Category Archives: MMA

UFC 142 Betting: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes for Featherweight Title

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Jose Aldo is one of the most dominant fighters in the UFC with a record of 20-1 and a current 13-fight win streak. He’s one of the top five pound-for-pound best in the world, and at the age of 25 we may not have seen the best of his fighting skills yet.

Bet on UFC 142 with Bovada’s MMA odds.

The UFC Featherweight champ will get a big test this weekend, though, when he faces undefeated top contender Chad Mendes, but as far as the sportsbooks are concerned it will be business as usual at UFC 142 for the Brazilian champion. Aldo will bring world-class kickboxing skills and a black belt in jiu-jitsu as well as an athleticism that is unmatched in the Featherweight division.

Oddsmakers at Bovada’s online sportsbook have the champion handicapped as a heavy -265 favorite to retain his title against Mendes. That price was as low as -210, but MMA betting over the past week has driven the UFC odds up as more bettors opt for action on the champ. It’s no surprise, considering the invincibility Aldo has displayed since coming over to the UFC.

Mendes is one of the brightest rising stars in the UFC Featherweight division, and with 11 straight wins it’s his turn to take a shot at the title. The former NCAA wrestler will look to control where the fight is fought and dominate the champ with his grappling skills for a potential decision win.

Oddsmakers at Bovada’s online sportsbook don’t seem to think he will do that and have handicapped Mendes as the +205 underdog. That payout has grown from +170 as MMA bettors don’t think that Mendes will be able to get past the lethal Muay Thai skills Aldo uses to keep wrestlers at bay – and to keep his fights standing.

Get all your UFC odds at Bovada.

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UFC 141 Betting Odds: Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks

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UFC betting fans will get to see the long-awaited return of one of the most consistent winners in the history of the Welterweight division this week. Jon Fitch has finally been cleared to fight, and he will make his return to the Octagon against rising star Johny Hendricks.

Get all your UFC 141 odds at Bovada.

Fitch was money in the bank at one time for MMA bettors at Bovada’s online sportsbook. He once compiled a 16-fight win streak that was stopped only byGeorges St-Pierre. His style of controlling opponents with elite wrestling skills has kept him at the top of the Welterweight rankings for years, and now he returns from a nine-month layoff due to shoulder surgery.

Oddsmakers initially offered a -200 moneyline on Fitch, but MMA bettors have since pushed it up to -230. Traditionally that would be a good price on Fitch, but there is the question of ring rust and the condition of his shoulder.

Hendricks has six wins in the Octagon and would be undefeated if Rick Story hadn’t been too strong for his wrestling skills. This is a big opportunity for Hendricks to get himself in the contender picture, and his fighting style may be just right for the upset.

Oddsmakers have Hendricks as a +180 underdog for this week. His key to victory will be to somehow outwork Fitch and negate what his opponent will try to do in the clinch. Hendricks will need to use his wrestling to control where the fight goes, a feat that only St-Pierre has been able to accomplish against Fitch in 28 fights.

A healthy Fitch should have no problem with a fighter like Hendricks. However, if Fitch is not 100% Hendricks could shock UFC fans with an upset win and pay off on the MMA betting lines.

Get all your MMA odds at Bovada.

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UFC 141 Betting Odds: Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone

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The co-main event on the UFC 141 fight card features an interesting matchup between two fighters that are steadily improving in the Octagon. “Cowboy”Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz will battle in what many expect to be the fight of the night at UFC 141.

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Donald Cerrone has been on a tear over his last six fights and is quickly getting himself into title contention in the UFC Lightweight division. Oddsmakers at Bovada’s online sportsbook think that Cerrone is the more well-rounded fighter and have him handicapped as a -280 favorite on the MMA odds. His Muay Thai kickboxing skills are world class and his submission game should be enough to negate what Diaz will bring in a ground fight.

Nate Diaz has had a rough time of late fighting in the Welterweight division. After going 2-2 at 170 lbs, Diaz returned to Lightweight and looked very impressive against Takanori Gomi in his last fight. His boxing skills are greatly improved and it’s no secret that Nate is the real deal on the ground. Despite all that, oddsmakers have him handicapped as the +220 underdog against the Cowboy.

