Tag: UFC betting

Lightweight bout: Efrain Escudero vs. Charles Oliveira

Odds:  (-175 Escudero /+145 Oliveira )

Betting Pick:  Charles Oliveira

In the third featured Lightweight bout, Ultimate Fighter Season 8 winner Efrain Escudero faces off with tough challenger Charles Oliveira. Escudero represents a huge step up for Oliveira, but Oliveira has a very good submission game, and Even Dunham proved that Escudero still has holes in his submission defense, so this is a dangerous fight for Escudero.

Oliveira, who looked extremely impressive submitting Darren Elkins in the first minute of his UFC debut, has a very slick submission game and some fairly formidable striking to go with it. While he has mainly fought lesser competition, he has put together an impressive undefeated record and has rarely seen his fights go the distance. The biggest question mark is how well he will handle the next step up in competition, but he certainly has the talent to succeed at this level.

Escudero, who defeated Philippe Nover to win the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter, has a very good ground game of his own, although his submission defense is somewhat questionable. He does not have very powerful striking either, and stands a good chance of getting worked over on the feet against the quicker and crisper Oliveira.

Even though Escudero is the bigger name, he is really not more experienced than Oliveira, and I think that Oliveira is the technically superior fighter. Both guys have dangerous submission games, but I think Oliveira’s is better, and Oliveira definitely has the more dangerous striking. I think he will eventually catch Escudero, drop him, and submit him.

Prediction:  Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira via second round rear naked choke.  

• Bet on the UnderDog Oliveira @ +145 for the Win.

To add a little excitement on fight night, you can bet on this fight at Sportsbook.com Odds.  They allow you to start with as little as $20, and you can bet on all of the fights for the night. Check out my review of Sportsbook here…

Middleweight bout: Nate Marquardt vs. Rousimar Palhares

Odds:  (-220 Marquardt /+180 Palhares )

Betting Pick:  Nate Marquardt

In the main event of the evening, former title challenger Nate “The Great” Marquardt will look to get back in the win column and start another run at a title shot against prolific grappler Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares. Marquardt is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the world, but Palhares is a physical specimen with insanely good submissions, so he is going to have his hands full if he wants to get back to his winning ways.

Palhares, along with Demian Maia, is one of the premier grapplers in the Middleweight division. With his sole loss in the UFC having come to top contender Dan Henderson, Palhares has cemented himself as one of the top figures in the division with his potent mix of physicality, wrestling, and amazing submissions. His standup is still a work in progress, and he is going to have to be careful trading with Marquardt, but on the ground he is a match for pretty much anyone in the division.

Marquardt, who once challenged for the title and then fought Chael Sonnen for another title shot and came up short, is clearly one of the premier Middleweights in the world. His jiu-jitsu is very solid, especially from top position, and he has developed over the years into quite a formidable striker. The only hole in his game is his wrestling, which is not awful by any means, but it is not on the same level as the rest of his arsenal. Against Sonnen that hole in his game was exposed, but Palhares is not anywhere near Sonnen’s level in terms of wrestling, so it is unlikely that Marquardt gets steamrolled again.

As good as Palhares is on the ground, and as bright as his future in the sport is, this is Marquardt’s fight to lose. On the feet, Marquardt is light years ahead of Palhares. On the ground Palhares has the edge, but Marquardt is good enough and savvy enough that he probably won’t get caught from top position. The only way Palhares can win this fight is by forcing Marquardt to the mat and gaining top position, but that seems like a very unlikely scenario. More likely Marquardt will bruise Palhares up on the feet before ultimately finishing him. Marquardt by T/KO.

Prediction:  Nate “The Great” Marquardt via second round T/KO.

To add a little excitement on fight night, you can bet on this fight at Sportsbook.com Odds.  They allow you to start with as little as $20, and you can bet on all of the fights for the night. Check out my review of Sportsbook here…

Lightweight bout: Jim Miller vs. Gleison Tibau

Odds:  (-180 Miller / +150 Tibau )

Betting Pick:  Gleison Tibau

The second bout of the evening pits AMA’s Jim Miller against American Top Team’s Gleison Tibau in what promises to be one of the most competitive ground fights in recent memory. Both Miller and Tibau are very slick on the ground, so this one could really go either way depending on who makes the first mistake.

Jim Miller is a top-notch grappler and an extremely tough fighter. He has fought some very tough competition, has never been finished in a fight, and his only two career losses are at the hands of Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, the two guys who will be fighting it out for the Lightweight title soon. He can submit people from a variety of positions and has a very solid top control game. The only issue he is going to have in this fight is a distinct size and strength disadvantage.

Tibau, also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert, is freakishly large for the Lightweight division. While he is not very tall, he is extremely bulky and strong, which is a distinct advantage against the lanky and thin Miller. On the ground, Tibau is at least a match for Miller, with a very dynamic submission game and arguably superior wrestling to go along with it. His standup is not very good at all, but Miller is not the type of fighter who can really make him pay for his lack of striking ability.

This is a very close match. Neither guy is very accomplished in the striking, and both of them have such high-level grappling that there is a real chance that they will cancel each other out. I think the edge goes to Tibau based on sheer physicality. This is going to be a close fight, but I think Tibau should take the narrow decision based largely on superior positioning in the ground game.

Prediction:  Gleison Tibau via unanimous decision. 

• Bet on the UnderDog Tibau @ +150 for the Win.

