The UFC returns to Canada tomorrow night for UFC 149. The main event features one of the biggest stars in WEC history taking on a hot prospect out of the Nova Uniao camp. It’s a can’t-miss event that is sure to fire on all cylinders. But, if you don’t …
The UFC returns to Canada tomorrow night for UFC 149. The main event features one of the biggest stars in WEC history taking on a hot prospect out of the Nova Uniao camp. It’s a can’t-miss event that is sure to fire on all cylinders. But, if you don’t know how to tune in, you can’t catch the action.
Facebook Prelims
According to the UFC’s Facebook page, the prelims are available to be streamed beginning at 6:40p.m. EST. Fights to air on this stream include Mitch Clarke vs Anton Kuivanen and Antonio Carvalho vs Daniel Pineda.
FX Prelims
If you thought that the only exciting battles were taking place on the PPV portion of UFC 149, you would be missing out on some intriguing contests. Four fights fill the prelims, and should prove to be a delicious appetizer for what is to come.
Although there isn’t a lot of star power this time around, the FX prelims includes a rematch between Nick Ring and Court McGee. Ring actually eliminated McGee from The Ultimate Fighter tournament, but had to drop out due to a knee injury. McGee would be back as a replacement and go on to win the tournament.
Headliner Renan Barao isn’t the only fighter on the card who has a killer winning streak. Promotional newcomer Ryan Jimmo makes his long-awaited debut after an injury kept him out of a January debut. Jimmo puts his 16-fight streak on the line against surging light-heavyweight Anthony Perosh.
Additional fights include Brian Caraway vs Mitch Gagnon and Roland Delorme vs Francisco Rivera.
The action begins at 8:00 p.m. EST. Check with your cable or satellite provider for listings for FX and FXHD.
Pay-Per-View
The PPV kicks off at 10:00 p.m. EST with five main-card fights that may not feature many of the originally booked stars, but it hosts a series of fights that promise to provide fireworks.
Fights include:
Urijah Faber vs Renan Barao Hector Lombard vs Tim Boetsch Cheick Kongo vs Shawn Jordan Brian Ebersole vs James Head Matt Riddle vs Chris Clements
There are many options for viewing the fights. The PPV is available from major cable and satellite providers, as well as on UFC.com.
Some less conventional viewing methods include watching on the UFC’s Facebook page through Facebook Credits, or ordering through the UFC app on XBox Live.
Looking for a less costly option? Many sports bars like Buffalo Wild Wings, Hooters or Applebees host the fights for their customers. For the price of a quesadilla appetizer and a beer, you get to watch a $54.99 PPV.
Attending the event live?
Doors at the Scotiabank Saddledome open at 4:45 p.m. local time and the PPV kicks off at 8:00 p.m.
Grab your cowboy hats and pack up your saddles my fellow CP readers, because this weekend we are headed to the home of the world famous Calgary Stampede, Calgary, Alberta, Canada for UFC 149 Barao vs Faber! From a wagering standpoint, this card is pretty much a prime example of why bookies offer MMA betting lines, as this card is chock full of close fights and odds that will surely entice the gambling public as well as crush the majority of parlays, all the while raking in money for the house.
Luckily for you (or not), we do not have to go on the cuff for this card, as those who followed UFC 148’s GAE were rewarded with a 4 team parlay that paid out 7 to 1 at the window. All betting odds are courtesy of BestFightOdds.com, so join me as I try to offer some insight on how to go after plus units on Saturday’s upcoming card.
Both fighters have strong submission skills, but I believe Caraway is the favorite because the majority of the public believe “Kid Lighting” is the better submission fighter out of the two. At around -200, Caraway should have what it takes to out-grapple his Canadian counterpart and find a way to win this fight. This may be stretching my psychic abilities to the max, but upon victory, I expect Caraway to announce that he is undergoing a sex change, signing with Strikeforce, and challenging Ronda Rousey to a “loser leaves town” match at 135 lbs. Any takers?
(We’re going ((win)) streaking!!)
