The month of June is chocked full of exciting MMA action. I can’t begin to tell you how ecstatic this makes me. There is nothing better than watching two guys who are highly trained to kill each other, trying to kill each other. YAY!
On Saturday night Strike Force will air on Showtime. Then on Sunday evening it’s the WEC’s turn on VS., headlined by a highly anticipated featherweight championship rematch. Win or lose my wagers, this weekend promises to give us some memorable fights. But even more so if I win. All odds listed are from 5dimes.
Robbie Lawler -125
James Shields -105
This is the headlining fight on the Strike Force card. I honestly have no clue who is going to win, but when these two tenacious scrappers go at it, the fireworks will be sure to fly. This is definitely one to catch.
Andrei Arlovski -390
Brett Rogers +300
Arolvski (15-6) is one bad Soviet. They call him the pitbull and he fights like one. I also hear he is quite popular with the ladies, and that’s always a good thing. The former UFC heavyweight champ is widely regarded as one of the sport’s best, and I can’t disagree with that. He was actually doing some damage to the immortal Fedor Emelianenko back in January before he got careless and knocked out in mid-air. As brutal as that was, Arlovski is still a major threat to win any fight that he is in.
So could Rogers (9-0) possibly stand a chance here? Call me crazy, but I think he does, and at 3-to-1 odds, I’m all over it.
Brett Rogers is the same height as Arlovski (6’4”) but outweighs him by about 30 lbs. He packs a serious punch, as he has destroyed all of his opponents via fists within the first two rounds. I’m taking my shot at the upset and hoping that brutha’s gonna work it out. This way Arlovski can concentrate more on his movie career. He recently filmed the third ‘Universal Soldier’ sequel titled ‘Universal Soldiers: The Next Generation’ with Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren. Seriously. If you watch this film without the subtitles on, your ears will explode and I won’t feel sorry for you.
Nick Diaz -320
Scott Smith +248
I’m thinking about renting one of those planes to write how much I hate the Diaz brothers in the sky. It used to just be a mild form of disdain, but has evolved to a passionate loathing. I am jubilant when they lose, and I weep when they win. Unfortunately the kids have talent, and I spend more time weeping than in jubilation.
Nick Diaz (19-7-0) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. It’s not his fighting that bothers me, it is his antics and thuggish mentality. He may be gone from the UFC, but he has been thriving in EliteXC, Dream and Strike Force. Diaz is on a four fight win streak, most recently taking out Frank Shamrock in the second round.
Opponent Scott Smith (16-5-0) certainly puts on exciting shows. His meetings with Pete Sell, Ed Herman and Lawler were all entertaining. I just think that Diaz is in a class above Smith here – and it pains me to say this – but I will be betting on Nick. And should Smith pull the upset, sure I’ll lose money, but I’ll still feel like a winner.
Joe Riggs -125
Phil Baroni -105
If obnoxious New Yorkers get under your skin, then you should probably cancel that tee time with Phil Baroni (13-10). Dubbed as the New York Badass, the self-proclaimed “Best Eva” makes Matt Serra seem like Woody Allen as far as demeanor goes. Do not want.
I was surprised to learn that Joe Riggs (30-11-0) was only 26 years old. It seems like I’ve seen that bleached dome getting smacked around forever. That makes him seven years younger than Baroni, who is 33. That should come into play if he can withstand Baroni’s striking.
That shouldn’t be a problem considering that in his last fight, Baroni went the distance with Olaf Alfonso. I didn’t know who that was so I looked him up. Apparently Olaf Alfonso’s legacy is the ferociousness with which he has gotten knocked out several times. Go ahead and look him up, it’s hilarious. Amongst a bevy of KO losses, you can find numerous doctor stoppages and corner stoppages. It’s not a good sign for Baroni that he went the distance with Olaf. Riggs for the win please.
On Saturday night Strike Force will air on Showtime. Then on Sunday evening it’s the WEC’s turn on VS., headlined by a highly anticipated featherweight championship rematch. Win or lose my wagers, this weekend promises to give us some memorable fights. But even more so if I win. All odds listed are from 5dimes.
Robbie Lawler -125
James Shields -105
This is the headlining fight on the Strike Force card. I honestly have no clue who is going to win, but when these two tenacious scrappers go at it, the fireworks will be sure to fly. This is definitely one to catch.
Andrei Arlovski -390
Brett Rogers +300
Arolvski (15-6) is one bad Soviet. They call him the pitbull and he fights like one. I also hear he is quite popular with the ladies, and that’s always a good thing. The former UFC heavyweight champ is widely regarded as one of the sport’s best, and I can’t disagree with that. He was actually doing some damage to the immortal Fedor Emelianenko back in January before he got careless and knocked out in mid-air. As brutal as that was, Arlovski is still a major threat to win any fight that he is in.
