Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
Date: December 27, 2008
In what many consider to be the best ever UFC fight card, with three headline events, UFC 92 is finally here. The UFC Monster has taken a long hard look at the oddsmaker's betting lines, and will offer up a way for readers to enjoy the fights and make a little extra holiday cash, as well. Spend it wisely, and don't forget to renew or join Rev Gold for the best wrestling coverage anywhere!
Let's start with the undercard:
This menu is so strong that we have Yushin OKAMI (23-4) fighting Dean "the Boogeyman" LISTER (11-5) on the undercard! Wow. Lister is a supreme wrestler with strong submission skills. Okami is all of that and is a strong striker, as well. I believe that Okama is the hungrier fighter, a step or two away from a title shot, and his take down defense and striking skills will be enough to earn a three-round decision. Take OKAMI @ �350.
Antonio HARDONK (7-4) may be one of the best kickers on the planet. He can batter your leg in a heartbeat. And that is just what he will do when he meets late replacement Mike WESSEL (8-1), who's ground game is probably not enough to stop the relentless attack. Take HARDONK @ -325 to win by second-round TKO.
Matt HAMILL (6-2) is one of the very best wrestlers in the UFC. He knows how to control an opponent's body and take his game away. Overcoming deafness, Hamill is a relentless attacker. His only losses were to Rich Franklin, where he didn't fight his game, and to Michael Bisping by split decision, in a fight most fans thought he got robbed by a hometown decision for his opponent. Hamill dominated, and he will do so again tonight against Reese ANDY (7-2). This is tonight's version of a bridge-jump. Take HAMILL @ -500 to win an easy decision.
If Ryo CHONAN (15-8) was good enough to beat Anderson "Spider" Silva. He should be good enough to beat someone with a 13-9-1 record shouldn't he? So, why is he only -170 to do so? Maybe because he has an under-achieving, uninspiring resume? How hungry is he? Is he just another journeyman to pass through the UFC? Maybe tonight we get a clue. Take CHONAN @ -170 to earn a decision over Brad BLACKBURN.
Dan "the Viking" EVENSEN (10-3) looked so bad in his UFC debut, that I told myself that I would never bet on him again! Yet here I stand in his very next fight, and I find value on betting on him as a +200 underdog. He is a much bigger man than his opponent, Pat BARRY (3-0). Will Barry get the Viking to the mat before the big man unloads a KO punch? Tghat will be the issue here. I'll give EVENSON @ +200 another try. He wins by second-round KO.
… and now onto the main event card:
Check KONGO (22-4-1) is a physical beast of a man with overwhelming punching power that can end a fight in no time. His opponent Mostapha AL TURK (6-3) will be looking to avoid this onslaught and roll to the mat as soon as possible. That is where we have seen Kongo look like a fish out of water. The oddsmakers think Kongo has learned enough ground skills to avoid a submission. Will Al Turk prove them wrong? The UFC Monster is throwing a dart that he the big Frenchman goes down again. Take AL TURK @ +260.
CB DOLLAWAY (8-2), a former Arizona State wrestler, has looked very formidable in his short career. He not only finds himself on the main card, but as a -150 favorite, as well. His opponent, Mike "the Master of Disaster" MASSENZIO (11-2) is just that, a submission monster. Six of his eleven victories have come by submission. Will Dollaway be able to strike enough to control position, or will he be dragged to the mat for another wrestler vs. jiu-jitsu battle? I think the latter. Take MASSENZIO +130 as a slight underdog to get the money.
In the first of three big headliners, we have two MMA legends going at it for the third time. Wanderlei "The Ax Murderer" SILVA (32-8-1) dominated the first two fights over Quinton "Rampage" JACKSON (28-7), destroying him with his vicious muay Thai knees, and leaving him bloodied hanging from the ropes at Pride. Tonight it is in a cage. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Rampage has not only had recent mental and emotional problems, but his unexpected loss to Forrest Griffin, led to a change in training camps, as well. Sounds like a mess to me. I think Wanderlei has his number. Take SILVA @ -130 to get the hat trick!
And speaking of MMA legends, how about Antonio "Minotauro" NOGUEIRA (31-4-1)? He has fought everybody, including losing twice in epic battles with Fedor. And, like Frank MIR (11-3), he is a rare heavyweight with world-class ground skills. Most heavyweights are strikers. These guys will take it to the ground for a schooling on arm and knee bars, ankle locks, and choke holds. This is a five-round interim title fight. The winner gets the real beast, Brock Lesnar. Most fans and fighters alike see Mir's only hope as a first round, sudden KO. Once to the mat, Mir will be trying to beat a stronger version of himself. It won't work. Take NOGUEIRA @ -350 to win a boring decision.
… and when will somebody beat Rashad "Sugar" EVANS (17-0-1)? Tonight maybe? The defending light-heavyweight champion is the never-say-die kid, Forrest GRIFFIN (16-4). This is a five-round title fight. We also know that Griffin is a cardio freak, who will get stronger and stronger as the fight goes on. And, Evans has a habit of being a slow starter, giving rounds away. Not good for the challenger! The UFC Monster had Evans as a big winning �dog against the Iceman in Atlanta, but tonight, I'm betting that Sugar's amazing streak of wins will end. Take GRIFFIN @ -125 to retain his belt by fourth- round submission.
Wow. What a card. Let's summarize the action.
Lay $140 to win $ 40 on Yushin Okami.
Lay $130 to win $ 40 on Antoni Hardonk.
Lay $100 to win $ 20 on a bridge-jump on Matt Hamill.
Lay $ 68 to win $ 40 on Ryo Chonan.
Lay $ 40 to win $ 80 on Dan Evenson.
Lay $ 25 to win $ 65 on a dart throw on Mostapha Al Turk.
Lay $ 80 to win $104 on Mike Massenzio.
Lay $117 to win $ 90 on Wanderlei Silva.
Lay $175 to win $ 50 on Minotauro Nogueira.
Lay $125 to win $100 on Forrest Griffin.
In all, we are laying $1000 to win $629 with our fictitious bankroll.
GOOD LUCK and enjoy the fights!!!
More later.
The UFC Monster
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