Fight Night 19: Carlos Condit vs. Jake Ellenberger Video

Two big strikers collide in Junior dos Santos and Mirko Cro Cop. Cro Cop brings the edge in experience, while dos Santos enters the fight riding a huge winning streak and with more explosive power. Even though Cro Cop is on the down side of his career and dos Santos is on a meteoric rise, the young Brazilian may not be able to handle Mirko’s technical kickboxing and wealth of big-fight experience. Mirko by KO, Round 2. Bet on Cro Cop at even money

– Cro Cop vs. Dos Santos Odds

Josh Koscheck vs. Frank Trigg

For a detailed prediction of this fight visit our Koscheck vs. Trigg prediction page.

Pats Prediction

Following a disappointing upset loss, American Kickbox Academy’s Josh Koscheck will look to get back to his winning ways against the returning Frank “Twinkletoes” Trigg. Koscheck, always a dominant wrestler, has slowly but surely improved his standup over the last few years. Trigg is one of the most well-rounded Welterweights in the world, and re-enters the Octagon having fought almost all of the world’s best fighters at 170, and even 185, pounds. As Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre proved, though, top-level amateur wrestlers are Trigg’s weak spot. Koscheck by unanimous decision.

– Koscheck vs. Trigg Odds

Martin Kampmann vs. Paul Daley

For a detailed prediction of this fight visit our Kampmann vs. Daley prediction page.

Pats Prediction

In a welterweight matchup that could determine the next challenger to Georges St. Pierre’s title, Danish sensation Martin Kampmann will face off with heavy-handed Brit Paul Daley. Daley, a late replacement for Mike Swick, has dynamite in both hands and, even with short notice, is a threat to any fighter in the world. Kampmann looked great at Middleweight and has looked dominant so far at 170 pounds. Styles make fights, though, and Kampmann’s hugely superior wrestling game should be enough to win him the fight. Expect him to take Daley down and pound him out for the TKO victory in the second.

– Kampmann vs. Daley Odds

Tyson Griffin vs. Hermes Franca

For a detailed prediction of this fight visit our Griffin vs. Franca prediction page.

Pats Prediction

Two of UFC’s most exciting lightweights will collide, as Tyson Griffin and Hermes Franca battle it out to move up the ladder towards title contention. Franca’s deadly mix of submissions and kickboxing make him a dual threat, while Edgar’s dominant wrestling and top control allow him to control the pace of fights on the ground. Both guys do their best work on the ground, but Griffin’s positional control trumps Franca’s bottom game. Griffin by unanimous decision.

– Griffin vs. Franca Odds

UFC 103 Preliminary Card Quick Picks

Sportsbook.com Odds

Efrain Escudero over Cole Miller via unanimous decision
Jim Miller over Steve Lopez via second round submission
Drew McFedries over Tomasz Drwal via first round TKO
Jason Brilz over Eliot Marshall via unanimous decision
Rafaello Oliveira over Nik Lentz via unanimous decision
Vladimir Matyushenko over Igor Pokrajac via unanimous decision
Rafael Dos Anjos over Rob Emerson via third round TKO

Written by Pat · Filed Under General MMA betting

Info for UFC Fight Night 19: Diaz vs. Guillard

September 13, 2009

Here I have provided all the information you will need to help with your betting decisions at Fight Night 19. Don’t forget this fight is on Wednesday September 16, live free on Spike TV at 8:00 p.m. E.T.

Fight Odds & Betting Lines

UFC Fight Night 19 Fight Card

Full Fight Night 19 Fight Card

Pat’s Expert Predictions

Quick Fight Night 19 Predictions Page

Detailed Predictions

Fight Night 19 Fighter Profiles

Written by Pat · Filed Under General MMA betting

UFC 103: Rich Franklin vs. Vitor Belfort Prediction

September 13, 2009

195 lbs. Rich “Ace” Franklin vs. Vitor Belfort

Main Event Odds: (-145 Franklin / +115 Belfort) at Sportsbook.com

Prediction: I see Belfort landing a big haymaker in round three for the victory. Bet on Belfort at +115 underdog

The evening’s main event, a 195 pound catchweight bout, pits former Middleweight champion Rich “Ace” Franklin against returning UFC legend Vitor Belfort. Franklin, after suffering two vicious losses to Anderson Silva, has found himself stuck in sort of an odd place in the sport, and a high-profile win against Belfort could help re-establish him as one of the sport’s top stars. Belfort, once considered done due to painful personal problems, has been on a tear recently, and will be looking to continue riding that momentum back into the Octagon where he was once a huge star.