By Dan “Get Off Me” George
Grab your cowboy hats and pack up your saddles my fellow CP readers, because this weekend we are headed to the home of the world famous Calgary Stampede, Calgary, Alberta, Canada for UFC 149 Barao vs Faber! From a wagering standpoint, this card is pretty much a prime example of why bookies offer MMA betting lines, as this card is chock full of close fights and odds that will surely entice the gambling public as well as crush the majority of parlays, all the while raking in money for the house.
Luckily for you (or not), we do not have to go on the cuff for this card, as those who followed UFC 148’s GAE were rewarded with a 4 team parlay that paid out 7 to 1 at the window. All betting odds are courtesy of BestFightOdds.com, so join me as I try to offer some insight on how to go after plus units on Saturday’s upcoming card.
Both fighters have strong submission skills, but I believe Caraway is the favorite because the majority of the public believe “Kid Lighting” is the better submission fighter out of the two. At around -200, Caraway should have what it takes to out-grapple his Canadian counterpart and find a way to win this fight. This may be stretching my psychic abilities to the max, but upon victory, I expect Caraway to announce that he is undergoing a sex change, signing with Strikeforce, and challenging Ronda Rousey to a “loser leaves town” match at 135 lbs. Any takers?
It has been a long time coming for CP’s own Ryan Jimmo, who will be riding a 16-fight win streak and fighting in his own backyard against the always tough (not to mention streaking) Australian vet Anthony Perosh. This fight boils down to whether or not Jimmo can find himself on top of Perosh for sustained periods of the fight en route to scoring a stoppage or decision win (likely the latter). I can’t pick a winner here, but I will go with the prop that the fight goes over 2.5 rounds or fight goes the distance. Jimmo will not be easily submitted and Perosh will not be easily finished; those are the only things I am certain of in this fight.
Rolande Delorme (+107) vs. Francisco Rivera (-117)
TUF 14 alum Roland Delorme has looked better with each appearance in the octagon, most recently “stunning” than submitting slight favorite and fellow Canuck Nick Denis at UFC on FOX 3. That said, I still think Francisco is the better all around fighter and is only a slight favorite because of where this event is taking place. I see Delorme possibly being able to find himself on the ground in favorable positions with Rivera, but Rivera’s no slouch, and should be able to control the fight on the feet and fend off most of what Delorme has to offer on the ground. I would just enjoy this fight and take some notes for future reference.
I’ll put it simply: If this goes the distance, McGee is going down. Nick was able to best McGee in their bout back on TUF 11, and it’s not like Ring hasn’t been gifted decisions in the past (Riki Fukuda). Considering that the heroic tale of Nick Ring thwarting a mugging has captivated the local community, I would not be surprised to see him pull out another close decision in his fight with McGee, thanks in no small part to the seedy underbelly of both Canada and MMA judging in general. That’s right, the fix is in and I’m calling it. I think Court has hit a plateau of sorts, and unless he presses forward and tries to finish this fight, he may become a victim of that round bacon-eating, Molson-drinking excuse for a crowd (I kid, I kid). Again, a prop bet that this fight is decided by the judges will be where I look at laying my money.
Matt Riddle has consistently shown that he is willing to fight for the fans (look no further than his most recent win over Henry Martinez) and I believe that, while he could lay-n-pray his way to victory here, he may just go out and stand toe-to-toe with Clements. Unless Riddle has made a marked improvement in his striking game, I am going to lean on the Canuck as the underdog to find a way to win this fight by outgunning Riddle.
File this one under “bad odds.” Much like with the Mendes/Mckenzie fight at UFC 148, the best opportunity to make some money here is by finding a prop on Ebersole winning inside the distance. I do not see this fight going the distance, so this is where anything near -400 territory is ignored in favor of even money on the prop side of the book.
All signs point towards Jordan and the price is ultra alluring. This line has recently tipped in favor of Jordan, but like with Riki Fukuda at UFC 148, line movement is not gospel and often can be misleading. In this instance, Jordan is the favorite and seems to have all the tools to stop Kongo with his striking if he keeps it on the feet and avoids Cheick’s unconventional style of GnP (shorts grabbing, testicle shattering, etc). I really want to say Jordan takes this by TKO, but I can’t ignore Cheick’s ability to pull wins/draws/decisions out of his ass when he is counted out by the public. If there is plus money on the prop that this fight goes the distance, I will be looking to put my money there, but picking a winner could be a parlay crusher.