This fight will come down to the strength that Cerrone will bring into the Octagon on Friday. Diaz usually has success in a technical battle but has had difficulty against fighters that have the strength to overpower him. If Diaz can keep Cerrone at bay with his reach advantage he could wear down the Cowboy enough to gain a dominant position on the ground for a submission win.

The more likely outcome in Diaz vs. Cerrone will be a one-sided striking display by Cerrone that results in a unanimous decision or late-fight stoppage. Diaz is tough, but he’ll need to be at his best to have a chance at the upset victory.

Head over to Bovada’s online sportsbook for updated UFC betting lines for Friday’s fights.

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UFC 141 Betting: Lesnar, Overeem Both Have Something To Prove

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The stage is set for the biggest MMA event of the year. The baddest man on the planet and the demolition man on the biggest stage of them all, as former UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar takes on former Strikeforce Heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in a battle of two of the biggest men in the sport at UFC 141. It has been more than a year since Lesnar was last in the octagon, and the anticipation for his return is even stronger with the fact that he is taking on an opponent with just as much to prove, and a UFC Heavyweight title shot on the line in a fight where Overeem will be the sports betting line favorite.

UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem

(5-2-0) Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem (35-11-0)
MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
UFC Betting Line: Alistair Overeem – 135

 

When Lesnar lost his belt to Cain Valasquez at UFC 121, he was already battling an illness that had prevented him from being at top form in more than a year, before eventually relenting to have surgery to battle diverticulitis. Meanwhile, Overeem has dominated in both Strikeforce and Pride, but he now gets his shot to prove what he can do on the biggest stage of them all, in the UFC.

UFC Betting Preview: Brock Lesnar

Prior to losing his title at UFC 121, Lesnar looked dominant as one of the rising stars in the sport, with four straight wins to his name. Lesnar won the title with a TKO win over MMA legend Randy Couture, and then did the same thing to Frank Mir in even less time in his first title defense. But where Lesnar really caught people’s attention was against Shane Carwin at UFC 116, as he managed to survive a beating from his opponent in the opening round, before locking in an arm triangle choke in the second round to finish the job in a way that many didn’t think he could. As time has gone by, the former WWE star has become even stronger in MMA, and with his return to full health, this could be the best we ever see him at.

UFC Betting Preview: Alistair Overeem

There is no denying that Overeem actually comes in to this fight with a stronger resume based on the amount of top competition he has faced and beat, but the problem here is that he may not have faced the same caliber of fighters he will meet in the UFC. A string of nine straight first-round wins has to be taken with a grain of salt considering that Gary Goodridge and Tony Sylvester won’t be fighting in the UFC anytime soon, but at the same time that gives Overeem something to prove. Lesnar is a former champion who many feel can become the champion once again now that he is healthy, and it is up to Overeem to now prove he belongs in that same class of fighter.

UFC Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

For as impressive as Overeem’s career has been to date, lets hold off on selling him as the favorite according to the online sportsbooks numbers until he proves that he belongs in the UFC. Lesnar has looked pretty dominant in fights against guys like Mir and Heath Herring in the past, and now that he is back at 100-percent, he will look to prove that he deserves his title back.

UFC Betting Pick: Brock Lesnar

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UFC 140: Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida for Light Heavyweight Title

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The UFC Light Heavyweight division has long been thick with title contenders – not since Chuck Liddell ruled at 205 lbs has there been a dominant champion able to hold onto his belt against all comers. At UFC 140 Jon “Bones” Joneswill try to defend his title for the second time against another former champion,Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida.

Has the UFC Light Heavyweight division finally found its true champion? Oddsmakers at the Bodog Sportsbook seem to think so. Get yourUFC 140 betting lines now.

Jones continues to be head-and-shoulders above the rest of the competition in the division and seems to improve every time we see him in the Octagon. He has already destroyed two previous champions with relative ease and will be a heavy -550 favorite on the MMA odds to beat another. Most of the action for this main event so far has been placed on Jones, so that price is unlikely to drop by fight time.

