Category: UFC

Is it as glamorous as it’s bigger brother, the UFC? No. Are the match-ups as spectacular as say, last week’s Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen bout? Of course they’re not. However, tonight’s main card for Strikeforce, set to take place at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon, offers plenty of reasons for UFC/MMA fans to jump into the action, as no less than 4 solid flights are lined up for online sports betting at one of the best online sportsbooks reviewed here at CR. With 9 bouts in total lined up for the six-sided cage this evening, there’s sure to be a number of great potential wagers out there for you to get your hands on. Let’s take a sneak-peak at the best bouts lined up for the night, and the best odds to get a hold of at today’s featured sports betting destination at Bovada sportsbook.

Main Event: Luke Rockhold (9-1) vs. Tim Kennedy (14-3)

Middleweight champion and titleholder Luke Rockhold gets an interesting draw against former Green Beret Tim Kennedy, in a well-matched bout for the Strikeforce Middleweight belt. Rockhold has defined himself as a get-it-done-early type of fighter, finishing off 6 of his 10 opponents via submission in the first round, and two more by either KO or TKO in the first. He is undefeated in Strikeforce competition, and has a significant reach and height advantage over the challenger Tim Kennedy tonight. Both fighters are excellent grapplers, but Rockhold, with the longer reach and better striking capabilities, should prevail in this bout tonight and defend his title for the second straight time.

Rockhold: -325 odds to win
Kennedy: +250 odds to win

Welterweight Showdown: Tyron Woodley (10-0) vs. Nate Marquardt (31-10-2)

There is a vacancy for the Welterweight title, and one of these fighters is going to fill it after tonight. Tyron Woodley is known for his wrestling ability (a former D-1 All-American), and while perhaps not the more glamorous type of fighter (see: boring), he’s got the toolset to give any opponent difficulties with his ability to grapple a wrestle his way to victory via his dominating physical presence, but his lack of striking ability is quite irritating to fighting fans. Marquardt on the other hand poses an interesting challenge tonight, being relatively good at grappling, and has seen all levels of UFC/MMA competition (getting all the way into a Middleweight bout against Anderson Silva, way back in UFC 78). Marquardt is a submission specialist, evident by his 15 submissions during his career, but has a much broader range of tactics to bring to tonight’s fight. It’ll be interesting to see how cautious he is against the strength and takedown ability of Woodley, who may be the more physically fit fighter tonight, but don’t count out Marquardt being able to win this fight via his excellent guillotine, and range of technical ability. The longer this fight goes, the more it leans Marquardt, but either way this is going to be a solid bout to watch and wager on.

Woodley: +105 odds to win
Marquardt: -135 odds to win

Middleweight Match-up: Roger Gracie (4-1) vs. Keith Jardine (17-10)

Gracie is perhaps the lankiest Middleweight fighter competing today, at 6’4” with a 79-inch reach weighing in at 185 pounds. His 4 victories have all come courtesy of submission, and he’s rated as one of the best sub-grapplers in the division. However, Gracie does lack abilities in the striking department, which should give Jardine an advantage in tonight’s bout. Jardine has lots of experience, having defeated both high-caliber names Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell previously, and in a straight-up striking fight he’s clearly a favorite. However, that massive reach and size advantage going to Gracie is hard to overlook, as is his ability to wrestle well on the mat. This should be another great fight to watch, but we’re siding with the more physically gifted Gracie to pull out a victory tonight.

Gracie: -210 odds to win
Jardine: +170 odds to win

Middleweight Match-up #2: Robbie Lawler (19-8) vs. Lorenz Larkin (12-0)

Lorenz Larkin is set for his first bout in the Middleweight category, in a very evenly matched fight with Robbie Lawler. Larkin will be exciting to watch, as he favors a kicking-based approach, and is a solid boxer as well. Lawler on the other hand is pure MMA brawler, but he’s been noted to struggle against kickboxing strategists, just like Larkin. Nonetheless, for fans that like straight-up fighting, this should be an extremely appealing showdown. The difference in these two fighters however, is in how they like to combat their opponents. Larkin likes to keep his distance and use his longer reach and powerful spinning kicks to keep opponents frustrated and at bay. Lawler likes to come in at the body, and deliver the one-stop KO punch to the chin. Quickness undoubtedly will be key for both fighters, as each one can deliver a crushing blow that can stop a fight instantaneously, but we like the wider skill set and faster movement of Larkin to help him come out with a victory via KO.

