UFC 132 odds: Cruz -150, Faber +130<\/strong><\/p>\nTalk about a statement fight. Both Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber have much to prove in the UFC\u2019s inaugural bantamweight title bout.<\/p>\n
Cruz is 17-1 but the only man to ever beat him is none other than Faber, who submitted him via guillotine choke four years ago in a WEC featherweight championship match. Naturally, Cruz wants to show that he\u2019s an evolved fighter capable of overcoming his only defeat. Faber is out to show that he\u2019s still a superstar and the king of the small weight classes.<\/p>\n
This is an interesting bout in that both guys aren\u2019t overmatched in the other\u2019s \u201cworld.\u201d Cruz definitely prefers to stand and box and Faber is an outstanding grappler but Cruz can wrestle and Faber\u2019s hands are more than respectable.<\/p>\n
Some people think that Cruz will rely on superior speed and technique to outpoint Faber, just as Jose Aldo did, but I don\u2019t agree. Eddie Wineland\u2019s striking was supposed to be better than Faber\u2019s as well and Faber looked surprisingly fast as a bantamweight. Also, Faber should have a major mental edge in this fight. First off, he already has the win over Cruz, who has done lots of verbal mudslinging and appears to be letting Faber get into his head. Secondly, Faber is used to the big stage. He was the WEC\u2019s poster boy for years and already has a UFC fight under his belt.<\/p>\n
I expect Faber to close the gap and break Cruz\u2019s will. Cruz will feel more pressure, could be nervous, and may grow frustrated if he can\u2019t keep the fight standing. This bout could unfold very similarly to Anthony Pettis\u2019 flop against Clay Guida. Also worth noting: this is a five-round fight and Faber is tough as nails. He\u2019s finished 20 opponents in his 25 wins; Cruz has only put way seven guys in his 17 wins.<\/p>\n
Pick: Faber +130<\/strong><\/p>\nMiddleweight: Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1, 1 NC) vs Chris Leben (25-7)<\/h3>\n
UFC odds: Silva -180, Leben +155<\/strong><\/p>\nOooh baby. Hide your kids, hide your wife if you don\u2019t want them to see a bloodbath. Is there any way Silva vs Leben doesn\u2019t end up as the fight of the night, if not the year?<\/p>\n
Few if any two fighters on the planet are as criminally insane as Wanderlei \u201cThe Axe Murderer\u201d Silva and Chris \u201cThe Crippler\u201d Leben. In MMA lingo, they\u2019re \u201czombies,\u201d guys who can essentially get knocked out on their feet without falling down and continue to throw haymakers like madmen.<\/p>\n
Naturally, Silva and Leben both have the one-punch knockout power to end the fight at any second. They also both have underrated ground games, especially Silva, who is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.<\/p>\n
I think this bout will come down to \u201cfighting age.\u201d Silva just has too much tread on the tires. I know he\u2019s had a year off and has trained hard but his brilliant prime is over. He\u2019s 2-5 over his last seven fights (albeit all against great competition) and 2-3 since returning to the UFC. [ad-3573245]<\/p>\n
Leben is fresh off a vicious knockout loss to Brian Stann but had won three straight before then. I just think he\u2019ll be a bit quicker to the punch than Silva and may be able to absorb a few more big shots. This should be a ton of fun. <\/p>\n
Pick: Leben +155<\/strong><\/p>\nLight heavyweight: Tito Ortiz (15-8-1) vs Ryan Bader (12-1)<\/h3>\n
UFC 132 odds: Ortiz +400, Bader -500<\/strong><\/p>\nBoth Tito Ortiz and the UFC want you to believe this is a big fight, but it just isn\u2019t. It only happened because (a) Bader, his ego bruised after losing badly to Jon Jones, wanted a cupcake matchup against a big name and (b) Ortiz begged the UFC to give him one more chance to keep his job.<\/p>\n
Tito\u2019s career has been brilliant and he\u2019ll forever be remembered among the sport\u2019s best, most important fighters. But he ain\u2019t beating Ryan Bader on Saturday. Bader is just a younger, stronger version of him. Bader is a dominant wrestler and Ortiz was once <\/em>a dominant wrestler. Bader hits much harder. Tito\u2019s only chance may be a desperation submission off his back. But, if Matt Hamill could manhandle Ortiz, Tito should be losing sleep over what Bader will do to him.<\/p>\nEventually, when he climbs back up the ladder, Bader\u2019s mental toughness may be questioned, but it won\u2019t happen at UFC 132. Ortiz won\u2019t push him hard enough. <\/p>\n
Pick: Bader -500<\/strong><\/p>\nUFC 132: OFFICIAL FIGHT CARD<\/h3>\n
Main card<\/strong>
\nBantamweight Championship bout: Dominick Cruz (c) vs. Urijah Faber
\nMiddleweight bout: Wanderlei Silva vs. Chris Leben
\nLight Heavyweight bout: Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader
\nWelterweight bout: Carlos Condit vs. Dong Hyun Kim
\nLightweight bout: Dennis Siver vs. Matt Wiman<\/p>\nPreliminary card (Spike TV)<\/strong>
\nLightweight bout: Melvin Guillard vs. Shane Roller
\nLightweight bout: George Sotiropoulos vs. Rafael dos Anjos<\/p>\nPreliminary card (Facebook)<\/strong>
\nBantamweight bout: Brian Bowles vs. Takeya Mizugaki
\nMiddleweight bout: Brad Tavares vs. Aaron Simpson
\nLightweight bout: Anthony Njokuani vs. Andre Winner
\nBantamweight bout: Jeff Hougland vs. Donny Walker<\/p>\n