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Posted 10/25/2008 at 04:55 PM
Since we offer selections on everything except the Ultimate Fighting Championship, I have been releasing my plays for free. I have been covering the UFC for VegasInsider.com since 2004, and have interviewed countless fighters during that period, including the two fighters in Saturday's main event in Chicago, Illinois.
All odds provided by Las Vegas Sports Consultants, but shopping on the internet can get you better prices.
ANDERSON 'THE SPIDER' SILVA -700
Anderson 'The Spider' Silva is widely considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet, and has been the UFC's most dominant champion the past few years. Patrick 'The Predator' Cote isn't even on the list as one of the UFC's top-five middleweights, but is getting a shot at the title after Yushin Okami had to pull out due to an injury.
Silva has the advantages in standup, Muay Thai and the ground game with his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Cote has power in both hands and has a solid chin, but this is a bad matchup for the French Canadian. Expect Silva to dominate after an initial feeling out period at the beginning of the fight. Silva by second-round TKO.
THIAGO 'THE PITBULL' ALVES +125
Thiago 'The Pitbull' Alves is off his biggest victory of his career when he dominated former champion Matt Hughes at UFC 85: Bedlam. Alves will want to keep this fight standing where he has an advantage over Josh Koscheck and his wrestling background. Alves will win a decision if the fight stays standing, while Koscheck should earn a victory if he can get this contest to the ground. Expect an overly tactical fight, with Alves prevailing by unanimous decision. The winner of this fight moves onto the short list to meet welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre sometime next year. This is my biggest selection of the card.
JUNIOR DOS SANTOS +550
This heavyweight fight between Junior Dos Santos and Fabricio Werdum has the highest odds on the UFC 90 televised card, and I'm not just chasing an underdog here. Both Brazilian fighters are black belts in jiu jitsu, while Dos Santos is a kickboxing champion armed with an 18-0 record. Werdum was left out of the upcoming heavyweight 'tournament' even though he has recent wins over Brandon Vera and Gabriel Gonzaga. Expect to see Dos Santos try to land some early leg kicks and keep this fight standing where he has the biggest advantage, eventually prevailing by decision.
SEAN 'THE MUSCLE SHARK' SHERK -250
Sean 'The Muscle Shark' Sherk is fighting for the first time since getting dominated by BJ Penn in a lightweight title fight. This is a great matchup for Sherk to get back on the winning track, and should use his dominant wrestling ability to grind out a victory. Sherk is a beast at this weight division, but was unable to take down Penn and was exposed for his lackluster standup game. Expect to see numerous takedowns in this fight, with Sherk maintaining dominant position on top for a three-round unanimous decision victory.
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