Larkin: -130 odds to win
Lawler: EVEN odds to win

The UFC/MMA world gets a fantastic treat on Saturday night, as UFC 148 is set to produce a handful of great and memorable fights from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. On top of everyone’s fight card will be two very closely watched battles, with the main event featuring a rematch between two of the toughest middleweights in the world, Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen, and a nostalgic clash between Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin, in a send off of the 15-year octagon veteran Ortiz, who will make his final appearance in a professional bout this evening. With some calling this UFC night one of the biggest of the year, there’s no question we’re getting a piece of the action tonight for online sports betting at one of the top reviewed online sportsbooks found right here at CR.

Main Event Showdown: Anderson Silva (31-4 overall, 14-0 UFC) vs. Chael Sonnen (27-11, 6-4 UFC)

Sparks have already flown during the weigh-in for these two competitors, as Silva made it known with a shoulder shot to Sonnen’s jaw that this fight tonight means all-out war. These two fighters first clashed back in UFC 117, where Silva managed to produce a choke-out after struggling to contain Sonnen for 5 previous rounds, and heading into tonight’s featured showdown, there is plenty of bad blood and retribution lingering for Sonnen in particular. This match-up of fighters is perhaps one of the best ever to enter the octagon, as despite two very different fighting styles (Silva is a master of Muay Thai and Brazilian Jujitsu, Sonnen a wrestling specialist), the two are extremely well matched in terms of intensity, training, and stamina. As we saw in the first meeting between these two fighters, Sonnen is perfectly capable of standing toe-to-toe against Silva, winning the first four rounds of the UFC 117 bout, but he will have to find a way to use his wrestling expertise to get the better of ‘The Spider’ tonight, as Silva has plenty of poise and stamina to last throughout a long fight and wear down his opponents. You make one mistake with Silva and you’re done, so Sonnen will concentrate on avoiding the veteran striker’s quick shots, and look to get him down on the mat in later rounds. Silva on the other hand should be expected to stay coy, work the fight more like a boxing match, and wait for the right time to strike. You can rest assured Silva won’t look taken aback like he was in the first fight, and won’t be underestimating his loud-mouthed opponent in arguably one of the biggest career bouts for both fighters.

There is perhaps one difference between these two fighters that stands out, and that’s in their methods for engaging a fight, and having respect for their opponents. Sonnen has publicly insulted Silva, his wife, and his country of Brazil. Silva has stayed the constant professional, even refusing the fight Sonnen due to his disrespectful nature. However, nothing shuts a flapping mouth up more than direct confrontation, and there will be no question that if Silva, tonight’s favorite at -290 odds to win straight up at Intertops sportsbook (vs. Sonnen at +220 odds), can beat down Sonnen, the case will be made that Silva is without question the best middleweight fighter ever to step in the octagon, and Sonnen will finally have his harsh words fall upon deaf ears.

Former Light-Heavyweight Title Holder Bout: Tito Ortiz (15-10-1) vs. Forrest Griffin (18-7)