A couple of years ago, when he knocked out Rashad Evans, many MMA fans believed that Machida would become the next dominant champion at 205 lbs. But the “Machida Era” didn’t last very long, and instead it’s Jones that has taken the division by storm and established himself as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world as well as one of the biggest draws in the sport.

The Dragon will bring a unique fighting style that Jones has never seen before, and for this reason he stands a chance for the upset. If he’s able to evade Jones’ wrestling and reach, and score with lunging strikes, he could frustrate the champion and find success. Oddsmakers at the Bodog Sportsbook are offering a +355 payday for the Machida upset on the UFC betting board.

Get all your MMA odds for UFC 140 at Bodog.
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UFC 140: Claude Patrick vs. Brian Ebersole in Welterweight Bout

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Highly-touted Welterweight prospectClaude Patrick (14-1) will take a big step up in competition at UFC 140 when he steps into the Octagon against MMA veteran Brian Ebersole. Patrick is a replacement in this fight for fellow Canadian up-and-comer Rory MacDonald, who pulled out after suffering an injury in training.

Get all your UFC odds for the fight at Bodog.

Patrick is currently on a 13-fight win streak (2-0 UFC) and is looking to climb the ladder of the Welterweight ranks. He brings a strong mix of Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, and one would have to believe that he must have picked up some wrestling skills training with Georges St-Pierre. Beating Ebersole could launch Patrick into the upper echelon of the UFC Welterweight division.

Oddsmakers at the Bodog Sportsbook will likely have Patrick as a very slight underdog against Ebersole. Moneyline action will be close to even as these two match up well in all areas of MMA.

If there’s an edge for one fighter in this matchup it has to be Ebersole’s experience. With 63 fights on his record (48-14-1) Ebersole is currently on a nine-fight win streak of his own and looked very good in his destruction of Dennis Hallman his last time out.

Oddsmakers at the Bodog Sportsbook will most likely make Ebersole the favorite, but he will come at a good price, if not even money. If he’s able to get the fight to the ground with his wrestling skills and control Patrick from a top position his chances of winning improve greatly. And when a fight is closely handicapped it’s usually a good idea to go with the wrestler.

Check out the Bodog Sportsbook later this week for UFC odds.
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UFC 140: Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in Heavyweight Bout

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When Frank Mir knocked out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira nearly three years ago there was a lot of talk following the fight about Nogueira having a staph infection, which depleted his strength.

Even Mir was surprised when he finished off the former UFC and Pride champion, and now they will meet again on theMMA betting board at the Bodog Sportsbook at UFC 140 with both fighters healthy to decide if the first result was a fluke or not.

Get all your UFC 140 odds at Bodog.

Nogueira has not looked good against top-tier Heavyweights for nearly three years, so oddsmakers at the Bodog Sportsbook will likely have “Big Nog” handicapped as the underdog to win the rematch. If he was indeed weakened in their first fight, and he performs the way he did against Brendan Schaub in his last bout, the upset option on Nogueira could be the way to go.

Mir has been fighting the top Heavyweights in the world for seven years and will come into this rematch as the favorite with all the confidence in the world. He walked through Nogueira last time and will be favored to do it again at UFC 140. Mir has heavy hands and world-class submission skills which should negate most of what Nogueira will bring on Saturday night.

As long as Mir doesn’t get overconfident he should be able to control where the fight is fought and out-score his Brazilian opponent for three rounds. Both men know that they need to put on an entertaining fight to keep the UFC paychecks coming, so a stand-up battle could be the theme Saturday night. If that’s the case, this fight could go either way.

Get all the MMA lines on Mir vs. Nogueira and the other fights on the UFC 140 fight card later this week.

Bet on the UFC with Bodog.
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UFC 137 Betting: Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone

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UFC 137 will bring MMA betting fans a great matchup in the talent-laden Lightweight division when “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone takes on Dennis Siver. The winner of this fight will likely find a place in top-ten rankings with future hopes of a potential title shot down the road.

Both fighters are on lengthy win streaks and have shown much improvement over the last year, setting the scene for a fight that could easily take “fight of the night” honors.

