Your favorite MMA blog will probably have some picks for Saturday’s UFC show on FX, the first for the company, but we’re here to explain why the odds look the way that they do. Here is a look at the main card.

Pat Barry (10-4) vs. Christian Morecraft (9-2) – Heavyweight

Barry is favored at -165 at BetOnline, while Morecraft comes in at +145 in a meeting of two heavyweights looking to avoid a pink slip; Barry has lost three of his last four, while Morecraft has dropped two of his last three. The odds are indicative of these two being very close on the UFC scale and it’ll probably be a short fight as well as Barry’s three losses as of late have come by KO or submissions (twice), while Morecraft has been knocked out twice.

Mike Easton (11-1) vs. Jared Papazian (14-6) – Bantamweight

Easton comes into this match as a -340 favorite, while Papazian is rated at +285 and players that use price per head sports services would likely chalk up these odds to the fact that it is Papazian’s UFC debut, while Easton has his debut in the octagon in October, even though it was his first fight in two years. This will be a huge step up in competition for Papazian, and sportsbooks are skeptical because he has only really fought in the lower levels of mixed martial arts, but that also makes him a dangerous underdog.

Duane Ludwig (21-11) vs. Josh Neer (32-10-1) – Welterweight

This is a close match to call for linesmakers, much like this weekend’s Super Bowl odds think it’ll be a tight game between the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers. Ludwig is rated at -105, while Neer is listed at -115, and Neer is slightly favored because of a five-match winning streak, including his return to the UFC in October. Ludwig has won two in a row, both by decisions, while all five during Neer’s streak have come via stoppage (including four TKOs). The winner will likely get a shot on a pay-per-view in the near future.

Melvin Guillard (29-9-2, 1 NC) vs. Jim Miller (20-3) – Lightweight

The main event features two fighters looking to move up in a loaded 155-pound division, with Miller favored at -170 and Guillard comes in at +150. You would have to give Miller the edge simply based on styles; Miller is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu with two “Submission of the Night” honors, while eight of Guillard’s nine losses have come via submission. Guillard is extremely explosive, but he can also be overconfident, which cost him dearly against Joe Lauzon in October. However, with his striking power, Guillard is a dangerous underdog in your online betting book.

UFC fans will be familiar with the challenger in the main event of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine on Saturday in Las Vegas, but he’s fighting in a lighter weight class. Here is a look at the odds for his match, although with three others from the main card.

Luke Rockhold (8-1) vs. Keith Jardine (17-9-2) – Middleweight

Rockhold, the Strikeforce champion at 185 pounds, is a massive -505 favorite, while Jardine comes in at +410 in his first match at this weight after fighting at 205 pounds in the UFC. It may seem like a BetOnline scam that Jardine is such a big underdog, but he earned a draw in his Strikeforce debut at 205 pounds and that was only because Gegard Mousasi lost a point. Rockhold took the belt from Ronaldo Souza in September, and he has won seven straight in Strikeforce.

Robbie Lawler (18-8, 1 NC) vs. Adlan Amagov (9-1-1) – Middleweight

Lawler may be familiar to some players that work with sportsbook software because he has fought in the UFC and Pride, and he is a teammate of UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes. That has to be the reason why he is a -175 favorite against Amagov, who is rated at +155, and he is fighting on his first Strikeforce main card. Experience probably has something to do with the odds, but Lawler is 1-2 since returning to middleweight and he may be a gatekeeper for Amagov, who is looking to make a name for himself among MMA fans.

Muhammad Lawal (8-1) vs. Lorenz Larkin (12-0) – Light Heavyweight

This is a matchup similar to the Lawler-Amagov tilt as “King Mo” is a -500 favorite over Larkin, an up-and-comer who is listed at +405. Lawal is known to experienced players that purchase price per head software because of his accomplished wrestling background and MMA fans put a lot of stock into wrestling now. He was also the Strikeforce 205-pound champion for a few months, beating Mousasi before losing to Rafael Cavalcante, while Larkin (like Amagov) is fighting on a main card for the first time.

