UFC 103 Preview/Picks
Let’s exchange our NFL betting caps for mouth guards and gloves for a night, shall we? This Saturday’s UFC 103 makes up for its lack of title fights with main events that feature big time strikers almost guaranteed to knock each other out. Let’s break down the most anticipated bouts of the evening.
Catchweight (195 lbs) bout: Rich Franklin (25-4) vs Vitor Belfort (18-8)
UFC 103 betting lines: Franklin -155, Belfort +125
UFC 103’s main event is somewhat of a transitional fight between two guys who have plenty of years left to contend but have to figure out where to do it. Rich Franklin fights at 195 pounds for the second straight time after moving up to light heavyweight for two bouts before that. Thanks to his great cardio, submission defense and knockout power, he could contend for the title at 205 pounds. However, it almost seems like he’s waiting to find out where Anderson Silva goes, as the Spider has two vicious knockout wins over Franklin.
Vitor Belfort returns to the Octagon after four years out of the UFC. The former light heavyweight champion hasn’t lost his bigtime punching power and has tangled with some true greats in his career, including Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He’s also looked dominant since dropping a weight class.
In the end, Franklin is the safer pick. He’s an elite fighter – his only losses are to Silva, Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderson, and the Henderson loss was a questionable decision – so you should trust him. Belfort is dangerous but hasn’t faced high-caliber competition in years; he could be rusty.
Betting software recommends: Franklin -155
Heavyweight bout: Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (25-6-2) vs Junior Dos Santos (8-1)
UFC 103 betting lines: Cro Cop +110, Dos Santos -140
Two big knockout machines collide in the co-main event and, if you can’t pick a winner, you could simply bet on someone getting knocked out in your sports picks. Mirko Cro Crop is one of the greatest strikers MMA as ever seen, known for his devastating head kicks. He’s on the downside of his career, never quite the same since Gabriel Gonzaga gave him a taste of his own medicine via headkick knockout, but he’s still a deadly finisher.
Junior Dos Santos is an up-and-comer, 10 years Cro Co’s junior. He’s skilled in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but power punching his is game; six of his eight wins are KOs. He has a penchant for finishing fights very quickly; in fact, he’s never fought into the second round in his MMA career.
As much as fight fans want to see Cro Cop return to glory, it’s unlikely; he’s slower and his chin is weaker than it used to be. He’ll be Dos Santos’ toughest test to date but he may get knocked out if he isn’t careful. Pick Dos Santos.
Betting software recommends: Dos Santos -140
