ultimate Fight Night 18 soon. Sign up at one of our MMA Sportsbooks and throw down a bet.

Live on Saturday April 15, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec.  Pound for Pound king Anderson “The Spider” Silva (23-4) will be defending his UFC middleweight championship for the fifth time against the number one contender Thales Leites (14-1). The Spider is coming off a TKO win due to injury over Patrick Cote at UFC 90, he got some heat from the fans due to his lack luster effort over Cote. Silva will look to answer any questions fans had over his last performance with a big win over Leites. Leites a jiu-jitsu specialist is coming off a win over Drew McFedries via rear naked choke at UFC 90. Leites is on a five fight win streak and will look to give Silva a true test, something few fighters as of late have provided.  As you can see with the UFC 97 odds, Silva is still a major favorite.

UFC 97 Odds

Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Silva    (-525)
• Leites  (+325)

Betus.com Odds

• Silva     (-600)
• Leites   (+350)

Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites Prediction Page

Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio Rua

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Liddell  (-175)
• Rua       (+145)

Betus.com Odds

• Liddell  (-180)
• Rua       (+150)

Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio Rua Prediction Page

Brian Stann vs. Krzysztof Soszynski

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Stann         (+160)
• Soszynski  (-200)

Betus.com Odds

• Stann         (+150)
• Soszynski  (-180) 

Brian Stann vs. Krzysztof Soszynski Prediction Page

Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Kongo      (-270)
• Hardonk  (+210)

Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk Prediction Page

Steve Cantwell vs. Luiz Cane

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Cantwell  (+175)
• Cane         (-215)

Steve Cantwell vs. Luiz Cane Prediction Page

Denis Kang vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Kang                  (-500)
• Foupa-Pokam  (+300)

Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry

Sportsbook.com Odds

• MacDonald (even)
• Quarry        (-130)

David Loiseau vs. Ed Herman

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Loiseau  (-130)
• Herman  (even)

Mark Bocek vs. Davis Bielkheden

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Bocek           (-260)
• Bielkheden  (+200)

Ryo Chonan vs. TJ Grant

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Chonan
• Grant

Sam Stout vs. Matt Wiman

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Stout    (-160)
• Wiman (+130)

The Return of Chuck Liddell

Also on the card we have the return of The “Iceman” Chuck Liddell who is coming off what I think was the best KO of 2008 which had Chuck on the wrong end courtesy of LHW Champ Rashad Evans. Liddell will look to rebound and once again prove himself to be a force in LHW division. We all know Chuck can end a fight in one punch. He will square off with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua who is coming off a terrible performance against a washed up Mark Coleman at UFC 93. This fight is sure to provide some magic, as I see it not going the distance.

Check back as we get closer to the fight as I will have current odds and fight predictions for UFC 97.

 Fight Odds & Betting Lines 

• UFC 96 Betting Odds
• MMA Betting Sites

UFC 96 Fight Card

• Full UFC 96 Fight Card

Pat’s Expert Predictions

• Quick UFC 96 Predictions

Detailed Fight Predictions

• Jackson vs. Jardine
• Carwin vs. Gonzaga
• Hamill vs. Munoz
• Sell vs. Brown
• Maynard vs. Miller

UFC 96 Fighter Profiles

• Quinton Jackson
• Keith Jardine
• Shane Carwin
• Gabriel Gonzaga
• Matt Hamill
• Mark Munoz
• Pete Sell
• Matt Brown
• Gray Maynard
• Jim Miller

For the Main Event we have our Rampage Jackson vs. Keith Jardine prediction page

Shane Carwin vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

• For a detailed prediction of this fight visit our Carwin vs. Gonzaga prediction page

Pats Prediction

• I see Carwin throwing it all out and overwhelming Gonzaga with a big upset via first round TKO.

 - Carwin vs. Gonzaga Odds

Matt Hamill vs. Mark Munoz

• For a detailed prediction of this fight visit our Hamill vs. Munoz prediction page

Pats Prediction

• Munoz is a big tough fighter but will be pounded out by The Hammer via second round TKO.

 - Hamill vs. Munoz Odds

Matt Brown vs. Pete Sell  

• For a detailed prediction of this fight visit our Brown vs. Sell prediction page

Pats Prediction

• If Brown can stuff Sell’s takedown and use his clinch he should be able to ride out a unanimous decision victory.

 - Brown vs. Sell Odds

Gray Maynard vs. Jim Miller

• For a detailed prediction of this fight visit our Maynard vs. Miller prediction page

Pats Prediction

• This should be a very exciting match up. Maynard will use his wrestling and stay on top most of the fight, but needs to be very careful of Miller’s jiu jitsu. If Maynard stays calm and collective he will be able to ride out a unanimous decision.