It’s a little bittersweet to see tonight mark the last fight in long and storied career of ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’, as Tito Ortiz is set to retire after his third match-up against fellow former Light Heavyweight title holder Forrest Griffin. Perhaps retirement is even coming a little to late in the eyes most fight fans, with Ortiz struggling in the past 5 fights, posting a 1-4 record over the last few seasons. There was no question that in his prime, Ortiz would be the better of the two men in this match-up, as Forrest Griffin isn’t known for being a great toe-to-toe fighter, but now it appears that the younger, better trained Griffin has the opportunity tonight to send off a champion and 15-year octagon veteran into full-time daddy mode. Key for Ortiz, if he is to walk away a winner here this evening, is to avoid letting the fight go early. He’s got to be a risk taker, which may open himself up against a more agile and likely better conditioned fighter in Griffin, but without going for an early finish there is no doubt he won’t be able to handle a multi-round straight up brawl. Remember though, that Griffin hasn’t fought in nearly a year, coming back in the octagon after getting knocked-the-F-out by Mauricio Rua in UFC 134. While Ortiz is an underdog at -290 odds, his veteran skills could still find him getting one last haymaker in that sends him out of the UFC world in style. We can’t bet on that though, and expect Griffin to pull off a victory via overwhelming Ortiz with his better stamina and inability to play into Ortiz’s hands. Look for him to stay away from the wrestling game, leading to a decision in favor of Griffin tonight.

Make sure to catch these two bouts, and a host of others on the UFC 148 fight card tonight from Las Vegas, as it’s certain to be one of the most exciting events on the UFC/MMA calendar this year!

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a UFC fight card as exciting as this come across the betting lines of the top online sportsbooks reviewed here at CR, but with Saturday night’s UFC 146 showdown in Las Vegas, Nevada there’s a mountain of great MMA action for sports betting fans, that will certainly be worth at least a couple wagers today. Let’s take look at the match-ups, and find out the best options for sportsbook betting at Sportsbetting Sportsbook, the best online sports betting site featured today.

UFC Heavyweight Title Defense: Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir

The top option for MMA fans looking to wager on UFC 146, the dos Santos vs. Mir fight, is certain to be a fast, furious, and hard-hitting bout between two of the best names currently in the UFC stables. At weigh in, a confident dos Santos (14-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) was quick to indicate he would be the winner by virtue of knock out in the second round against the more seasoned Mir (16-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC), taking out the former heavyweight champion who came in at a hefty 30 pounds bigger than him. What will be truly interesting though, is whether or not dos Santos can avoid being drawn out of his stand-up fighting element, which he has relied on in his maintaining a perfect record in UFC bouts. There is no question that dos Santos is the better straight-up striking fighter in this match-up, but with Frank Mir an excellent grappler who is arguably one of the best submission artists in the heavyweight division, it will be intriguing to see if Mir is able to shock the MMA world with a surprising takedown, and a quick finish against a better all-around fighter. The bookmakers certainly aren’t expecting that to be the case, with dos Santos a -550 favorite straight up tonight against who many are calling a fighter past his prime in Mir, but if you’re feeling saucy regardless, the +400 odds on Mir may be worth a small bet on a shot in the dark.

Second Heavyweight Bout: Cain Velasquez (9-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) vs. Antonio Silva (16-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC)

Cain Velasquez will no doubt keep an eye on the main event, if only to see how Junior dos Santos, the man who took Velasquez’ own heavyweight title from him, fairs this evening. However, Velasquez will also have his hands full against Antonio Silva, who makes his first appearance in the octagon after becoming the Strike Force grand-prix champion. What’s intriguing about this match-up, which arguably will be the most exciting match-up considering the huge odds stacked in dos Santos’ favor in the main event, is the fact that these two fighters are training partners, and know each other very well prior to entering the octagon together. What we like about Silva is the sheer size and bulk this guy has. 6’4″ inch frame packing 265 pounds. He’s got five inches of reach on Velasquez to go with 4 inches of height, but no doubt he’ll try to get Velasquez to the ground and execute some of his superb jiu-jitsu prowess, as Velasquez has to be considered the better striker of these two fighters. If there is a underdog on your betting ticket tonight, best make it Silva, who at +320 odds to win could make for a great pay day if he can absorb the hits coming from Velasquez, and use his big body to smother the former heavyweight champ into submission.

Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman: UFC’s Kenny Powers Has Still Got It.