So could Rogers (9-0) possibly stand a chance here? Call me crazy, but I think he does, and at 3-to-1 odds, I’m all over it.
Brett Rogers is the same height as Arlovski (6’4”) but outweighs him by about 30 lbs. He packs a serious punch, as he has destroyed all of his opponents via fists within the first two rounds. I’m taking my shot at the upset and hoping that brutha’s gonna work it out. This way Arlovski can concentrate more on his movie career. He recently filmed the third ‘Universal Soldier’ sequel titled ‘Universal Soldiers: The Next Generation’ with Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren. Seriously. If you watch this film without the subtitles on, your ears will explode and I won’t feel sorry for you.
Universal Soldier Arlovski
Scott Smith +248
I’m thinking about renting one of those planes to write how much I hate the Diaz brothers in the sky. It used to just be a mild form of disdain, but has evolved to a passionate loathing. I am jubilant when they lose, and I weep when they win. Unfortunately the kids have talent, and I spend more time weeping than in jubilation.
Nick Diaz (19-7-0) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. It’s not his fighting that bothers me, it is his antics and thuggish mentality. He may be gone from the UFC, but he has been thriving in EliteXC, Dream and Strike Force. Diaz is on a four fight win streak, most recently taking out Frank Shamrock in the second round.
Opponent Scott Smith (16-5-0) certainly puts on exciting shows. His meetings with Pete Sell, Ed Herman and Lawler were all entertaining. I just think that Diaz is in a class above Smith here – and it pains me to say this – but I will be betting on Nick. And should Smith pull the upset, sure I’ll lose money, but I’ll still feel like a winner.
Stay classy Nick Diaz
Phil Baroni -105
If obnoxious New Yorkers get under your skin, then you should probably cancel that tee time with Phil Baroni (13-10). Dubbed as the New York Badass, the self-proclaimed “Best Eva” makes Matt Serra seem like Woody Allen as far as demeanor goes. Do not want.
I was surprised to learn that Joe Riggs (30-11-0) was only 26 years old. It seems like I’ve seen that bleached dome getting smacked around forever. That makes him seven years younger than Baroni, who is 33. That should come into play if he can withstand Baroni’s striking.
That shouldn’t be a problem considering that in his last fight, Baroni went the distance with Olaf Alfonso. I didn’t know who that was so I looked him up. Apparently Olaf Alfonso’s legacy is the ferociousness with which he has gotten knocked out several times. Go ahead and look him up, it’s hilarious. Amongst a bevy of KO losses, you can find numerous doctor stoppages and corner stoppages. It’s not a good sign for Baroni that he went the distance with Olaf. Riggs for the win please.
Olaf Alfonso FTL
Urijah Faber -125
Mike Brown +105
There are a few intriguing matchups on Sunday’s WEC card, but the championship main event takes the cake. Mike Brown (21-4-0) rocked the MMA world when he TKO’d Faber (22-2-0) in November. He has toyed around with Leonard Garcia since then, choking him out in the first round of their fight. Now it’s time for the rematch, and I can’t wait.
It’s good to see The California Kid finally get tested. You could only watch him pummel Jens Pulver so many times before everyone became bored. I think this held true for Faber himself, who might’ve become a bit complacent, and paid for it at the hands of Brown. He’s got super quick hands and is dangerous from any position on the mat. He wants his belt back and he’ll have the home crowd behind him in rabid fashion. All of these factors should equal some retribution for Urijah.
There are plenty of props available for this one as well. I’ll be playing for Faber to win inside the distance at +125, and for skits and wiggles I’ll put a little bit on Faber to win in the 3rd round at +925. Let’s make June a profitable MMA month.
Mike Brown +105
There are a few intriguing matchups on Sunday’s WEC card, but the championship main event takes the cake. Mike Brown (21-4-0) rocked the MMA world when he TKO’d Faber (22-2-0) in November. He has toyed around with Leonard Garcia since then, choking him out in the first round of their fight. Now it’s time for the rematch, and I can’t wait.
It’s good to see The California Kid finally get tested. You could only watch him pummel Jens Pulver so many times before everyone became bored. I think this held true for Faber himself, who might’ve become a bit complacent, and paid for it at the hands of Brown. He’s got super quick hands and is dangerous from any position on the mat. He wants his belt back and he’ll have the home crowd behind him in rabid fashion. All of these factors should equal some retribution for Urijah.
There are plenty of props available for this one as well. I’ll be playing for Faber to win inside the distance at +125, and for skits and wiggles I’ll put a little bit on Faber to win in the 3rd round at +925. Let’s make June a profitable MMA month.
