UFC odds: Story -130, Marquardt +100<\/strong><\/p>\nWho could\u2019ve imagined a year ago that we\u2019d see Rick Story versus Nate Marquardt as a main event \u2013 and at 170 pounds, no less?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a surprise to see each guy in this fight. Story is less than a month removed from an upset win over Thiago Alves, his sixth straight in the UFC. He took the Marquardt matchup on short notice after Anthony Johnson pulled out with an injury. Marquardt was already one of the biggest guys in the middleweight division, so it\u2019s pretty shocking to see him drop down another weight class, even if he was slumping.<\/p>\n
Though I was hoping to see Story get underdog odds on account of not yet being a household name, I\u2019m still all over him as my pick. He makes sense on so many levels.<\/p>\n
Marquardt\u2019s huge frame shouldn\u2019t scare you away from Story. Thiago Alves is just as big, reportedly walking around at 200-plus pounds despite fighting at 170, and Story had no problem going toe to toe with him. The size won\u2019t be a factor.<\/p>\n
What might be a factor: the weight cut. Marquardt is such a big guy it\u2019s hard to imagine the cut going smoothly (Alves had already done it countless times before facing Story). He could easily gas out and\/or get a case of the spaghetti legs. I also like Story from a pure fight perspective. He can handle Marquardt in the grappling game, as he\u2019s a former collegiate wrestler. On the striking side, I give him the edge, too. Marquardt may be more technical but he\u2019s become very tentative in recent bouts. Story is just the opposite. He\u2019s a fearless, bulldog of a fighter who loves to walk forward and pressure his opponents.<\/p>\n
Marquardt is a tough guy to finish, so he may not wind up unconscious on the canvas at the end of this fight, but I do think Story will overwhelm him. There\u2019s big pressure on Marquardt to succeed and he\u2019s come out flat in recent high-stakes fights. Pick: Story -130<\/strong><\/p>\nPat Barry (6-2) vs Cheick Kongo (15-6-2)<\/h3>\n
UFC odds: Barry +150, Kongo -180<\/strong><\/p>\nBarry vs Kongo is a fun matchup for a few reasons. For one, it\u2019s a battle of two elite kickboxers. Hopefully, their pride will kick in and they\u2019ll really throw down. Secondly, it\u2019s a chance for two arguably overrated fighters to put their money where their mouths are.