We love a guy with a sick mullet, and Roy Nelson has got the ape drape down to a science. What he doesn’t have down is a winning record in MMA fights lately, going 1-3 in his last four fights. ‘Big Country’ simply has to step up his game against Dave Herman, who despite getting beaten by the elites in the UFC (dos Santos, Mir and Velasquez), has earned a reputation of being able to survive a beating and keep fighting to the final bell. However, what may be even more resilient than Dave Herman, is Roy Nelson’s chin and his massive hands, which both seem to be fashioned out of iron. While Herman may be a better stand-up fighter, Nelson is going to get this fight to the ground one way or another, and should simply out-last Herman in a good brawl. At -200 odds to win, Nelson has the best odds for a fighter who everyone is banking on to pull through with a victory tonight.

Someone is Going to Get Knocked Out: Lavar Johnson vs. Stefan Struve.

This is a very interesting match-up, with a near 7-foot Dutchman in Stefan ‘The Skyscraper’ Struve up against the scrappy Lavar Johnson, who is fresh off two straight wins in the octagon. Struve is coming up fast, at just 24 years of age with already 28 fights under his belt (23-5), and will have a big advantage if he can get Johnson to the mat, as he’s a very talented in the submission game. Johnson, while being a hard-hitting striker that everyone has come to like considering his distaste for fighting to the distance (17-5, no matches reaching the final bell either way), has a big disadvantage in his unfamiliarity with fighting on the canvas. No question Johnson wins if he can come out hard and fast with his hands and get some big shots to the head of Struve, but if he slips up and Struve gets him to the canvas, the big Dutchman is going to secure his 3rd straight victory in the heavyweight division. This is a tough call, even for the bookmakers, with Struve at -135 odds for the favorite and Johnson at +115 odds as underdog, but look out for the submission to be the determining factor in this bout, as Struve avoids going toe-to-toe and takes Johnson to the canvas for a 2nd round finish.

Make sure to check out all the available betting lines for tonight’s heavyweight-infused fight card for UFC 146, and prepare for some great fights from Sin City to cap off a great day of online sports betting at the Sportsbetting sportsbook.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship concludes another great season of bouts with another great heavyweight match-up for Friday night as UFC 141 from Las Vegas, Nevada finds former UFC Heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar (5-2) getting set for a return to the octagon against the awaiting former Strikeforce Heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem (35-11). With plenty of question marks around each of the fighters heading into a key bout that will give the winner a shot at Heavyweight title-holder Junior Dos Santos, let’s take a look at tonight’s exciting match-up, and spot our best picks for sports betting at one of the best online sportsbooks reviewed here.

Brock Lesnar looked to be well on his way towards being the top fighter in UFC/MMA, before a string of medical issues and the loss of his Heavyweight title belt to Cain Velasquez in October of last year led many to question whether the UFC’s brightest star could return to fighting at the same level as before, if at all. Suffering through mononucleosis as well as two cases of diverticulitis (in short layman’s terms, a nasty condition whereby one’s intestinal walls become split, and the bad stuff goes into the stomach area) Lesnar hasn’t been the same man powerful wrestling force as he was before, and there’s outstanding concern that the massive 6’3″, 265 lb behemoth will continue to be reluctant to take heavyweight-caliber hits in a match-up like the one tonight against a capable striker and kickboxer. While Lesnar’s future remains uncertain past tonight’s fight, the bottom line for this match with Overeem remains that Lesnar, when in form, is one of the most athletic, aggressive, and punishing brute fighters to step into the octagon. Drawing on his wrestling skills first and foremost (which include being an NCAA champion, with a 106-5 record overall during college), Brock Lesnar is not as much of a stand-up type of fighter, but if he can get an opponent down on the canvas, few have the defensive capabilities to prevent a submission hold or TKO from deciding a fight. In a five-round bout (usually reserved for title bouts) that goes into late rounds, Lesnar may find it difficult to contend with a stand-up, striking fighter like Overeem so getting this fight to the ground quickly will be essential for a Lesnar win. However, judging by words from both fighters, nobody expects this to end in a decision; from the horse’s mouth, Lesnar summed up what we can expect tonight but stating, “This is a heavyweight fight that we’re both going in to finish. I don’t foresee it going five rounds.”