While I want to suggest Tim Boetsch will find a way to take this fight down on the cards, or take advantage of a gassed Lombard as the fight goes on, I keep picturing Boetsch moving forward and exchanging with Hector en route to suddenly finding himself looking up at the lights. It is no news that Hector hits harder than anyone Boetsch has faced before and I think Hector will be able to find Boetsch’s off switch before the end of the third round. Boetsch does not throw the straightest of punches and his constantly pressing style plays right into Hector’s powerhouse hands.
That being said, at Boetsch’s current rate, even a small bet could pay off if Lombard decided to come down with a case of the octagon jitters. “The Barbarian” doesn’t have nearly as much to prove as Lombard, who has likely been under a tremendous amount of pressure and stress to prove that he is more than a glorified can crusher, so a small bet on Boetsch wouldn’t be a terrible idea, just an incredibly risky one. In either case, just keep it the hell away from your parlay.
I have heard that Barao looks depleted and so on, but I contribute this to his travel to the great white north more than anything. I think come fight night, Barao makes Faber his 30th straight victim for more reasons than I have time to list. Simply put, this feels like Aldo/Faber 2, and like his training partner from Nova Uniao, Barao will find Faber’s lead leg with ease while picking “The California Kid” apart using his reach and those devastating knee’s. The -200 price tag is another reason that Barao is a parlay must here. Currently 0-4 in his last 4 title fights, Faber is going to show us what he does best as of late when gold is on the line, push the fight to the limit but come up short in the end.
Parlay 1
Caraway-Clements-Barao
Parlay 2(Bellator bonus)
Zaromskis-Wiuff-Barao
Props
-Jimmo/Perosh goes the distance
-Ring/McGee goes the distance
-Ebersole/Head does not go the distance
-Ebersole wins inside the distance
Bet what you feel comfortable with and may the winners be yours!
As always, please share your thoughts on who you think will win this Saturday night in the comments section.
One of the more uninspiring title fights in UFC history will take place on Saturday night, when Urijah Faber and Renan Barao clash for the interim bantamweight title. It might be the lacklustre card, the recent flurry of UFC activity, the relative obsc…
One of the more uninspiring title fights in UFC history will take place on Saturday night, when Urijah Faber and Renan Barao clash for the interim bantamweight title.
It might be the lacklustre card, the recent flurry of UFC activity, the relative obscurity of the UFC’s 135-pound class or the reality that the interim champ is still not the champ, but this one doesn’t make many people’s Spider Sense tingle.
Even so, the fight is an important one and will shape the division for much of the next year as the world waits for the return of rightful bantamweight kingpin Dominick Cruz.
Many people have questions about the fight, and many of those questions center around the prodigious talents of Barao.
On Saturday, MMA fans in Calgary, Alberta will get their first visit from the UFC when the promotion presents UFC 149 from the Scotiabank Saddledome.While injuries have caused the card to undergo some significant changes since it was first announced, f…
On Saturday, MMA fans in Calgary, Alberta will get their first visit from the UFC when the promotion presents UFC 149 from the Scotiabank Saddledome.
While injuries have caused the card to undergo some significant changes since it was first announced, fans will get to witness an interim bantamweight title bout between Urijah Faber and Renan Barao as the evening’s main event.
In the evening’s co-main event, two middleweight fighters will look to make a statement. Former Bellator champion Hector Lombard will make his UFC debut on Saturday when he faces Tim Boetsch.
While UFC 149 may easily be the most injury-plagued card of all time, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some fights worth watching on Saturday night. The main event of the evening gives two elite bantamweights a chance to win the interim title wi…
While UFC 149 may easily be the most injury-plagued card of all time, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some fights worth watching on Saturday night.
The main event of the evening gives two elite bantamweights a chance to win the interim title with champion Dominick Cruz on the shelf with an ACL injury.
“The California Kid,” Urijah Faber could be looking at his last title shot in the UFC when he takes on the versatile Renan Barao.
