Rory Gold

UFC 106 doesn’t give sports betting fans a title fight to wager on but it does offer some very even matchups that make for fun yet difficult choices. For the welterweight clash between Josh Koscheck and Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in particular, bettors are almost split down the middle. Here’s a preview and pick to help you with your decision.

Josh Koscheck (13-4) vs Anthony Johnson (8-2)
Sportsbook odds: Koscheck -105, Johnson -125

Josh Koscheck and Anthony Johnson probably have a few guys in their way before they can top the welterweight contender ladder — Dan Hardy, Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves — but they’re fearsome up-and-comers in the division. Both guys can be classified as next-generation mixed martial artists in that they’re athletes who absorb new skills like sponges.

Koscheck in particular has improved dramatically over the last few years. He was always a phenomenal wrestler and remains arguably a top-five wrestler in the entire UFC for any weight class. He’s become more dangerous over the years, however, by improving his kickboxing and developing some serious punching power. A well-rounded Koscheck has a better chance to contend for a title than he did a few years ago but his new skills sometimes hurt him too. He too frequently abandons his real strength — his wrestling — in favor of “showing” off his newfound striking ability. That cost him his fights with Thiago Alves and Paulo Thiago. It’s the equivalent to a good rushing team in NFL betting getting caught up in a passing shootout.

Anthony Johnson is likely crossing his fingers hoping that Koscheck wants to stand and trade with him. The reason: Johnson is an absolute killer. He’s 6′2″ and reportedly walks around as heavy as 220 pounds when he’s not training, so the fact that he’s fighting at 170 pounds is almost unfair. He’s an imposing physical presence with devastating knockout power. He doesn’t pound out TKOs with flurries — he can floor an opponent with a single punch or head kick. On the feet, Johnson has an advantage. On the ground, he does have a wrestling background but he’s largely untested in the UFC. Online betting fans have to think Koscheck has the advantage on the canvas, though Johnson at the very least will be hard to hold down.

Sports picks choice: Johnson -125. Koscheck can absolutely win this fight if he plays it smart and goes for the takedown, but he’s fallen in love with the striking game too much. The longer he stays standing with Johnson, the more likely he is to have his head taken off. Pick Johnson but understand that this fight could really go either way.

The UFC 102 odds are on the board and as per usual, Dana White has produced quite the card to froth over. A lot of people were talking about how UFC 101 turned out to be a boring card and how the UFC cards since UFC 100 have been somewhat deflating, but UFC 102 will pick up the slack.

The headlining event for online betting to watch will be the Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Randy Couture battle. It’s a fight between two legends in MMA and it’s a bout that everyone has wanted to see for a long time. Both fighters come into the matchup in different shape and with a number of question marks.

Couture, The Natural, is coming off a tough knockout loss to Brock Lesnar while Nogueira is coming off of a fight where he made Frank Mir look like Mike Tyson.

There is lots of speculation regarding Noguiera’s shape, especially after how badly he lost to Mir. Just 20 days prior to that fight, Noguiera was in a hospital bed dealing with a staph infection, which may have contributed to his bad beat. On the other hand, a lot of people are suggesting that the 33-year-old had nothing left in the tank for that fight and is running on fumes for this one after nearly 40 fights work of MMA wear and tear.

While Couture is 13 years older, the general feel is that he’s just older man with much less mileage whereas Big Nog is just a car that has been driven into the ground.

If he’s healthy and in shape, those who have placed a sports bet online know that Nogueira is still one of the best in the division and still is in line for a shot at Lesnar if he does win this fight. There are plenty of options for him as well beyong this fight, which include tilts with Cain Velasquez, Shane Carwin or maybe even the winner of the Mirko Cro Cop and Junior Dos Santos battle.

But if Couture comes out and dominates Minotauro like many people are predicting on their sports picks, then the retirement conversation for Big Nog will start up once again. He has to at least put up a fight and keep it close. If the result is one-sided loss like it was against Mir, then it truly means that Big Nog has nothing left in the tank.

UFC 101 Betting – Handicapping Kenny Florian as an Underdog

The UFC 101 odds are upon us, and many bettors have tough decisions to make. The main events feature two big-name underdogs who are used to being favorites: Kenny Florian and Forrest Griffin. Fight fans are having trouble figuring out which dog is a legit pick and which is just a money trap. Let’s start by examining Kenny Florian’s chances against the BJ “The Prodigy” Penn.

