With its present lineup of five champions, the UFC has a group that ranks far superior than any of its predecessors in the history of the organization and the sport.
For a breakdown on betting lines and future UFC title bouts, Sherdog.com consulted Joey Oddessa, one of the game’s preeminent oddsmakers and wagering experts:
Lightweights
Diego Sanchez is next in line for a shot at the title and hopefully presents a better challenge than the near 3-to-1 odds indicate. Gray Maynard has improved with every appearance, but champion B.J. Penn has shown himself to be head and shoulders above the lightweights. Maynard would scale in around the same odds as Sanchez against Penn. Shinya Aoki might be the most appealing matchup for Penn outside the current UFC roster. Other non-UFC roster fighters Tatsuya Kawajiri and Eddie Alvarez are also compelling matchups for Penn, but the Hawaiian would be somewhere around a 2-to-1 favorite against any of them. ... Read More
TOKYO -- World Victory Road’s Sengoku Raiden Championships will contribute fighters to Fighting and Entertainment Group's Dynamite event on New Years Eve at the Super Saitama Arena. ... Read More
In a year during which the featherweight division has played a pivotal role, perhaps it is fitting that the division's hottest prospect will close out 2009 as its top-ranked competitor. ... Read More
A month full of MMA is already stirring movement in Sherdog’s rankings. Check out the latest update as we move into the second half of a very busy November. ... Read More
Yet again in 2009, the judges’ call in a five-round main event led to some hot-tempered backlash. Outrage aside, Mauricio Rua’s performance against light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 104 on Oct.24 proved revelatory ... Read More
While UFC 104 was marked by main event controversy, up-and-comer Cain Velasquez left little doubt about his status as an elite heavyweight prospect. ... Read More
OSAKA, Japan -- Kazushi Sakuraba has become a tradition unto himself on New Year’s Eve, as he has competed on that date for the last four years. Expect his streak to end in 2009. ... Read More
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