  - Maynard vs. Miller Odds

UFC 96 Undercard Quick Picks

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Jason Day over Kendall Grove via unanimous decision

• Tim Boetsch over Jason Brilz via second round KO

• Brandon Vera over Michael Patt via secound round TKO

• Tamdan McCrory over Ryan Madigan via unanimous decision

• Aaron Riley over Shane Nelson via unanimous decision

Matt Brown

• Nickname-                      ”The Immortal”
• Born-                                Xenia, Ohio, USA
• Age-                                  28
• Height-                             6’0″ (183 cm)
• Weight-                            170 (77 kg)
• MMA Record-                  11-8
• Fighting out of-                Cincinnati, OH
• Strengths-                        Striking, BJJ
• Team/Association-         Jorge Gurgel jiu jitsu

Last 5 fights

• Loss against Ricardo Almeida via rear naked choke at UFC 111
• Win against James Wilks via TKO at UFC 105
• Win against Pete Sell via TKO at UFC 96
• Win against Ryan Thomas via armbar at UFC 91
• Loss against Dong Hyun Kim via split decision at UFC 88 

Quinton Jackson vs. Keith Jardine

The evening’s main event is a huge Light Heavyweight contest pitting Greg Jackson protege “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine against former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.  Odds are -365 Jackson / +285 Jardine at Sportsbook.com.

Jardine, while sometimes inconsistent, has shocked the world numerous times, including big wins over former champions Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin. Jackson went through a much-publicized legal and mental battle following his upset loss to Forrest Griffin, but came roaring back in his last fight with a gigantic knockout of long-time rival Wanderlei Silva.

Keith Jardine, who first emerged in UFC as a cast member on The Ultimate Fighter 2, has had a roller coaster ride of a UFC career. He seems to be on an alternating schedule of big wins and big losses. He crushed Forrest Griffin before Griffin went on to defeat Jackson, beat up highly-regarded prospect Brandon Vera, and shockingly out-kickboxed long-time champion Chuck Liddell.

Interspersed with those wins, though, are a decision loss to non-contender Stephan Bonnar and two complete destructions, one from Wanderlei Silva and the other from middle of the road kickboxer Houston Alexander.

Jardine definitely possesses knockout power, and has shown a propensity for extremely effective leg kicks, which could prove very advantageous since Rampage’s loss to Griffin was largely due to effective low kicking from Griffin.

That potential advantage for Jardine is more than balanced out by Rampage’s numerous advantages. For one thing, Jackson is the better boxer, has more power, has a better chin, and is a better wrestler. Furthermore, Jardine has shown against Silva and Alexander that he is vulnerable to powerful, aggressive striking very early into a fight.

Jackson, on the other side of that coin, has shown against Silva and Liddell that he is a big threat to end a fight as soon as the bell rings. Furthermore, Jackson is now training in England with Wolf’s Lair Gym, meaning that for the first time in his career he has a fully regimented training camp with quality sparring partners.

I don’t think there is really a big secret formula to this fight. The two fighters are similar in style, but Rampage is better in almost every regard. Still, there is no denying that Jardine is an extremely tough guy, and I expect him to make a fight out of this one.  Begin betting of these events by looking at our UFC 96 odds page.

There is only so much that Jardine can do, though, and Rampage will put him to sleep early into the second round.

Shane Carwin vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

In a heavyweight bout that very well might have future title implications, undefeated super-rookie Shane Carwin will step into the Octagon to defend his undefeated streak against jiu-jitsu phenom Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga.

Gonzaga made quite an impact upon his UFC debut, capturing consecutive wins over Fabiano Scherner and Carmelo Marrero before shocking the world by felling Mirko Cro Cop with a powerful left high kick.

After, though, he found his momentum halted by consecutive stoppages against Randy Couture and Fabricio Werdum. Offensively, Gonzaga is an extremely dangerous guy. He is imposingly large, has world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and has proven that his standup is more than capable of ending a fight. That said, against Carwin his best chance will probably be a submission, as Carwin has proven to have dynamite in his hands.

Put simply, Shane Carwin is a beast. Undefeated in 10 bouts, Carwin has not only never seen the second round of a fight, he has never seen the second half of the first round. A huge guy with a wrestling background and solid submissions, Carwin’s standup is probably the most frightening part of his fight game, which is saying something. The only huge disadvantage Carwin brings into this fight is experience.

While he has ony three less fights than Gonzaga, the level of competition is not even close. Gonzaga has been tested by multiple top Heavyweights, while Carwin has fought smaller show staples and journeymen.

This fight will be a perfect indicator of where Carwin stands in the division. Gonzaga is far better than any of his previous opponents, and with his jiu-jitsu pedigree and dangerous striking, is a handful for any opponent.

Still, I think Carwin’s dynamism and explosiveness are too much for “Napao” to handle, and Carwin is going to pull of a gigantic upset with a big TKO in, you guessed it, the first round.