UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz II
Rashad Evans needs to fight – he has been out of action since May 29, 2010. First he was supposed to battle former teammate Jon Jones for the Light Heavyweight strap.
UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz 2
Date/Time: August 6, 2011, 9pm ET/6pm PT
Venue: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Broadcast: Pay-per-view, Spike TV (8pm ET/5pm PT), Facebook
Betting: Bet on UFC 133 at BetOnline.com
Main card:
Rashad Evans (15-1-1): -400
Tito Ortiz (16-8-1):+300
Injury to Jones squashed that battle. Then injury replacement Phil Davis was hurt during training. Enter Tito Ortiz who is coming off an uber-impressive victory over Ryan Bader for his first win since 2006! It will be a rematch of the UFC 73 fight that saw these fighters battle to a draw. 
We all know what these fighters bring to the table. Evans brings an all around game with an emphasis on superb striking while Tito brings world class conditioning, wrestling and legendary Ground and Pound. This fight is a battle between Ortiz’s momentum versus Evans’s rust.
There is no doubt which fighter is better at this stage of his career – Evans. But Octagon Rust is a real thing as is momentum. At +300 the upset looks very tantalizing to me. It may be crazy but I’ll take the Bad Boy to stay relevant in the UFC. Pick: Tito Ortiz +300
Vitor Belfort (19-9): -300
Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-3): +220
Vitor Belfort will look to rebound from a humiliating loss to Anderson Silva in his last fight when he faces Yoshihiro Akiyama who himself has tasted defeat recently. Belfort is simply one of the most dynamic strikers that the world of MMA has ever seen while Akiyama’s Judo has allowed him to remain one of the most talked about Middleweights on the planet.
Akiyama has lost two straight fights to decent strikers Chris Leben and Michael Bisping. Belfort is two or three notches above them when it comes to Stand Up. Take Belfort to deliver a highlight reel KO instead of being on the receiving end this time. Pick: Vitor Belfort -300
Jorge Rivera (19-8): -160
Constantinos Philippou (7-2): +130
Constantinos Phillippou takes a fight on short notice and is matched up with heavy handed veteran Jorge Rivera on Saturday night. Rivera has the technical striking and the power to overwhelm Phillippou who is fairly well rounded himself. Striking will be the difference in this fight – Rivera holds an enormous edge in that department. Pick: Jorge Rivera -160
Rory MacDonald (11-1): -280
Mike Pyle (21-7-1): +210
An intriguing Welterweight battle between a crafty veteran and a serious UFC prospect could easily become Fight of the Night when journeyman Mike Pyle attempts to put a dent in Rory MacDonald’s title aspirations. MacDonald is an exceptionally well rounded fighter with athleticism to spare. Experience is definitely on the side of Pyle as is a slight edge on the ground. I like the hungry up and comer in this one. Pick: Rory MacDonald -280
Dennis Hallman (50-13-2): -125
Brian Ebersole (47-14-1): -105
Two veterans of MMA will put their skills on display on Saturday night when Dennis Hallman takes on Brian Ebersole. Dennis Hallman is known as one of the most effective submission practitioner in the Welterweight Division – he’s great at submitting his opponents but is average in every other aspect of MMA. Ebersole is fairly well rounded with one gaping hole in his game –submission defense. Hallman should be able to get this fight to the mat and exploit Ebersole’s weakness on the way to a submission victory. Pick: Dennis Hallman -125
Spike TV card:
Matt Hamill (10-3): +155
Alexander Gustafsson (11-1): -190
Swedish Boxer and promising UFC prospect Alexander Gustafsson will take on Matt Hamill who steps in for the injured Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC 133. Hamill’s early career momentum has stalled as of late – his latest loss came at the hands of Rashad Evans. Hamill displays good wrestling technique and he has very heavy hands. But he has had trouble with strikers in the past. Gustafsson happens to be in the elite category of Light Heavyweight strikers and he does have a serious submission game.
I can’t ignore Gustafsson’s terrific takedown defense in this one – he is bigger has better hands and he will not let Hamill drag him to the ground. As long as this fight is standing the huge edge has to go to Gustafsson. Pick: Alexander Gustafsson -190
Chad Mendes (10-0): -600
Rani Yahya (16-6): +400
Chad Mendes was supposed to be fighting for a Featherweight title but Jose Aldo was forced out of action with injury. His replacement – Rani Yahya who lost five straight fights before regaining his form in his last fight against Mike Brown. Mendes is Championship caliber – Yahya is nowhere near. -600 is a lot to lay but it is the right choice. Pick: Chad Mendes -600 [ad-3573245]
Preliminary card:
Johny Hendricks (10-1): -125
Mike Pierce (12-3): -105
Two very tough Welterweights do battle on the Undercard of UFC 133 when Johny Hendricks, winner of seven of his last eight fights takes on Mike Pierce, winner of three straight fights. Pierce’s last loss came at the hands of Jon Fitch – Hendricks’s style is reminiscent to Fitch’s. The ground game will allow Hendricks to control this fight. Pick: Johny Hendricks -125
Mike Brown (24-8): -220
Nam Phan (16-8): +175
Two fighters in desperate need of a win square off with Mike Brown having lost three of his last four fights and Phan having lost four of six. Brown is far more experienced and he has been in the Octagon with some of the best in his division. Expect Brown’s superior skills to prevail. Pick: Mike Brown -220
Ivan Menjivar (22-8): -230
Nick Pace (6-1): +180
Experience vs. youth is featured in Bantamweight action when Ivan Menjivar, a well decorated MMA practitioner takes on a speedy prospect in the division. Nick Pace has a lot of tools in his arsenal but the fact remains that there is nothing that he can bring that Menjivar hasn’t seen already. It should be a close fight but the experience will prevail. Pick: Ivan Menjivar -230
Rafael “Sapo” Natal (12-3-1): -115
Paul Bradley (18-2-0 1 NC): -115
Paul Bradley steps in on short notice for Constantinos Phillippou to take on Brazilian jiu-jitsu Black Belt Rafael Natal. Although Bradley is currently riding a three fight win streak, Natal has taken on and beaten far better competition in his MMA career. Expect Natal’s experience and dangerous submission game to be the difference in this one. Pick: Rafael Natal -115