Tyron Woodley (9-0) vs. Jordan Mein (23-7) – Welterweight

Woodley is favored at -315, and this is likely based on his win over Paul Daley in July in which Woodley, who was known more for his wrestling, outstruck Paul Daley, who is known as one of the best 170-pound strikers in the world. Mein, from Canada, has a ton of experience, but this is his big shot as he knocked out Evangelista Santos in his first Strikeforce bout and this would definitely move him up in the standings. The welterweight title is vacant as Nick Diaz moved to the UFC, so this is a matchup that online betting players should watch for.

The UFC has taken a weekend off, so it’s time to check out the odds from another promotion as Bellator 59 in Atlantic City, and here is a look at the main card.

Thiago Santos (10-1) vs. Eric Prindle (9-1) – Heavyweight Tournament Final

Santos has won his last four fights, including three in the first round and his last two wins came via rear-naked choke, while Prindle is on a nine-match winning streak after losing his first fight. Both have plenty of power, but some sportsbook reviews may be gravitating towards Brazilian fighters, given their success in the UFC and Santos is an accomplished jiu-jitsu artist, which gives him an edge against Prindle, who focuses on wrestling and boxing. Santos seems to be a little more well-rounded, so that is why he is a -205 favorite, while Prindle is rated at +175.

Alexis Vila (11-0) vs. Eduardo Dantas (12-2) – Bantamweight Tournament Final

Vila came through a tough split decision against Marcos Galvao in his last fight, but he has some juice with price per head players because of his undefeated record and a solid number of knockouts (seven). Dantas has won five in a row and also had to battle to a split decision over Ed West, and he is versatile as he has added boxing to his jiu-jitsu repertoire. Dantas also won’t feel overwhelmed by Vila’s wrestling if he gets taken to the mat because he can use his jiu-jitsu to slap on a submission. Vila is a world-class wrestler who aims to utilize his ground-and-pound skill, which we’ve seen be effective for a lot of fighters, but soon or later he is going to get caught, which makes Dantas a dangerous+145 underdog in your pay per head sportsbook.

Kurt Pellegrino (16-6) vs. Patricky Freire (9-2) – Lightweight

Pellegrino is making his Bellator debut after losing two straight in the UFC, and he had to undergo multiple surgeries to repair various knee injuries. Freire was beaten in his last fight, which makes him a serious threat as he’ll want to avoid a skid. Both are black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and both are very tough men who have never been knocked out, although Pellegrino has been submitted three times. It’ll be interesting to see who dictates the pace of the fight and how long will it take before it goes to the mat. Pellegrino is also an excellent wrestler, and he could use this to take the fight to the mat as Freire is a dangerous striker. Freire comes in as a -120 favorite, while Pellegrino is rated at +100 and this sounds about right in a match that will be tough for online betting players to call.

Tonight kicks off a slew of MMA events this weekend, that has both hardcore and casual sports betting enthusiasts chomping at the bit. After one of the most successful debuts in prime time sports history, the UFC is back tomorrow night for another PPV event, as the promotion puts on UFC 139. Before the UFC festivities begin, their rival company Strikeforce, which was recently bought by UFC parent company ZUFFA, will be putting on a card tonight. To finish off the weekend, independent MMA company Bellator will be finishing up their Lightweight tournament also tomorrow night. Here is a preview of each event.

For diehard MMA fans, this weekend’s three promotion fight cards represent a changing of the guard of sorts. On the one hand, the UFC and Strikeforce have switched places for the weekend. Meanwhile, Bellator which is soon to debut on Spike TV, is slowly climbing the ranks of national stardom. This weekend presents major implications for all three companies, as the ratings for each card could play out in the overall MMA v boxing debate. That is to say, with boxing currently in a state of flux, if all three MMA promotions can put on a price per head spectacular weekend, we may see the end of boxing in the national spotlight.

As we noted earlier, this weekend will represent a changing of the guard, as UFC and Strikeforce will each be running events this weekend. For casual fans, what is interesting to note, is that this will be the first time Strikeforce is in Las Vegas and UFC is in California during the same weekend. Historically, Strikeforce has been the MMA promotion of the West Coast, while the UFC has occupied Las Vegas, and the East Coast. Yet, since bookie software agents ZUFFA purchased Strikeforce, they elected to trade locations of their two subsidiaries.

