UFC 117
Sports Interaction betting analyst Al Dannity breaks down the big fights at UFC 117 this weekend.The clock is ticking for Anderson Silva. The UFC Middleweight champion knows his time in the limelight might be running out and only a big win over Chael Sonnen can save him. Dana White has decreed that anything less than an impressive performance will see Silva kicked out of the promotion. White's decision stems for the crazy theatrics Silva used against Demian Maia in his last title defense. Well the show is well and truly over. Anderson Silva must prove to his critics that he is a fighter, not a dancer.
Chael Sonnen is the ideal opponent for the Brazilian. Sonnen has done everything he can in recent months to anger Silva. The bad news for Sonnen is that Anderson Silva doesn't get mad, he gets even. The challenger has good wrestling credentials and he has fought some of the best fighters in the business but he has set himself up for an unmerciful beating against Silva. The greatest pound-for-pound fighter on the planet is going to make Sonnen eat his words on Saturday night. We are going to see a determined and focussed performance from Anderson Silva on Saturday night, one that will inflict a lot of pain on Chael Sonnen Bet on Anderson Silva at -556 to win big with Sports Interaction.
Bettors looking for value at UFC 117 should look no further than Matt Hughes. The former UFC Welterweight champions underdog against Ricardo Almeida. He may be 37 but there's still plenty of gas left in Hughes' tank. Bet on Matt Hughes to score an upset at +135 with Sports Interaction. Staying in the welterweight division, the co-main event sees Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves square off in a re-match from four years ago. I expect these two to deliver a classic in Oakland. A win here could set either fighter up for a title shot down the road. Alves hasn't been inside the octagon since UFC 100 and this time away will prove decisive. Fitch has been a far more active fighter in recent times and already owns a win over the Brazilian. I like Fitch to win via decision.
Finally we come to the big boys and there's a lot a stake when Junior dos Santos and Roy Nelson square off. Whoever wins this fight will get a shot at the UFC Heavyweight title. Junior dos Santos is well worth the -417 price with Sports Interaction. Nelson is a unique competitor with great heart but dos Santos is on a great run and I don't see it stopping on Saturday. Bet on Junior dos Santos to win big with Sports Interaction.
