Superfight Headlines UFC 156 Saturday
The UFC will commence with its second Pay-per-view card this Saturday from Las Vegas. The main event promises to be a classic with two Champions vying for the Featherweight strap. The card is littered with former champs, established contenders and a few names to keep your eyes on in the coming years.
Here is a Betting breakdown of all the fights on the packed card and what should play out in an exciting night of MMA action.
UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar
Date: February 2, 2013
Time: 10pm ET/7pm PT
Location: Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Broadcast: Pay-per-view, FX & Facebook Prelims
MAIN CARD
Jose Aldo (21-1): -210
Frankie Edgar (14-3): +170
Former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar tries for another title in a different weight class when he takes on one of the most dominant UFC champions in the organization Jose Aldo for the featherweight strap in what is being billed as the first “Superfight” since BJ Penn/GSP II. Edgar’s boxing is terrific, his wrestling is world class and his toughness and grit are legendary. Aldo has some of the best Muay Thai in the sport, his low kicks are lethal and he also possesses a Black Belt in jiu jitsu.
Edgar’s advantages in the past have been his speed, his footwork and his striking – all aspects of the fight game that his opponent this week also credits with keeping him a notch above. Aldo will also be the most accurate striker that Edgar has ever faced.
Edgar will need to close the distance, hope for a takedown and hope to stay out of the way of Aldo’s lethal kicks – nobody has been able to do that so far. Aldo is just too dangerous to get near and all of Edgar’s quickness advantage will be neutralized by Aldo and his accurate, devastating kicks. Edgar is a game competitor but Aldo is simply on a different level.
Pick: Jose Aldo -210
Rashad Evans (17-2): -500
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5): +350
Rashad Evans will look to keep atop the Light Heavyweight contenders list when he takes on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Evans, if not for Jon Jones may be the Champ right now – he has been that good minus his bout against Jones. Evans has the striking and wrestling to give Nogueira fits in this one – Nogueira has had his issues recently with top not wrestlers. Just look at Nog’s last three fights against takedown artists Jason Brillz, Ryan Bader and Phil Davis.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira may have the boxing and grappling advantage in this fight but when it comes down to the will to win, Evans gets the nod. While I am not expecting Evans to dominate, I am expecting him to come out with a decision win Saturday.
Pick: Rashad Evans -500
Alistair Overeem (36-11): -400
Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva (17-4): +300
Alistair Overeem returns to the Octagon after serving a suspension for elevated testosterone levels – there’s a shock! He takes on another man that seems to have escaped the wrath of the Performance Enhancing Drug tests, Antonio Silva in Heavyweight action. Both men are huge, both are powerful and both have decent all around skills. But Overeem holds a distinct edge in two aspects of this fight – likely the determining factors – athleticism and POWER. [ad-3573245]
Overeem proved against Brock Lesnar that he can handle powerful men, that he can stuff takedowns and that he can dictate the pace of a fight. His takedown defense is good and his cardio is improving. Octagon rust may be a factor but I still like Overeem to use his aforementioned athleticism to KO Bigfoot Saturday.
Pick: Alistair Overeem -400
Jon Fitch (24-4): -190
Demian Maia (17-4): +155
If the UFC gave bonuses for “Boring Fight of the Night”, this would be an early candidate for the cash! Two fighters that rely on smothering their opponents will do battle when wrestler Jon Fitch takes on submission ace Demian Maia in Welterweight action.
Maia will have a slight striking advantage but this fight will almost certainly hit the mat where Fitch can use his top notch wrestling skills and immense top control to dictate the pace of this fight. Maia is one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners on the planet but Fitch’s ability to dirty box, drag his opponent to the ground and grind will be the difference in this one.
Pick: Jon Fitch -190
Joseph Benavidez (16-3): -260
Ian McCall (11-3): +200
Flyweight contenders take to the Octagon in the first fight on the main card Saturday as former champion Joseph Benavidez takes on the very tough Ian McCall. Both of these fighters took on and lost to current Champ Demetrious Johnson in close, typically exciting Flyweight affairs. Benavidez will definitely have the wrestling advantage in this one but this fight figures stay on the feet. Who’s standup do I like better? It’s the underdog McCall who arguably has a better striking game than that of Mighty Mouse who gave Benavidez fits. McCall has better combinations and he is far more active in the kicking game.
It all adds up to a big upset here – McCall will outstrike Benavidez and earn a razor close decision victory.
Pick: Ian McCall +200
UFC PRELIMS LIVE ON FX
Evan Dunham (13-3): -110 vs. Gleison Tibau (26-8): -120
Pick: Evan Dunham -110
Jay Hieron (23-6): +115 vs. Tyron Woodley (10-1): -145
Pick: Tyron Woodley -145
Bobby Green (19-5): +285 vs. Jacob Volkmann (15-3): -375
Pick: Jacob Volkmann -375
Yves Edwards (42-18): -280 vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (13-3): +220
Pick: Yves Edwards -280
UFC PRELIMS LIVE STREAM ON FACEBOOK
Edwin Figueroa (9-1): +230 vs. Francisco Rivera (8-2): -300
Pick: Francisco Rivera -300
Chico Camus (12-3): -165 vs. Dustin Kimura (9-0): +135
Pick: Chico Camus -165
