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Posted 01/17/2009 at 05:45 AM
Since we don't offer UFC selections on our site anymore, I have been offering them for free with analysis here on my blog. Saturday's main event for UFC 93: Henderson vs. Franklin is one of the more evenly matched main events in some time as reflected by the odds. The event is taking place in Dublin, Ireland, so be sure to get your bets in early since action will start Saturday afternoon here in the States.
Let's get down to three fights on the UFC 93 card.
DAN HENDERSON -125
Both fighters are former champions that need a victory in this spot to remain in title contention. Rich Franklin is stuck in a tough spot since he's one of the best middleweights, but has already suffered two devastating losses to champion Anderson Silva. It appears his future will be to remain at light heavyweight, where Saturday's matchup with Henderson will take place.
Both are true mixed martial artists who can win standing up or by taking it to the ground. Franklin prefers to stand, while Dan Henderson is a former wrestler. I'm going with Henderson in this spot because I think he's more accomplished on the ground, and has a stronger chin.
Also on the line is a chance to be a coach on The Ultimate Fighter 9: USA vs. UK, something that Henderson has stated that he would love to do coaching Americans due to his Olympic background in wrestling. Franklin has been on record that he would not want to coach again (he was a coach on Season 2). That is just an interesting side note to this main event. Expect both fighters to test each other's chin out, with Henderson winning a three-round unanimous decision.
MAURICIO 'SHOGUN' RUA -400
There is not much value in this selection at this price, but can be thrown in a parlay or something to generate a little bit more of a cash flow. Maruicio 'Shogun' Rua and Mark 'The Hammer' Coleman haven't fought anyone in a combined 41 months, and both are coming off knee injuries. This also will be Coleman's first fight as a light heavyweight, and he is already in the UFC Hall of Fame and still fighting at 44 years old.
'Rua' was considered one of the best light heavyweights in mixed martial arts until injuries started to take its toll. This is a great fight for him, and a chance to avenge one of the losses on his record (16-3) after suffering a freak broken-arm injury during the first meeting with Coleman.
With both fighters suffering from knee injuries, expect this fight to go to the ground for a couple of reasons. First, Coleman is a wrestler and the inventor of the ground and pound and Rua has a decided advantage standing up. Expect to see Rua dominate early on with some strikes and leg kicks before the action moves to the ground with Coleman going for the takedown.
Submission defense is also not one of Coleman's strengths, and I see this contest ending with a first-round submission for the Brazilian. In a poetic justice type of move, Rua wins with an arm-bar submission in the first round, announcing his comeback in the UFC's stacked light heavyweight division.
CHRIS 'LIGHTS OUT' LYTLE +125
The Chris Lytle-Marcus Davis fight is widely projected to be the Fight of the Night on the UFC 93 card. Both fighters love to stand and bang, and have wanted to fight each other for quite some time. Expect a three-round slugfest, and an entertaining one in front of the Irish crowd.
While most of the predictions have this fight standing the entire time, I think it will be decided on the ground. Lytle has 17 submission victories on this resume, and is much more accomplished on the ground than Davis, who loves to stand and bang. Davis will probably keep that mentality in front of the Irish crowd. Expect to see three entertaining rounds, with Lytle prevailing by split-decision due to his ground work.
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