Including Bellator in the weekend, MMA fans have plenty to choose from. All three main events, give fans more then enough incentive to stay in or go to a bar and catch any of the fights. For example, despite being owned by the same company, the UFC and Strikeforce will be in direct competition with one another, as they both have a Light Heavyweight main event. Conversely, Bellator will be concluding their Lightweight title tournament, with the tournament finals.

Looking at the Strikeforce and UFC main events, casual fight fans will likely tune into UFC 139 over Strikeforce Britt v Sayers. Not to say that Antwain Britt and Lumumba Sayers are necessarily a bad option, but rather the casual fan is more likely to want to watch two brand name fighters such as Dan Henderson and Shogun Rua duke it out in the octagon.

Strikeforce though may see more diehard MMA fans, as not only is the card headlined by Britt v Sayers, but also by a woman’s bout featuring Ronda Rousey and Julia Budd. Strikeforce is the only North American promotion that has a women’s division, thus making them unique from the competition.

Oh look, UFC 104 odds have arrived! Wherefore were thou, UFC? It was a whole two weeks without any Fight Nights, Fight For The Troops, Ultimate Fighter Super Battle Showdowns… I was getting worried. You know I worry about you, UFC. I almost had to get into betting on boxing…who knows how THAT would turn out. Even though I know just to always put money on Pacquiao, all the time.

Anyway, here we are with UFC 104 action, so I figure it’s worth taking a look at the main two fights on the card. Although I’m thinking we’ve still got a few more events to go before the UFC stable of fighters recharges completely – and then we’ll get back quality fighters like GSP and Brock Lesnar – the main matchup of Machida vs Rua is a quality one in itself. Lyoto Machida is one mean, mean defender, and that’ll definitely be put to the test against Shogun Rua.

Shogun’s a brutal fighter himself, but his main tactic is to wait for an opening – or to take advantage of a slower, older opponent – and he’ll have none of that in Machida. Machida’s got the talent and the skills, and most impotantly, the patience. He’ll be like a cobra, just waiting to strike. (Cheesy, I know. Sorry.)

Now, it’s not really marquee, but I also want to take a look at Joe Stevenson vs Spencer Fisher for a sec. I’ve always thought Daddy was a solid fighter, even though he’s had a few ups and downs lately. He’s strong, but he might have some problems going up against the technical prowess of Fisher. Daddy’s best bet will be to take him to the mat, but good luck with that. I’m thinking Fisher may outstrike him this time around.

Now, go forth and bet on UFC! You know it’ll be a good one.

Ah, my favorite part of the summer (which is just about over now, boooo) – the continuous, mostly-awesome UFC action! (I’m taking a few points off for the severely lacking UFC 101. Disappointing what?) And although the next one up may seem unassuming on the surface, there’s actually a heckuva lot more depth to this card than you may realize offhand…

If you take a good look the UFC 102 fight card, you’ll be able to look past the main event – has-been vs geezer, uh I mean Couture vs Nogueira – and get a load of the Jardine vs Silva action that’ll be happening. It’s gonna be a nasty one, boys and girls. Silva will be chomping at the bit to prove that his huge knockout loss to Lyoto Machida in UFC 94 was a fluke, but the Dean of Mean Jardine has held his own more than enough times. Sure, Jardine’s had some troubling losses as of late, but I’ve got the feeling that he’s ready to be a full competitor again. Don’t call it a comeback, as Ice Cube would say.

So as far as UFC 102 odds go, I’m putting my wager on Jardine (with a side wager on Maia over Marquardt, despite my better instincts — sorry, female intuition). He’s got the experience and the edge over Silva, and I’m willing to also put money on the notion that he’s definitely got a game plan. But Silva ain’t gonna go down easily, so either way, this’ll be the fight to watch on Saturday night…

Give me a shout and let me know your picks, people!

I think I’ve found the perfect cure for the winter blahs, and it’s copious amounts of MMA every few weeks. Really, if you’re going to suffer through cabin fever at the brutal hands of old man winter, why not spend it watching a pair of UFC monsters suffer at each others’ brutal hands? It just makes everything better, somehow. Way to take out our vicarious anger at the dark, cold winter on each other, guys!

