UFC 104 Betting - Full Main Card Preview

This weekend’s UFC 104 betting affair pairs some top flight guys and a one sleeper who might bring the house down.

-450 Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida vs. +325 Mauricio “Shogun” Rua:

Let’s start with Rua. He is only 2-3 years removed from being touted as the best pound for pound mixed martial artist in the world. He is coming off of two straight victories, the victims Chuck Liddell and Marc Coleman.

Rua showed some heavy hands (if these fights didn’t convince you just ask Matt Lindland) and some solid take downs. He actually got Chuck to the ground, which few have ever done.

Rua will need to keep his head about him and hope all his skills are as sharp as they can be as Machida is master of patience, rhythm and execution (pardon the pun).

He is akin to an assassin sitting in a clock tower just waiting for his shot and then BAM, lights out. He solidified his brand in America walking through Tito to an easy decision and most recently in the destruction of Rashad Evans, firmly establishing himself as one of the pound for pound best.

-300 Cain Velasquez vs. +220 Ben Rothwell

Cain is dominant wrestler, who simply looks like a fighter. He recently passed a tough test against Cheik Kongo, a deadly striker. Not only were Cain’s wrestling skills on display that night, so was his chin as Kongo rocked Velasquez several times with his laser right hand.

Velasquez’s trainers think he is ready for the likes of Brock Lesner, but that may be a little pre-mature. Its no denying that he can chuck the leather and his take downs are nothing short of impressive, ask Kongo, but lets just see how he does Saturday night before we give him a shot at the champ.

Rothwell may not have the publicity machine of the UFC behind him, but this guy can fight. Before the IFL crumbled, he scored a slugfest victory over Kimbo slayer Roy Nelson. He has also been toe to toe with top heavyweights Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski, he may have lost both, but showed he can stand and deliver. This should be a nice matchup of two big boys looking to stake their claim for a shot at the title.

-105 Pat Barry Vs -125 Antoni Hardonk

Pat Barry is a K-1 crossover, so you know he can strike. His issues, like most making this change, come in the form of submission defense and overall ground game. Hardonk wants to hit the mat quickly as he possesses solid jiu jitsu skills, so watch your extremities when on the mat. Both guys can bomb to the legs with kicks; someone could get chopped down.

-250 Yushin Okami vs. +185 Chael Sonnen

Okami is known as the last man to walk away from a fight with Anderson Silva victorious…sure Silva kicked him into the next county, illegally, but a win is a win, and 24-3 this guy can fight. Sonnen may best be known for his odd showdowns with Paulo Filho, he lost in a “pseudo” tap to an arm bar and scored victory over a “pilled” out Filho in the second. Okami could look to a showdown with Silva with a win; Sonnen looks to bounceback and establish himself as a legit UFC middleweight.