Ultimate Fight Night 13 picks and predictions

I’ve been going over the UFN 13 odds for the past two hours and I can’t understand how some of these underdogs have such good odds.  I really can’t find value in any of the favorites for the night besides Din Thomas, so this looks like its going to be a great night for betting […]

DREAM 1 odds are out – Cro Cop listed as a huge favorite!

Dream is the newest MMA organization on the scene.  Developed by the owners of K-1 and former PRIDE executives, DREAM is setting up their first event DREAM 1 this Saturday, March 15th.  One of DREAM’s big name fighters for the event is Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.  Cro Cop is listed as an enormous -1600 favorite […]

Frank Shamrock a -220 favorite? – Strike Force 8 odds

Frank Shamrock and Cung Le are entering StrikeForce 8 as the headlining bout on March 29th.  I’m a bit surprised that Frank is listed at (-220) for this fight, because I really think he should be about a (-185) or so favorite.  Not a huge discrepancy, but I think odds wise the value kind of […]

UFC 84 Preview: Lyoto Machida

I’ve recently posted his fights with Sam Greco and B.J. Penn, so I’m only going to post a few more so folks who may not be familiar with him can get a better idea.

Personally, my main concern is how Lyoto will handle Ortiz’s physicality and wrestling. Machida has a very wide stance and while he’s got excellent movement in and out of range – and Ortiz has a tendency to reach on his takedowns out of desperation, e.g. third round of his fight with Forrest Griffin – you have to think at some point (especially early on) Ortiz is going to get the takedown with some sort of snatch single or double. From there, we know Machida has a good guard and underrated BJJ, but Ortiz has an excellent base, vicious ground and pound and good submission defense. I see this fight going Ortiz’s way early on with Machida doing well as the fight wears on. More fights after the jump.

Lyoto Machida vs. Stephan Bonnar

Lyoto Machida vs. Michael McDonald

Lyoto Machida vs. Rich Franklin Part 1

Lyoto Machida vs. Rich Franklin Part 2

Dream 3 Press Conference Highlights

SportsNavi had coverage of the Dream day-after Press conference:

Dream Event Producer Sasahara was asked about the possibility of Kimbo Slice possibly fighting on a dream card, despite him being unknown in Japan. He was also asked if EliteXC’s female superstar Gina Carano might be a possibility.

Dream Event Producer Sasahara: ” Certainly, now Kimbo Slice is perhaps namelessness. But, like Mayhem Miller yesterday, there is a possibility where it can grasp the heart of the fan with 1 appearance’

In regards to the woman fighter, at present time, no. Now ‘ DREAM ‘ is in the process of growing. When ‘ DREAM ‘ has reached maturity, we would think of adding women fighters at that time.”

Other Notes coming out of the day after press conference after the jump:

Jason Mayhem Miller seemed to be quite over with the Japanese crowd after his entertaining performance at Dream.3. Mayhem thanked the Japanese fans for embracing a strange guy like him. Miller said he considered it an honor to be in the same tournament as Sakuraba and love to be paired with him in the next round.

Kawajiri: Said he became hot-headed after Uno’s win and wanted to fight Uno in the next round, but that the pairings for the next round are not yet set. When asked to describe his other semi-finalists, he described Alvarez as aggressive and Uno as technical.

Eddie Alvarez: The staff of DREAM want to make this a fighting organization of the highest level, He would like to become suitable enough to become a regular fighter for them. We would like to continue to appear up to the last Dream and, as the person who participates from DREAM.1 til the end. In the tournament, He talked of being surrounded by Japanese superstars in the tournament, with himself being the lone American. He joked, At the finals he hoped that they wouldn’t throw tomatoes at him if he fought a Japanese fighter. Eddie described Kawajiri as powerful and Uno as perfect, in his performance against Ishida.

Uno: Happy to perform so well as the main event of the card. With much practicing and utmost effort, he would like to persevere in the next rounds. Described Kawajiri as Strong and Alvarez as the new style of fighter, able to do well both in stand up and on the ground.