The UFC has been carried by the Light Heavyweight division during 2011, and will look to close out the year with a bang at UFC 140, when current Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones takes on former champion Lyoto Machida. Despite the former’s youth and meteoric rise to the top, he hasn’t been able to make a friend out of his upcoming challenger. While the bookie software agents have Jones as a heavy favorite, count us amongst the few that wouldn’t be surprised to see Machida put the young buck in his place at UFC 140.
As we noted earlier, Machida isn’t impressed with Jon Jones. Call it jealousy, call it a way to build up the fight, but simply put, Machida isn’t a fan of the younger champion. After all, Machida was once in a similar situation as Jones, pegged as the next big thing, and praised for his unique fighting style. Now, two years later, Machida feels as though he is the forgotten man by the sports betting enthusiasts, as the UFC promoters do an excellent job building up the current champion.
On paper, this was the least favorable fight for Jones, as he finally has to face a guy that can provide him with a challenge. One of the major issues with Jon Jones since he stepped up to the forefront is that the promoters have babied him. For instance, Jones went from destroying an overrated Ryan Bader, to facing a rusty Shogun and winning the Light Heavyweight title. Meanwhile, Machida has fought the likes of an in shape Shogun, as well as Rashad Evans, Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture. Machida’s Japanese – Brazilian karate should be enough of a style clash with Jones, that Jones is unable to defeat him. Look for Machida to walk out of UFC 140 as the champion.
Next Saturday George St. Pierre steps into the octagon with Carlos Condit for the first time, while Nick Diaz and BJ Penn square off for a number one contenders spot for St. Pierre’s Welterweight Title, at UFC 137. The double main event has fans, analysts and hardcore handicappers chomping at the bit, for the fastest rising sport in America. Here is a preview of the two breeders cup betting matchups.
In Carlos Condit, the UFC has a humble opponent for soft-spoken Welterweight Champion George St. Pierre in just over two weeks time. Condit, a man who simply goes about his business, and takes what ever fight is awarded to him, broke down in tears in the beginning of September, when the UFC offered him Nick Diaz title shot against the aforementioned GSP. Condit was originally set to face BJ Penn, however when Nick Diaz decided that his ego was bigger then the UFC, President Dana White chose to award his loyal bookie software soldier.
Entering his fight with GSP, Condit is considered a heavy underdog, as GSP hasn’t lost a fight in nearly three years and nine matches. Yet, Condit is no slouch in the octagon, as he has defeated many opponents, because they have underestimated him. Condit was actually supposed to receive this title shot months ago, but the UFC kept overlooking him in favor of talent outside the company. Now that he gets his shot, can Carlos Condit pull off the upset and win the Welterweight title?
On the other hand, the previously mentioned Nick Diaz will be making his not so triumphant return to the UFC at UFC 137. Diaz, who is one of the most popular fighters in the MMA, will be looking to show the UFC that despite his commitment issues, they made a mistake pulling him from his dream matchup.
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On Sunday August 14, 2011 live from the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, UFC betting fans will get to watch UFC Live Hardy V Lytle. This card marks the UFC’s debut on Verses, which was the main home for UFC’s arch rival Strikeforce. What’s more, as you will see in this preview, the top two fights in this sports betting event, are much better than the upcoming UFC 133 main event and co main event. Here is a preview of the card.
UFC Live Hardy V Lytle, as you can imagine, is headlined by a Welterweight clash featuring Dan ‘Outlaw’ Hardy and Chris ‘Lights Out’ Lytle, two fighters each known for devastating opponents. While both are being billed as knockout specialists, the reality is that Lytle is an excellent submission artist. On paper, this fight has the potential to be the fight of the night. It also has the ability to help one of Hardy or Lytle catapult into a title fight with the winner of George St. Pierre and Nick Diaz who are set to face at UFC 137 in October.
The other big fight on the card is a Lightweight bout between Jim Miller and Ben Henderson. Miller is a newcomer to the UFC, while Ben Henderson last fought at the inaugural Toronto UFC Card, UFC 129. With Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar set to clash in September at UFC 134, the winner of Miller vs. Henderson could be next in line to face the Lightweight Champion. In theory, Henderson is a guy that casual fight fans will get behind, since he was a household name in the WEC, before losing the Lightweight title to Anthony Pettis. What’s more, if Henderson keeps winning he will get a shot at either Maynard or Edgar, ahead of Pettis, who lost his most recent fight.
In just over two weeks time, the UFC betting lines will be the talk of the town, as UFC 133 Evans vs. Ortiz is held in Philadelphia on August 6, 2011. The Evans vs. Ortiz main event highlights the second consecutive strong card the UFC has put together. Also on the sports betting card, is a middleweight bout between Vitor Belfort and Yoshihiro Akiyama. Here is a preview of UFC 133.
Last week, the UFC announced several changes to UFC 133, leaving fans wondering if this is a card worth investing $50 in PPV costs for. Originally, Rashad Evans was set to face Phil Davis with the winner receiving a title shot at UFC 140 against the winner of Jon Jones v Quinton Jackson at UFC 135 in September. However, around this time last week, the UFC announced that Davis had injured his knee training for the fight and would be forced to withdraw from the bout.
In Davis place is the Huntington Beach Bad Boy, Tito Ortiz. Historically speaking, Ortiz and UFC President Dana White have not seen eye to eye. As this seems to still be the case, Ortiz and Evans will fight with different stipulations. Essentially, if Evans wins the fight, he gets the winner of Jones vs. Jackson. On the other hand, if Ortiz wins the fight, he moves up in ranking in the Light Heavyweight division, to the third rank, which would put a title fight at somewhere in 2012 or 2013.
Regardless of the stipulations, Ortiz is taking the fight on short notice, since nobody else was willing to cater to Dana White’s demands. Ortiz fought at UFC 132 in the beginning of July, and depending on his cardio training, should have enough in the tank to last with Rashad Evans.
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