Franklin is in an extremely odd spot. Heading back to Middleweight would not be advisable after the way he was destroyed by Silva, and the current Light Heavyweight champion, Lyoto Machida, also destroyed him years ago and has only gotten more dominant since then, leaving Franklin without a real home. Still, he is one of the best fighters in the world, with deadly striking, great takedown and submission defense, and a relaxed style that makes him hard for opponents to deal with. From a technical standpoint, he will enter this fight with a striking advantage, although he will give up a lot in power and explosiveness. If Franklin uses his speed and footwork to keep Belfort at a distance and uses his jab to set up punches, this is a very winnable fight for him.

Of course, Vitor Belfort has proven that he is a hard nut to crack over his last few fights. A major star in the early days of UFC, Belfort fell off almost completely following some personal tragedies. In his last two fights, though, he has shown a lot of his old brilliance, destroying his opponents with huge punches. If he wants to return to his old stomping ground triumphantly, he is going to have to show the aggression he has shown in his last two fights, pushing the issue and trying to get to Franklin with his huge power punches.

I think that Belfort has a great chance at pulling off an upset here. Franklin’s boxing is definitely more technical, but he is not known for outstanding knockout power, which means that if Belfort needs to, he can take a few of Franklin’s less powerful punches to hand out a few of his own power shots.

Ultimately, I don’t think Franklin’s boxing is stifling enough to keep Belfort from landing his shots, and eventually one of Belfort’s haymakers is going to get the job done. Belfort by TKO, round 3.

Written by Pat · Filed Under UFC betting

UFC 103: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Junior Dos Santos Prediction

September 13, 2009

265 lbs. Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos vs. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic

Odds: (even Cro Cop / -130 Dos Santos) at Sportsbook.com

The semi-main event of the evening is a Heavyweight clash that is sure to bring some fireworks, as two deadly strikers collide in Brazilian slugger Junior “Cigano” dos Santos and PRIDE FC legend Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. Both of these guys have got serious knockout power and good technique, so this may wind up being a very short night for one of them.

Junior dos Santos, a hot prospect from Team Noguiera, is a big striker with a bright future in this sport. He has looked dominant in his two UFC appearances thus far, earning two knockout victories in just over 2 minutes total. The only real question mark about dos Santos is how well he will handle a step up in competition, something Cro Cop definitely represents. His biggest fight to date was against Fabricio Werdum, who he handily defeated, but he has never faced a striker anywhere near the caliber of Filipovic.

Cro Cop, on the other hand, has fought most of the top Heavyweights in the world, including Fedor Emelianenko, Josh Barnett, and dos Santos’ coach Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera. He debuted in UFC as one of the biggest names in the sport, but found himself out the door again quickly after two dismal performances. At UFC 99, he returned to the Octagon, destroying Mustapha al-Turk out of hand. Many pundits have questioned how much of the old Cro Cop is left at this point, but even at less than full speed Mirko is one of the best strikers in the Heavyweight division.

I think that Cro Cop’s vast experience advantage, coupled with the pressure that is on him after a few bad losses, are going to make the difference here. Dos Santos is a great fighter, but this early in his career he is going to have his hands full with a guy as skilled and experienced as Filipovic. When you add the fact that a loss here is not going to destroy dos Santos, whereas it may very well signal the end of Mirko’s career, I just think that Mirko has too much to lose to turn in an uninspired performance.

I think dos Santos’ willingness to trade is going to give the fans a glimpse of what made Cro Cop so feared to begin with. Cro Cop by KO, round 2.

Written by Pat · Filed Under UFC betting