For Alistair Overeem, there’s questions about doping, and questions about the quality of competition in his 45 MMA bouts over his career, but there’s little question that with a background in kickboxing, muy thay and jiu-jitsu as well as his massive 6’5″, 265 pound physique, Overeem will be a solid competitor against Lesnar in this heavyweight match-up. Overeem must take heed to avoid getting caught up in a wrestling scrap with Lesnar, who will likely try to come out quick and wrap Overeem up, and would do well to keep the fight upright and try to work on breaking down Lesnar’s lower body. While Lesnar is all steel up top, he comes into this fight looking rather top heavy like a body builder, and Overeem could find an advantage by taking the legs out from under his opponent, slowing him down and making him more susceptible to quick strikes. Mixing his style of attack up against Brock Lesnar is key, considering that Lesnar, while a good wrestler, is still developing his striking abilities after just 7 bouts in UFC competition and his skills around adjusting to fighters with wide-ranging attacking methods isn’t fully polished. Overeem should know that his advantage in this fight lies with staying upright, and working in carefully targeted attacks. There’s plenty of force behind Overeem’s strikes, but it’ll be his ability to stay away from Lesnar getting a body on him and putting him on the mat that may really define the bottom line for this fight; An upright Overeem who lands a few key heavy blows will find success, whereas an Overeem down on the canvas locked up in a wrestling match will quickly turn the favor to Lesnar.

Betting Lines for UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem

We’re featuring the Intertops Sportsbook for betting lines on tonight’s UFC 141 Main Event, and checking the straight up bets on this bout we find Alistair Overeem as the slight favorite, getting -150 odds to win while Lesnar comes in as a +120 underdog. With -170 odds on the fight to be under 1.5 rounds, bookmakers are also predicting (alongside the fighters) that this match-up will be finished early, with someone gaining a knock-out or submission in the first two rounds. With both fighters knowing they need to put their best foot forward early, look out for a first round KO or submission to be the bottom line for tonight’s fight, with a move to the canvas shifting the advantage to Lesnar, and an upright fight working to favor Overeem’s style. If you’re looking for even more betting props on this match-up, turn also to the Bovada Sportsbook for a few good betting lines, as Bovada also includes props on either fighter completing 1, 2 or 4 rounds, winning by decision or the fight finishing in a draw. Make note that if you’re set on picking Lesnar tonight, Bovada has slightly better odds (+130) for the underdog, which could pay off well on a hefty wagering amount.

Our Pick to Win:

As far as an all-around fighter goes, Alistair Overeem is a well-conditioned, well-trained fighter that should be big enough to handle the load that Brock Lesnar brings to the ring. His striking ability kickboxing background and relative lack of injury/health concerns certainly make him a good pick for this bout tonight against Lesnar, who faces many questions about his health, willingness to take big shots, or simply whether he’ll even continue fighting in the UFC after tonight. Nonetheless, this is a big match-up that should bring the best from both fighters, with all the questions being left outside the ring. Lesnar is huge and skilled at overwhelming opponents early; Overeem prefers to chip away with heavy strikes and keep the fight upright. I fully expect Lesnar to avoid tip-toeing around this fight and go straight for the kill from the start, while I expect Overeem to look for a first counter to Lesnar’s advances to give him a shot at a big connecting strike. I also very much like Lesnar being the underdog in this fight, as Overeem seems overly confident of a win from his pre-fight comments, and the lack of hype around Lesnar should have him mentally balanced and poised to overcome his doubters. Let’s not forget that while Lesnar doesn’t have deep experience in these big match-ups, his caliber of competition is much higher that Alistair Overeem’s has been, and at this weight level, Lesnar could easily bully Overeem around, as he’s not as used to carrying so much weight around, or facing such a bull of an opponent. Bottom line, I’m taking Lesnar to silence some critics tonight, and earn himself a shot at Junior Dos Santos ahead as he forces Overeem into submission in the early going of the second round.