There was something poetic about top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko falling in a Leon-Spinks-esque upset last Saturday night at Strikeforce. It represented a changing of the guard, opening the door to the world\u2019s new top heavyweights \u2013 which are housed in the UFC. <\/p>\n
Event<\/strong>: UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin The global consensus is that the winner of Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin\u2019s heavyweight title bout won\u2019t just crown an undisputed UFC heavyweight champ, but also the top heavyweight in all of mixed martial arts. Needless to say, this should be epic. Let\u2019s break down the main event.<\/p>\n Brock Lesnar (4-1) vs Shane Carwin (12-0)<\/strong> Don\u2019t be surprised if Saturday\u2019s pay-per-view sets a new record for buys. It\u2019s hard not to get excited over a clash between the sport\u2019s two unstoppable monsters \u2013 the only two UFC fighters who are so big that they require custom-made glove sizes.<\/p>\n The problem facing bettors is that Lesnar and Carwin appear so similar. Both are accomplished collegiate wrestlers. Both generate unbelievable punching power from short distances. So how do we distinguish them from each other enough to make a pick?<\/p>\n Lesnar may have the slight athleticism advantage. The guy is an absolute freak, an NCAA division-1 national wrestling champion who also played on an NFL practice squad and won the UFC heavyweight title in his fourth professional fight. Don\u2019t lump him in with WWE wrestlers. Love him or hate him, Lesnar is a world-class athlete. He\u2019s usually around 280 pounds on fight day but \u201cmoves like a welterweight,\u201d as Joe Rogan puts it. In terms of girth and agility, he may be superior to Carwin. The scariest thing: as Lesnar recovered from a life-threatening illness over the winter, doctors suggested he\u2019d beaten fighting at only 60 per cent of his capacity. So what\u2019s his ceiling? I give the striking edge to Shane Carwin. Whereas Lesnar has scored his knockouts from mounting and bludgeoning opponents, Carwin has demonstrated unbelievable one-punch knockout power. In fact, no opponent has survived a\u00a0single round <\/em>against Carwin in his 13 pro bouts. His longest fight to date came against Mir, whom he knocked out in 3:48.<\/p>\n It\u2019s this devastating power that makes be believe Carwin can pull off the upset. Brock Lesnar has never truly been hit in his MMA career. He doesn\u2019t know what it feels like to get hurt by a punch yet and Carwin can move mountains with his fists. Also, with a year-long layoff, it\u2019s possible that Lesnar may suffer from ring rust.<\/p>\n Carwin has the experience edge, the standup edge and is big enough that he may be the first man to neutralize Lesnar\u2019s wrestling. Toss in Lesnar\u2019s potential rust and I think you have the upset formula.<\/p>\n Pick: Carwin +130<\/strong><\/p>\n OTHER UFC 116 FIGHTS TO CONSIDER<\/strong><\/p>\n Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1, 2 NC) vs Chris Leben (20-6)<\/strong> Tough break for Akiyama. His original opponent, Wanderlei Silva, pulled out due to injury. Now, he faces a lower guy on the totem pole and thus has nothing to gain and everything to lose from this fight. Worse yet, he could get caught underestimating the powerful Leben, who may actually be a better fighter than Silva at this stage of his career. There\u2019s no pressure at all on the brawler Leben. Go with the upset.<\/p>\n Pick: Leben +185<\/strong><\/p>\n George Sotiropoulos (12-2) vs Kurt Pellegrino (15-4)<\/strong><\/p>\n UFC 116 odds: Sotiropoulos -250, Pellegrino +175<\/p>\n No disrespect to the solid Kurt Pellegrino \u2013 but I was disappointed to hear that he was Sotiropoulos\u2019 next opponent. The Aussie absolutely dominated Joe Stevenson and I can\u2019t help but think battling Pellegrino next is a lateral move at best. His versatility and reach advantage should make this an easy bout. How long before George gets a title shot?<\/p>\n Pick: Sotiropoulos -250<\/strong><\/p>\n MAIN CARD<\/strong><\/p>\n PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)<\/strong><\/p>\n PRELIMINARY CARD (Un-aired) <\/strong><\/p>\n
\nDate<\/strong>: Jul 03, 2010
\nTime<\/strong>: 10PM ET\/7PM PT
\nLocation<\/strong>: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
\nBroadcast<\/strong>: Pay-per-view and Spike TV
\nBet On UFC 116<\/strong>: CLICK HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nHEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nUFC 115 odds: Lesnar -160, Carwin +130<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/media.partners.betus.com\/BANNERS\/ufc\/sportsbook_ufc_300x600_mybanner.gif\")
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\nUFC 116 odds: Akiyama -225, Leben +185<\/p>\nOfficial Fight card<\/h3>\n
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