UFC 122 Marquardt vs Okami Preview & Picks
Admittedly, the fight card for UFC 122 in Germany is as weak on paper as any I can remember. But we know the rule by now: the cards with the fewest big names are often the most entertaining since the fighters on those cards have more to prove. So don’t be surprised if the free-TV event this Saturday treats us to some wars.
Looking for the best site online for UFC gambling matchups?
Here are my picks for the main events.
Event: UFC 122: Nate Marquardt vs. Yushin Okami
Date: November 13, 2010
Time: 10PM ET/7PM PT
Location: König Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Germany
Broadcast: Spike TV (tape-delay) & PPV
Betting: Bet on UFC 122
Nate Marquardt (30-9-2) vs Yushin Okami (25-5)
UFC 122 odds: Marquardt -210, Okami +175
Though nothing is ever set in stone, Dana White has virtually “guaranteed” that the winner of this matchup will face the winner of Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort for the UFC middleweight title.
The general notion among fans and oddsmakers is that this is Marquardt’s fight to lose. He’s won four of his last five fights, losing only to Chael Sonnen, and his opponents weren’t pushovers. He dropped Martin Kampmann, Wilson Gouveia, Demian Maia and Rousimar Palhares via vicious knockouts (though the Palhares KO was a bit of a fluke as Palhares was distracted while complaining to the referee). Marquardt’s striking and power have improved dramatically over the last few years and he’s still capable on the ground as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. 
But is there a chance he gets caught sleeping on Yushin Okami? “Thunder” has quietly won five of his last six bouts. His only UFC losses are to Sonnen and Rich Franklin. He’s beaten Mick Swick, Mark Munoz, and Alan Belcher. Okami is a well-rounded fighter who grapples well, takes very few chances and doesn’t leave himself open to submissions or haymaker punches very often.
Some fight fans believe Okami will take Marquardt down and bully him the way Sonnen did. But people forget that Sonnen beat Okami that way, too. I’m not convinced that Okami is a stronger man than Marquardt. Standing up, Marquardt is the more aggressive and powerful fighter. I think he’ll work harder and, even if he doesn’t get the knockout, he’ll outscore Okami on the judges’ cards by being busier. Pick: Marquardt -210
Goran Reljic (10-2) vs Krzysztof Soszynski (21-10-1)
UFC 122 odds: Reljic -130, Soszynski +100
The UFC seems to be giving the Jorge Rivera fight more hype but this is the only bout besides the main event with odds up at most books.
Reljic was more of a grappler and submission fighter before joining the UFC but he started in the big promotion with a bang, knocking out Wilson Gouveia. He’s lost two straight bouts since then, one to C.B. Dollaway and one to Kendall Grove.
Krzysztof “The Polish Experiment” Soszynski, a fan favorite of sorts, is fresh off two crazy wars with Stephan Bonnar, the most recent of which he lost. Soszynski is a good grappler with solid submission skills and reasonably heavy hands. Bigtime strikers like Bonnar and Brandon Vera are the types that give him the most trouble. I don’t think Reljic will threaten him as much.
I like the minor upset. Pick: Soszynski +100
Official fight card
Preliminary card
Middleweight bout: Kyle Noke vs. Rob Kimmons
Light Heavyweight bout: Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Alexandre Ferreira
Welterweight bout: Pascal Krauss vs. Mark Scanlon
Welterweight bout: Duane Ludwig vs. Nick Osipczak
Light Heavyweight bout: Seth Petruzelli vs. Karlos Vemola
Welterweight bout: Kris McCray vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha
Main card
Middleweight bout: Nate Marquardt vs. Yushin Okami
Middleweight bout: Jorge Rivera vs. Alessio Sakara
Lightweight bout: Dennis Siver vs. Andre Winner
Welterweight bout: Amir Sadollah vs. Peter Sobotta
Light Heavyweight bout: Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Goran Reljic
Ready to Bet on UFC 122 Odds at BETUS.COM?? We’ll give you $75 FREE if you join today – CLICK HERE NOW!!!! Enjoy all the UFC 122 matchups folks!