KENNY FLORIAN (13-3) +180 to beat BJ Penn

Florian is currently the +180 dog, but don’t be surprised if the lines even out a bit next week, as his lightweight title bout against Penn should be one of the closest in recent UFC memory. Both fighters are confident, versatile and intelligent, so it’s hard to imagine one dominating the other.

Is Penn a justifiable favorite? Yes. When he fights at lightweight, his fitness and commitment issues disappear, as he has to work his butt off to make weight. The lightweight BJ is the most dominant BJ, as he’s quick, reasonably big for the weight class and able to use his flexibility to control opponents on the ground and set up submissions.

However, if you’re the type who chases betting underdogs, Kenny Florian is a legitimate choice. He has some matchup advantages over Penn that give him a serious chance to win. For one, he fought as high up as 185 pounds early in his UFC career, so Florian is at least Penn’s physical equal, size-wise. Secondly, he has the standup advantage. His boxing is outstanding and his Muay Thai clinch sets up devastating knees. Lastly, he may be the smarter fighter. Penn is smart, but more in an instinctual sense, just like Anderson Silva, whereas Florian is a student, like Georges St-Pierre. GSP beat Penn using a pre-set game plan and betting management experts should expect Florian to enter the Octagon with a planned strategy of his own. He’s a good underdog pick.

UFC 101 Odds – Handicapping the Secondary Fights

Chances are, you’ve started UFC 101 betting already and placed some wagers on Penn/Florian and Silva/Griffin. But what about the other fights on the card? They feature very few household names, but there’s still money to be won if you do your homework. We’re here to help you with that.

Amir Sadollah (1-0) vs Johnny Hendricks (5-0)
Offshore sportsbook odds: Sadollah -125, Hendricks -105

Finally, Ultimate Fighter 7 winner Amir Sadollah gets to fight in the Octagon again. He had two fights cancelled due to injury, the most recent due to a broken clavicle, but he’s finally ready to go. Though he’s still learning, Sadollah is a skilled ground fighter with strong Jiu-Jitsu. He can submit opponents, as he did C.B. Dollaway to win TUF at welterweight. His Sambo background also helps him take opponents to the ground and force them to fight his fight. His opponent, Johnny Hendricks, won’t be easy to face. Hendricks is a wrestler who also has good striking power for a welterweight, as evidenced by his three knockout victories. He’s a finisher who should test Sadollah’s chin with his boxing.

Sadollah is the favorite but he may be rusty; look for the slight underdog Hendricks to overpower Sadollah and bludgeon him with strikes en route to a victory.

Daily sports pick: Hendricks -105

Kendall Grove (12-5) vs Ricardo Almeida (10-3)
Offshore sportsbook odds: Grove +150, Almeida -180

He’re s possible upset pick for you. Ricardo Almeida is a solid submission artist and has scored wins over some good fighters, including Nate Marquardt. He’s well-versed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wins most of his fights via various chokes. However, he’s not the most difficult matchup for Kendall Grove. Grove has a questionable chin and often gets knocked out by power punchers, but Almeida has zero knockout victories in his career. Against an equally skilled Jiu-Jitsu fighter, Almeida won’t have his usual advantage. Standing up, Grove isn’t an absolute killer but he has good Muay Thai and can finish opponents occasionally. It’s smart betting management to go with the more versatile Grove to pull off the upset.

Daily sports pick: Grove +150

Rosi Sexton breaks the stereotypes of what the casual fan expects a top woman’s MMA star should be, Rosi is tough as nails but she’s quite shy and describes herself as a geek, she’s a beautiful woman but won’t exploit it to gain fans or matches and probably the smartest woman in MMA. Rosi Sexton owns a doctorate in the math sciences from the prestigious Cambridge University and not being satisfied she’s currently 3/5’s of the way through earning a degree in osteopathy. Currently she owns a 9-1 record with her only defeat coming to Gina Carano. Carano incidentally came into the fight over the 135lbs limit.

I had the privilege of chatting with Ms. Sexton about her life and her career let’s have a look.

Rory Gold: I have to admit, while I was was researching your background I was so caught up in your doctorate, your other educational pursuits and the fact you are doing it all while raising a young son I forgot I was writing an MMA article. Honestly, I’m amazed at how you balance it all, do you have any secrets you can let me in on. Read more

Minnesota Martial Arts Academy is home to UFC Champion Brock Lesnar but the MMAA is also home to another star, one of the best young fighters not in the UFC, the last man to hold the BodogFight Title, welterweight Nick “The Goat” Thompson.

Thompson holds a record of 38-10-1 in 49 fights, winning 22 by submission and another 10 coming via the TKO. Read more