It’s tough to find a better bet in MMA over the last year and a half than German kickboxer Siver. During his current four-fight win streak he’s been handicapped at even-money or as a big underdog every fight, yet he’s beaten the odds every time. It seems that oddsmakers are still nonbelievers and will once again have Siver as the underdog this Saturday.

Siver combines lethal striking skills with excellent takedown defense that has forced many opponents to stand with him. Cerrone will be a big test, but if Siver can keep the fight standing he has very good chance to win – whether it goes the distance or by landing a power shot that finishes Cerrone.

Cerrone is a complete MMA fighter with striking and ground skills. He’s on a five-fight win streak of his own and is looking to put himself into a contender situation with an impressive performance at UFC 137. He will be the favorite against Siver on Saturday night and will likely be looking to get the fight to the ground where he will have a big edge over his one-dimensional opponent.

Cerrone’s Muay Thai may be enough to keep Siver at bay until the takedown opportunity presents itself, and if it does MMA betting fans at the Bodog Sportsbook will see why the “Cowboy” is the favorite to win this fight.

Get all your UFC odds at Bodog.

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UFC 137 Betting: B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz

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If there’s one good thing about Nick Diaz managing to find himself back in the main event at UFC 137 it’s that the MMA odds on his new opponent won’t be so expensive. Had Diaz faced the Welterweight champ as originally planned, the price on George St-Pierre would have been costly. Now Diaz is pitted against MMA legend B.J. Penn in his first UFC fight in five years, and MMA bettors are treated to near-even odds to play.

The Bodog Sportsbook currently has Penn handicapped as a slight -120 favorite. The former Welterweight and Lightweight champion is coming off a draw against the widely considered No. 2 Welterweight Jon Fitch. There’s little doubt that Penn will be very motivated to show Diaz that despite his Strikeforce success fighting a top-tier UFC contender is a very different beast. And a motivated Penn is a dangerous Penn.

Diaz has been a dominant Welterweight champion with a ten-fight win streak dating back to May 2008. He’s a complete fighter who’s comfortable standing as well as on the ground, and his boxing skills are well above average. Oddsmakers at the Bodog Sportsbook currently have him as the slightest of underdogs at -110 on their UFC betting lines.

The outcome of this fight depends on one factor – Nick Diaz. Will he be able to make the adjustment in competition into the UFC or will he have difficulty in the fashion most of the Strikeforce talent has had in the Octagon? If he’s able to keep the fight standing his boxing skills could be enough to dominate Penn and wear down the former champion. If Diaz isn’t ready for the step up in competition Penn will likely control the fight on the ground for a decision or submission victory.

Get all your UFC odds at Bodog.

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UFC 137 Betting Odds: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione

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UFC 137 may have lost the Welterweight championship fight, but MMA betting enthusiasts still have lots of betting options on the card. The fight that may be offering the best value is an interesting matchup in the Heavyweight division between up-and-comer Matt Mitrione and gatekeeper veteran Cheick Kongo.

Ultimate Fighter winner and former NFL player Mitrione is currently handicapped as a -140 favorite at the Bodog Sportsbook. It’s no secret to MMA betting fans that Dana White and Joe Silva have been cautious with their Ultimate Fighter Heavyweight poster boy, allowing him to pad his record to 5-0 in the Octagon. But now “Meathead” will be getting in the Octagon against one of the best Heavyweight strikers in the world.

Kongo has been a contender in the UFC Heavyweight division for over five years and has won world titles for kickboxing and Muay Thai. He also has 19 more MMA fights than Mitrione, yet handicappers have him as a +110 underdog. Kongo was the -125 favorite when the lines at the Bodog Sportsbook were first offered, showing that the hype around Mitrione has been an influence in the lines.

How the fight will play out depends on Mitrione. It’s no secret what Kongo will bring; what remains to be seen is whether Mitrione is the real deal or not.

Until now MMA bettors have had no way to gauge the level of his skills because he hasn’t fought a top-tier Heavyweight. Do you think the hype is real and Mitrione will establish himself as a legitimate contender, or do you think that he’s been over-hyped and will be out of his league in the Octagon with a striker the level of Kongo?

Get all your UFC odds at Bodog.

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