|
The UFC will be in Boston, Massachusetts this Saturday night for their first live show from the home of the Celtics. UFC betting fans and New England fans are in for a spectacular show with UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2. The main event features former lightweight champion BJ Penn taking on current UFC Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Edgar won the title from Penn in a surprise upset at UFC 112. The main event is fantastic, but the co-main event is the fight everyone is talking about, as former UFC champion and Hall of Famer Randy Couture defends the honor of MMA against current IBA heavyweight boxing champion James “Lights Out” Toney. Toney has never fought in an MMA cage, but that hasn’t stopped his constant trash talk, calling Couture ‘garbage’ among other things. The rest of the pay-per-view card features a fight between two Brazilian Ju-Jitsu specialists, Damien Maia and Mario Miranda, in a middleweight bout. Kenny “Kenflo” Florian takes on undefeated Gray Maynard in a lightweight number one contenders fight, and Nick Diaz takes on Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis a welterweight battle. People say Penn lost the fight to Edgar rather than Edgar beating Penn. In the first fight, Penn couldn’t keep up with Edgar and it gives credence to the theory that Penn doesn’t give all his fights the attention they deserve. Penn will come in focused this time, and he’s promised to finish Edgar before the fight goes to the judges’ cards. I believe Penn, because when he’s on his game, he’s a top-five pound for pound fighter in the world. Randy Couture -700 This is a fight between two legends in their respective sports. If Randy gets his hands on Toney, this fight will be over with some classic Randy Couture wrestling, then a ground and pound finish. Conversely, Toney earned his knick name “Lights Out” honestly and, with four-oz. gloves, he only needs to land a combo when Randy shoots in to put Couture to sleep. Couture will likely embarrass Toney, but at +450, I’m taking chance on “Lights Out” turning Couture’s lights out. Kenny Florian -160 Florian and Maynard have engaged in a battle of words leading up to this fight. Maynard has said that Florian panics when he’s put under pressure and Florian has said he’s ready to shut up the cocky Maynard. Maynard has a reason to be cocky; he’s undefeated in eight UFC fights, with one no contest. He’s the only man to defeat current UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Florian was destroyed by BJ Penn in his chance at the title and I’m thinking that while he won't be destroyed by Maynard, he doesn’t do enough to win. Maynard will earn a well-deserved title shot. Nate Diaz -210 I’ll go on record right now and say this will be the fight of the night. Nate Diaz is the better MMA fighter, but Davis throws bombs and, if he can catch Diaz with a few power shots, this fight could go Davis’s way. Diaz has a definitive reach advantage and, if he can take Davis down, he should grind out a win over the “Irish Hand Grenade”. To quote a famous movie title, There Will Be Blood, Davis will land a few, but it won’t be enough to counter Diaz’s better overall skill. UFC Odds – Preliminary Fights at UFC 118 Features Motivated BunchAlthough the Preliminary fights for UFC 118 will not be broadcast, odds are that they could provide some of the more competitive bouts on the entire card.Not only are the Preliminary combatants good fighters, but they are also hungry to graduate to the Main Card of a UFC event down the line. Dan Miller (11-4, 1 NC): -280 Dan Miller, in desperate need of a UFC win takes on a very tough former collegiate wrestler John Slater on the Undercard of UFC 118. Miller has lost three straight fights, although they have been to the Middleweight elite – Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia and Michael Bisping. Slater is a well conditioned athlete whose emerging grappling game has proven a good complement to his wrestling pedigree. He has demonstrated good take downs and above average submission defense. Miller has had some horrible family issues to deal with in the past few years (the death of one child and the illness of the other). He is still a good fighter and now he’s got a lot to fight for. Look for Miller to draw upon all his experience and to put his bad luck behind him on way to victory. Pick: Dan Miller -280 Nick Osipczak (5-2):-140 Another Middleweight battle features former “The Ultimate Fighter” cast member Nick Osipczak against solid wrestler Greg Soto. Osipscak has been impressive since his appearance on the show, with his only loss being a split decision to a very tough Rick Story. Osipczak has a very underrated ground game and his move to Team Rough House has certainly improved his striking. He is fairly well rounded and is a threat with his unorthodox striking and a good ground game. His Kung Fu training has prepared him well to defend take down attempts, but when he is taken down, Osipczak is good off his back. Greg Soto’s game is wrestling although he has concentrated on his jiu-jitsu game of late. His work ethic is tremendous as many wrestlers’ is and his cardio is excellent. He will look to score some points off take downs and to wear Osipczak out with relentless pressure. I see Soto’s conditioning being the difference in this fight. Osipczak has always had conditioning issues and in a fight that appears destined to go to the judges’ scorecards, Soto should have the edge. Pick: Greg Soto +110 Amilcar Alves (11-1): +220 In a grappler versus wrestler matchup, Amilcar Alves will try to make a successful UFC debut when he takes on veteran wrestler Mike Pierce. Alves has been fighting for 25 years but has been out of action since last December. Alves comes from a Judo background and has stopped seven of 11 of his opponents, winning his last four fights in the first round. He has good kick and knees and is certainly competent on the ground. Alves will need to demonstrate some good takedown defense in this fight to keep the wrestler off of him. Mike Pierce, as mentioned, is an All-American wrestler who has the conditioning to create nightmares for any competitor. He`s also got experience, technical striking, power and a solid chin that he can draw upon. He will look for and probably get the takedowns that he needs to put Alves away. Alves hasn`t been challenged on the ground yet in his career, but that is all about to change. Pick: Mike Pierce -280 |
|
| ©2010 Zewkey.com |
