Author: Ben Fowlkes

UFC 127: By the Odds

Filed under: UFCRight now in Sydney, Australia it is already tomorrow, which means the people there are, at least from my perspective, living in the future. This terrifies me.

When you combine that with creepy images of koala bears staring at you with…

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Right now in Sydney, Australia it is already tomorrow, which means the people there are, at least from my perspective, living in the future. This terrifies me.

When you combine that with creepy images of koala bears staring at you with those huge, dead eyes and kangaroos bouncing around like some bizarre cartoon, it makes wagering on UFC 127 in such a foreign land a pretty daunting concept. Fortunately, the oddsmakers who set the betting lines for MMA fights are still located in their cozy offshore locations, so at least that much hasn’t changed.

Below, let’s look at how those crafty internet bookmakers see things shaking out, and where they might be mistaken.

Tables Turn in Trash Talk Battle Between Jorge Rivera and Michael Bisping

Filed under: UFC, NewsFor the last several weeks, it was Jorge Rivera who dominated the pre-fight conversation with a series of YouTube videos mocking fellow UFC middleweight Michael Bisping. But at Tuesday’s UFC 127 press conference in Sydney it was B…

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Michael Bisping talks trash to Jorge Rivera at the UFC 127 pre-fight press conference.For the last several weeks, it was Jorge Rivera who dominated the pre-fight conversation with a series of YouTube videos mocking fellow UFC middleweight Michael Bisping. But at Tuesday’s UFC 127 press conference in Sydney it was Bisping who did most of the talking, and Rivera had relatively few answers for him.

“For me, I’ve got a big fight to prepare for,” said Bisping. “I’m fighting in the premiere fighting organization in the world and I’m trying to behave accordingly. I’m a professional fighter; I’m not an idiot in the schoolyard, making up silly rhymes and jokes and making stupid videos.

“This is a press conference, by the way, Jorge,” Bisping added, turning to address his opponent, who sat on the other side of the podium with a baseball cap pulled down low over his eyes. “This is what you do. I know it’s your first time being involved in something like this. Welcome to the big leagues. After this you’ll be back to the undercard, believe me.”

Phil Davis Predicts Teammate Gustafsson Will ‘Smash’ Te-Huna at UFC 127

Filed under: UFCNormally, UFC light heavyweight Phil Davis isn’t one for pre-fight predictions.

When it comes to guys he doesn’t know and hasn’t trained with, he said, he generally doesn’t care who wins and who loses. Even if he has an opinion on it,…

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GustafssonNormally, UFC light heavyweight Phil Davis isn’t one for pre-fight predictions.

When it comes to guys he doesn’t know and hasn’t trained with, he said, he generally doesn’t care who wins and who loses. Even if he has an opinion on it, he usually keeps it to himself because, as he put it, “I know it’s the fight game, but cats get their feelings hurt.”

But Davis made an exception when talking to MMA Fighting about his friend, training partner, and former opponent, Alexander Gustafsson (10-1), who takes on New Zealand’s James Te-Huna (12-4) at UFC 127 on Saturday night.

The Cut List: Who Needs a Win at UFC 127?

Filed under: UFCNaturally a trip to Australia for the UFC means there’s got to be some local talent on the card, and yes, some of that local talent may be getting just one last chance to show that they can do something other than attract their friends …

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Naturally a trip to Australia for the UFC means there’s got to be some local talent on the card, and yes, some of that local talent may be getting just one last chance to show that they can do something other than attract their friends and neighbors.

But there’s a wide range of fighters on the UFC 127 undercard who are need of a win on Saturday. Hailing from several different continents, and finding themselves in potential trouble for several different reasons, they all need to win big or at least lose impressively if they want to be invited back.

Let’s take a look at who they are below.

Despite Recent Injury, Rashad Evans Doesn’t Regret Waiting for Title Shot

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse ExclusiveIt would be easy for Rashad Evans to sit around and second-guess himself these days. It would be easy to dwell on the what-ifs, or to wallow in the bitterness of recent events.

He waited the better part of a year fo…

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It would be easy for Rashad Evans to sit around and second-guess himself these days. It would be easy to dwell on the what-ifs, or to wallow in the bitterness of recent events.

He waited the better part of a year for his title shot, forsaking other opportunities to fight and risking the ire of UFC president Dana White. With the fight less than two months away, a freak accident in training injured his knee and forced him out of the UFC 128 main event. Now the UFC has shuffled Jon Jones – Evans’ own teammate – into the title fight in his place, leaving Evans’ future as uncertain as ever.

“It’s hard,” said Evans. “Of course it’s hard. I can’t lie and say it’s not hard or that I don’t think sometimes, I wish it was me. I’d be lying if I said that. But I believe that everything happens for a reason.”

Twitter Mailbag: Fedor’s Future, Anderson Silva’s Long Wait and More

Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceIt’s time again for that peculiar invention of the modern world: the Twitter mailbag.

Though it involves neither mail nor a bag, the quips and questions sent to me @BenFowlkesMMA never fail to yield interesting queries ab…

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It’s time again for that peculiar invention of the modern world: the Twitter mailbag.

Though it involves neither mail nor a bag, the quips and questions sent to me @BenFowlkesMMA never fail to yield interesting queries about Fedor, Anderson Silva, dream superfights and announce teams, and one or two jabs at me personally.

Who wants to go first?

@JasonRule Does the contender title enhance-add any weight to the Penn v Fitch fight? Is there a demand to see either face GSP again?