Opening up the main card, welterweights Chris Clements and Matt Riddle are ready to throw down and put on a show.
Staying at 170 pounds, Brian “Bad Boy” Ebersole has no issues fighting twice in one month when he steps up against James Head.
In a heavyweight clash, Cheick “The French Sensation” Kongo squares off against Shawn “The Savage” Jordan in what could be an entertaining slug fest.
In the co-main event of the evening, Hector “Lightning” Lombard makes his long-awaited Octagon debut against Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch.
Predicting the action this week are Bleacher Report MMA Featured Columnists Dan Hiergesell, Jeffrey McKinney, Matt Juul and myself, John Heinis.
Take a look inside to get an in-depth analysis of the action.
Urijah Faber may be fighting Renan Barao at UFC 149 this weekend in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, but he still has his eye on former foe Dominick Cruz and continues to rib him whenever he gets a chance. During a media scrum after his open workout, Fab…
Urijah Faber may be fighting RenanBarao at UFC 149 this weekend in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, but he still has his eye on former foe Dominick Cruz and continues to rib him whenever he gets a chance.
During a media scrum after his open workout, Faber was pretty quick to attack Cruz’s lack of finishes inside the cage. MMA H.E.A.T. caught Faber spitting his venom at Cruz while in the scrum. You can see it in the video (start from the 5:24 mark).
“He’s [Barao] more dangerous than Dominick for sure,” Faber told the media. “But, anybody that has one finish in Zuffa is more dangerous than Dominick by the stats. [pauses] It’s true.”
Talk about fighting words and MMA H.E.A.T.’s Karyn Bryant’s dumbfounded “Ouch” pretty much says it all. I don’t think anybody was expecting that out of Faber’s mouth, it sounded like he took a page out of Chael Sonnen’s school of trash talk.
In a sense, there is some truth to Faber’s words. Cruz only has one finish in 10 fights under the Zuffa banner and only six finishes in his entire 20 fight career. The one finish while with Zuffa was actually a doctor stoppage, not a knockout or submission. Cruz isn’t exactly a finisher, especially when you compare him to Faber who has 21 finishes in 26 wins or Barao with 19 finishes in 28 wins.
Despite the lack of finishes, Cruz is a winner inside the cage. His unorthodox striking style and ability to stay out of danger has put him on a 10-fight winning streak and earned him an impressive record of 19-1-0.
To say Cruz isn’t dangerous because the statistics show that he isn’t going to ring a guy’s bell or break their arm is a fair assessment. However, there is a very good chance his opponents come out on the losing end when in a fight with him and that’s a danger right there.
Don’t think for one second that Faber is underestimating Barao because he was talking about Cruz. He knows the Brazilian is coming to fight this Saturday and he knows a win isn’t a guarantee. But he also knows that a win over Barao puts him on a collision course with Cruz and he doesn’t want to let the rivalry die down.
If Faber wins this weekend and continues taking potshots at Cruz in the hopes that the champion reciprocates, by the time their fight finally comes to fruition there should be a ton of hype around the rubber match between these two great fighters.
Normally it’s been Cruz that eggs on the war of words between himself and Faber with Faber normally brushing them aside, but Faber has clearly decided to play along. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the next 12-18 months should Faber pull through against Barao this weekend.
The rubber match is something I think most fans want to see. Faber submitted Cruz in their first encounter and despite Cruz winning the second fight, he was dropped by Faber on multiple occasions en route to the decision victory.
Barao looks like a tough fight for anybody in the UFC bantamweight division though, including Faber and Cruz. There is no doubt, Barao will be fighting for a title someday, but it would be nice to see the trilogy between Faber and Cruz along with the trash talk leading up to it happen before Barao gets his shot at UFC glory.
Leon Horne enjoys all sports and has a particular interest in MMA; give him a follow on Twitter for more information and keep an eye out for interesting interviews and news, Follow @Leon_Horne
The UFC returns to Canada tomorrow night for UFC 149. The main event features one of the biggest stars in WEC history taking on a hot prospect out of the Nova Uniao camp. It’s a can’t-miss event that is sure to fire on all cylinders. But, if you don’t know how to tune in, you can’t catch the action.