UFC 116 Preview and Odds
UFC 116 goes Saturday night in Vancouver and features a ton of great fights. Although not one of the most stacked cards in recent UFC memory, the event features a host of intriguing battles.
UFC 116: Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin
Date: July 03, 2010
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
MAIN CARD
UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin
Brock Lesnar (4-1-0): -155
Shane Carwin (12-0-0): +125
A long awaited bout to unify the Heavyweight title belt takes place on Saturday night. Lesnar, coming off a 1 year layoff hopes to bull rush Carwin who is the same size as Lesnar while Carwin hopes to finally test the chin of Lesnar. This will likely be a stand up war and it would be surprising if the fight went past the first round. I think that Lesnar has finally met his match in this one. Carwin should be able to whether the storm and not get bullied. Look for a clean shot to put Lesnar to sleep.
Pick: Shane Carwin
Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1-0): -235
Chris Leben (20-6-0): +185
Highly regarded Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama takes on tough as nails Chris Leben at UFC 116. Akiyama’s strategy will be simple. Stay out of Leben’s wheel house and take the bull dog down when the opportunity presents itself. Leben is tough, but he should be tired after fighting just two weeks ago. I don’t think that Leben will be able to adequately stuff the take down attempts of Akiyama. Akiyama might not stop Leben but he has enough tools to win an easy unanimous decision.
Pick: Yoshihiro Akiyama
Matt Brown (13-8): +160
Chris Lytle (38-17-4): -200
A ground battle should ensue between matt Brown and Chris Lytle in a rematch of an IFL fight that took place a few years ago. Lytle won that fight and I think that the same will hold true on Saturday night. Lytle holds a decisive edge in stand up and that should be the difference.
Pick: Chris Lytle
Stephan Bonnar (14-7-0): +180
Krzysztof Soszynski (20-10-1): -230
Krzysztof Soszynski will try to make it two wins against Stephan Bonnar on Saturday night in a fight that Bonnar needs to win to keep his UFC career alive. Bonnar has the heart and the durability to make this an entertaining fight but Soszynski’s power and all around game will be too much for Bonnar to handle.
UFC Betting Pick: Krzysztof Soszynski
Kurt Pellegrino (21-4-0): +140
George Sotiropoulos (12-2): -180
A Lightweight battle between two UFC prospects kicks off the Pay-per-view portion of the UFC 116 card. A win by either man will certainly put him in the Lightweight title picture. Sotiropoulos has been impressive indeed but Pellegrino’s experience and training under Renzo Gracie and Kenny Florian will be the difference.
Pick: Kurt Pellegrino
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
Brendan Schaub (6-1-0): -350
Chris Tuchscherer (18-2-0): +250
Spike TV will broadcast a Heavyweight fight between Brendan Schaub and Chris Tuchscherer in a fight that will determine who will get in a long queue for the UFC Heavyweight belt. This fight could easily come down to fitness. Schaub is by far the more fit man in this match and should be able to outlast Tuchscherer. Schaub will have to withstand an early charge but if he does, he should have his hand raised at the end of the bout.
Pick: Brendan Schaub
Seth Petruzelli (14-5-0): +115
Ricardo Romero: (10-1) -145
The first fight on the Spike TV card features a TUF alum against a UFC newcomer. Seth Petruzelli, a well rounded MMA veteran takes on highly regarded wrestler Ricardo Romero in a Light Heavyweight battle that should be fun to watch. Both fighters are on winning streaks with Petruzelli owning the stand up edge and Romero having an advantage on the ground. Look for Romero’s slick take downs to overwhelm Petruzelli just like it did to James McSweeney.
Pick: Ricardo Romero
PRELIMINARY CARD (Un-aired)
Kendall Grove (13-7-0): +135
Goran Reljic (8-1-0): -165
Both of these fighters lost their last bout and both are on the UFC chopping block, especially Grove. Grove is a lanky striker whose ground game is no joke while Reljic has a serious ground game himself. I believe that Reljic will be able to get a hold of Grove’s long limbs and submit him in the 2nd round.
Pick: Goran Reljic
Dave Branch (6-0): +200
Gerald Harris: (15-2): -260
Gerald Harris puts a nine fight win streak on the line against UFC newcomer David Branch. Branch is a Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu but Harris is an experience all around fighter with heavy hands. Harris is a rising star who won’t be denied another victory
Pick: Gerald Harris
Forrest Petz: (24-7): +140
Daniel Roberts: (9-1): -170
Submission specialist Daniel Roberts steps in as an injury replacement against MMA veteran Forrest Petz. Petz has a history of getting caught by submission attempts – not a good omen against a fighter like Roberts.
Pick: Daniel Roberts
Jon Madsen: (5-0): +130
Karlos Vemola: (7-0): -160
The first fight of the night is a heavyweight tilt between TUF alum Jon Madsen against another UFC newcomer Karlos Vemola. Vemola is a dangerous fighter who has finished all seven of his MMA wins in the first round – 4 by submission and 3 by KO. Both are relatively inexperienced but one seems to be better rounded.
Pick: Karlos Vemola
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