The Weekly MMA CrapSHOOT 05.16.08: Counting Down The Days Till The Summer of MMA
Posted by Fredrick Peterson on 05.16.2008
Another Week Closer to 3 Huge Events in Three Straight Weeks! Urijah Faber Speaks! Dana White Looking at the Wrong Super Fight!?! Crush Destroys Competition on American Gladiators!
Another week another edition of the Weekly CrapSHOOT!
We are one week away from MMA summer 2008. Thank goodness for TUF or I would be freaking out a little bit. The only part that sucks about this time of year is all the weddings. Don't get me wrong weddings are a lot of fun but six weddings in eight weeks is a bit of a hassle and quite expensive (And I'm gonna miss a bunch of fights). Anyway enough ranting about weddings, on to the MMA!
Urijah Faber:
I was very impressed with Urijah Faber's inverview from Betweentheropes.com. Not only did he come off as an intelligent fighter but he also came across as very humble. These are the kinds of fighters we need to make the sport not look like a bunch of animals and thugs.
I was also very surprised to hear him say that he would be willing to both move up and down weight classes. This could set up a lot of great fights that would be a blast for everyone. The Kid Yamamoto fight at 135 would be amazing along with a fight against BJ Penn at 155. Since the weight classes are only 10 pounds apart this actually seems reasonable. It would be possible for Faber to win all three title in the WEC, I don't think anyone from that organization at 135 or 155 is better than him. Imagine a unification fight at 155 against BJ! I hope something materializes out of this.
Lightweight Champion Moving Up a Class?:
In an interview (Pre fight media call for UFC 84) Dana White stated that he does not want a champion to challenge another champion until he has cleaned out his division. After saying that he went out to say that the winner of Sherk/Penn would likely face winner of Florian/Huerta. After this fight he said the division is basically cleaned out for the time being. What happened to 11-1 Tyson Griffin? He surely deserves to be in this mess especially with a victory over a top guy such as Joe Stevenson.
The thing I am the most confused about is the talk of the lightweight division being the one to change weight classes. Both Sherk and Penn have both already lost to St. Pierre! I agree I would love to see Penn fight St. Pierre again when he is well conditioned but I think undoubtedly that Dana should work on the Silva vs St. Pierre fight.
Crush on Gladiators:
I am not sure how many people actually watch American Gladiators but Crush (Gina Carano) is a total beast! On the first episode this season they announced that she was undefeated in all games last season. Considering that she did joust, pyramid, and Earthquake (grappling over water) she's damn good. On this episode she continued her streak and stuffed her opponents in joust and pyramid.
CRAPSHOOT:
Rules: Each week I will be looking at the odds on all the upcoming fights. I have 500 to spend on each event. I can spend under 500 but never more. Picks may be placed from either Bodog or BetUS odds. A pick can be locked in early for desirable odds. Once a pick is made it cannot be removed unless a fighter is pulled. A running Tally will be scored to keep track of all wins and losses.
Remember that odds are calculated off 100. A positive number indicates that 100 down would yield whatever the positive number is plus the hundred you spent. A negative number indicates the amount you would have to put down to win 100.
(BD = BoDog, BU = BetUS)
Another week has gone by and the Odds have not changed at all for BetUS, slight changes for BoDog(Sherk Penn Only). I can't wait till next week when the rest of the UFC card is ready hopefully along with the EliteXC odds.
Odds for UFC 84, May 24th (Still nothing from BetUS)
Wanderlei Silva -160 (BD) -185 (BU)
Keith Jardine +130 (BD) +145 (BU)
I really wish I would have waited and took Jardine at 145.
Lyoto Machida -200 (BD) -220 (BU)
Tito Ortiz +160 (BD) +175 (BU)
Still nobody is betting on Tito. With his interviews I think he may actually come out really strong this fight. Regardless I think Machida is just too good.
BJ Penn -220(BD) -230 (BU)
Sean Sherk +200(BD) +180 (BU)
Holy crap Sherk is a 2 to 1 underdog! I put this fight at 55-45 in Penn's favor at best. Another one I should have waited for!
Early Odds for UFC 85, June 7th
Fabricio Werdum -110(BD)
Brandon Vera -120(BD)
This is no fun.
Nate Marquardt -145(BD)
Thales Leites +115(BD)
Nothing new on this front
Early Odds for UFC 86, July 5th
Quinton Jackson -260(BD)
Forrest Griffin +200(BD)
Go Forrest!
Early Odds for UFC 87, Aug 9th
Brock Lesnar -295(BD)
Mark Coleman +235(BD)
Yuck.
New Picks: None
Hope next week has some new stuff!!
Previous Picks:
UFC 84:
Credits Bet: 500
Possible Gain: 600
200 on Lyoto Machida at -200 4.25.08
100 on Keith Jardine at +130 4.25.08
200 on Sean Sherk at +185 4.25.08
OVERALL WINNINGS (Or LOSSES): +50
UFC 83: +50 (losses on Serra & Lutter, win with Macdonald)
Until next time stay out of trouble and enjoy your weekend. Enjoy the NBA/NHL playoffs until all the MMA starts next week!