To add a little excitement on fight night, you can bet on this fight at Sportsbook.com Odds.  They allow you to start with as little as $20, and you can bet on all of the fights for the night. Check out my review of Sportsbook here…

Lightweight bout: Ross Pearson vs. Cole Miller

Odds:  (-225 Pearson / +185 Miller )

Betting Pick:  Ross Pearson

In the first of three featured Lightweight contests, Team Rough House’s Ross “The Real Deal” Pearson will take on submission wizard Cole “Magrinho” Miller in what should be a very competitive contest. Pearson is currently riding a four fight win streak and is undefeated in the UFC, while Miller has won three of his last four against solid competition. Both guys are stuck in the middle of the crowded Lightweight pack, and both have formidable ground games, so this is a nice bit of matchmaking on Joe Silva’s part.

Cole Miller, who trains at American Top Team, has the kind of serious grappling you expect out of that camp. He has great submissions from every position and a pretty solid wrestling game to help him set up his ground work. On the ground he is as good as almost anyone in the division. The problem is that his takedown attempts are very predictable because he doesn’t have a very complete striking attack to complement his grappling. He can strike a little bit, but his defense is questionable and his technique and power are both mediocre. If he can force the issue on the ground he has a very good chance of winning, but if he can’t control the pace and positioning he is going to be in for a long night.

Pearson, one of the many up and coming British fighters to make their way into UFC over the last few years, is not as good at anything as Miller is at jiu-jitsu. He makes up for it, though, by being the much more complete fighter. His submissions are pretty good, as are his wrestling and boxing. He will not be able to outgrapple Miller, but he is probably good enough to hold Miller off from top position. On the feet he should be able to come out ahead in most of the exchanges, and his wrestling is probably good enough that he can decide whether or not he wants this fight to wind up on the ground. He just has to be careful not to get too enthusiastic, because Miller is more than capable of making him pay for any mistakes.

I think this matchup favors Pearson, stylistically. There is no doubt that Miller is his toughest test to date, and that Miller is the superior ground fighter, but I think Pearson’s well-roundedness is going to make the difference in this one. He should be able to avoid Miller’s ground attack and do enough on the feet to earn the unanimous decision.

Prediction:  Ross “The Real Deal” Pearson via unanimous decision.

To add a little excitement on fight night, you can bet on this fight at Sportsbook.com Odds.  They allow you to start with as little as $20, and you can bet on all of the fights for the night. Check out my review of Sportsbook here…

Current Shark Fights 13 Odds.  Live on Saturday, September 11, 2010 The Amarillo Civic Center in Amarillo, Texas will host Shark Fights 13.  This will mark the first PPV event for the company.  The Main Event is between UFC vet Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine (15-8-1) against experienced journey man Trevor Prangley (22-6-1).

Keith Jardine vs. Trevor Prangley

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Jardine      (-210)
• Prangley   (+170)

Betus.com Odds

• Jardine    (-260)
• Prangley  (+200)

Rameau Sokoudjou vs. Houston Alexander

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Sokoudjou   (-500)
• Alexander   (+300)

Betus.com Odds

• Sokoudjou   (-450)
• Alexander   (+325)

Paul Daley vs. Jorge Masvidal

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Daley           (-500)
• Masvidal    (+300)

Joey Villasenor vs. Danillo Villefort

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Villasenor   (-500)
• Villefort       (+300)

Brock Larson vs. Tarec Saffiedine

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Larson         (-205)
• Saffiedine   (+165)

You Can bet on this fight at our #1 rated betting site Sportsbook.com – or check out the reviews of the top MMA betting sites

Current WEC 51 Odds.  Live on Thursday, September 30, 2010 The 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Colorado will host WEC 51.  Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo (17-1) will put his belt on the line for the third time when he meets Manny Gamburyan (11-4).  Aldo is riding high on a 10 fight win streak and has looked unstoppable.  Gamburyan is on a three fight win streak and has not lost since fighting for the WEC.  Gamburyan is a big underdog but will definitely give Aldo a good fight come fight night.

Jose Aldo vs. Manny Gamburyan

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Aldo                  (-650)
• Gamburyan    (+450)

Betus.com Odds

• Aldo                 (-600)
• Gamburyan   (+400)

Miguel Torres vs. Charlie Valencia

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Torres
• Valencia

Jamie Varner vs. Donald Cerrone

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Varner      (-200)
• Cerrone    (+160)

Chan Sung Jung vs. George Roop

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Sung Jung
• Roop

Leonard Garcia vs. Mark Hominick

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Garcia
• Hominick

Mike Brown vs. Cole Province

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Brown
• Province

Ed Ratcliff vs. Chris Horodecki

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Ratcliff
• Horodecki

Antonio Banueles vs. Chad George

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Banueles
• George

The Co-Main event is a rematch between Jamie Varner (16-3-1-2) against Donald Cerrone (11-3-1).  These two met back in January of 2009 at WEC 38.  Varner won via technical split decision, he was kneed while on the ground by Cerrone and the fight was stopped going to the scorecards of round five.  Cerrone has verbally jabbed at Varner about the incident and know gets his shot to redeem himself.  Both fighters have lost to the current champ Ben Henderson this year and need a win to get another shot at him.  Also we have the return of Miguel Torres (37-3) taking on Charlie Valencia (12-5).

Check back with us closer to the fight date as I will have updated WEC 51 Odds plus Fight Predictions  And if you want to add a little excitement to your WEC 51 fight night, you can bet on this fight at Sportsbook.com.