This is, of course, a leadup to a brief chat about the UFC 95 lines this Saturday. Aside from the excellent news that the event’s being shown for free on Spike – no shelling out ridiculous “cover” fees at a pub just to watch PPV! – the toplining matchup on this one is yet another big event: Daddy vs Nightmare, otherwise known as Joe Stevenson vs Diego Sanchez.

Of course, given that both fighters are wrestling specialists (minus the spandex tights and flying clotheslines), you could understandably figure that this match might be more snoozy than doozy. Yet I’m willing to give Sanchez an edge here, and not just because he’s got the cooler nickname — Stevenson hasn’t been able to measure up as well on the big stage, whereas Sanchez is just starting to find his true potential. He’s on his way up, and I’ve got the feeling he’ll be using Daddy as his next stepping stone.

As far as deeper UFC 95 picks go, my other focus is going to be on the Koscheck vs Thiago match. The savvy sportsbook guru knows that Koscheck’s odds have been looking pretty hot lately, and I’m willing to bet they’re just going to keep rising. Plus come on, how can you argue with a guy who looks like this?

Needs a fresh dye job to get rid of those roots, but somehow I doubt one’s hair color matters when you’re busy pounding a dude’s face into the mat. Saturday!

So the Pacquiao vs De La Hoya line is now pretty much skyrocketing, as I could’ve predicted for you in my last post. Really, this is shaping up to be the PPV event of the decade, not to mention guaranteed rioting in the Phillipines either way (anybody got an over/under on that?). So tomorrow’s all well and good for the old-fashioned boxing-match fans, but what about us gals who want something a little more, well…physical?

That’s an easy one: more UFC odds!

We’re a lucky lot of MMA-lovin’ women this time around, as there’s not one but two events to be looking forward to. First up is some UFC Fight Night betting on December 10, and although this event isn’t as high-profile as some others – it’s the annual “Fight for the Troops” show, though the extra dose of patriotism certainly doesn’t hurt the WWE when they do it – it’s got a great bout upcoming between Josh Koscheck and Yoshiyuki Yoshida. Although Koscheck lost his last fight at UFC 90, Yoshida hasn’t even fought since UFC 89 (though he put in a stunning performance then), so it’s pretty easy to see who might have the advantage here. Sure enough, MMA lines put Koscheck as the better pick. Go for it.

Also, if you’re not big on the Emerald Bowl betting on December 27, then try some UFC 92 odds on for size. It’s the Griffin vs Evans show here, and although I have my doubts about any contestant culled from a reality show, you can’t argue that it’s not an interesting matchup for a headlining fight. Griffin is simple stylistically, but quite literally packs a punch. Evans is the more flashy fighter, but he can’t be underestimated either. Sure enough, the Griffin vs Evans line may favor Griffin for his hard-hitting style, but I’m going to have to go with Evans here. More stamina. More fun to watch. Perfect when you want to have fisticuff entertainment during the holidays that doesn’t involve drunken in-laws.

Happy holidays!

Although it’d be more appropriate to open up this new womens’ betting blog with an offshore sportsbook‘s entertainment prop odds, I’d rather stay true to my tomboy heritage and, in the spirit of UFC 91 this Saturday, give a quick post about our unexpected love for, well, bloodsport. Reading this article this morning about Diana Ocampo – the brains (and beauty to boot) behind Total Combat MMA promotions – was inspiring, to say the least. That there is a role model, fightin’ ladies. Take notes.

Anyway, turns out UFC is something of a phenomenon among women, including female sports bettors. I dunno if it’s because there’s a bunch of us left over from the heyday of the WWE (if that’s the case, then I’d wager that the majority of female UFC fans will be rooting for Brock Lesnar), but there’s just something about two muscle-y shirtless dudes pummelling each other that gets a girl’s blood going.

I’m not a girl who goes for the `roids, but seriously! Look at that guy! That’s just stupid and amazing. And according to MMA lines for UFC 91 betting, Lesnar’s got the edge in this bout, what with the youth and the talent and the current experience and- yeah, just look at that picture again. Couture will put up a good fight but ultimately not stand a chance.

So, take off your press-on nails and get your ass into a seat at the nearest pub this Saturday to cheer on the big boys along with, uh, the boys. The more women that get into MMA and UFC, the possible less ridiculous Jell-O wrestling and diva catfights we’ll have to suffer through on the small screen. Well, a girl can hope, anyway.