UFC 94 Machida vs Silva - Someone's 0 has to GoBet UFC 94 Machida vs Silva by Charles JayLet's check the odds on this fight as they are posted at Bovada Sportsbook: BetUS UFC Betting Odds UFC 94 January 31 -- Las Vegas LYOTO MACHIDA: -300 THIAGO SILVA: +200 Check out Bovada and start winning NOW! Bovada Sportsbook, Casino, Poker Room & Racebook is known in the online gambling industry for having phenomenal customer service, safe and secure deposit methods, fast & easy payouts and terrific bonuses! BET on Sports & play Poker at BOVADA and receive a 20% FREE BET on your first deposit! For betting purposes, let's look at the contestants: MACHIDA (13-0, 3 KO's), the -300 favorite in the BetUS UFC betting odds, is of Brazilian-Japanese heritage, trained in Shotokan karate and much more well-rounded since, having trained not only in karate, but sumo, jiu-jitsu and a little Thai boxing as well. He has even been involved in professional wrestling in Japan, as he was a protege of the legendary Antonio Inoki (who once fought Muhammad Ali in a mixed match). Machida defeated current UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn in a K-1 match, and didn't look especially good against the smaller man's speed. He did, however, knock out former UFC middleweight champ Rich Franklin with strikes. Machida made his UFC debut in February of 2007 with a decision over Sam Hoger. The biggest name on his resume, at least from a light heavyweight perspective, was Tito Ortiz, against whom he scored a unanimous decision in his last bout May 24 (UFC 84). Machida is perhaps not a big knockout puncher, but he is versatile. He has a wide range of moves in his arsenal, and is not averse to using leg sweeps, spinning back kicks and even forearm chokes, like he used against Michael McDonald in March of 2004 (back in Japan). SILVA (13-0, 10 KO's), the +200 underdog at BetUS, is a master of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu who came to the U.S. after winning eight consecutive fights in Brazil and one in the Pancrase organization. He had a successful debut in the UFC in May of 2007 when opponent James Irvin suffered a knee injury after only a minute and six seconds. He blasted out Houston Alexander in one round in November of '07, then, in May, he knocked out fellow Brazilian Antonio Mendes, again in just one round. To date, only one UFC competitor has made it to the second round against him - Tomasz Drwai, who was stopped at 4:23 of the second stanza at UFC 75. SIlva's last three wins have come by way of punches, and there is little question that striking is his preferred method of offense, though that does not necessarily mean he wants to remain in the stand-up position; against Alexander, for example, he did a ground-and-pound after gaining the superior position on the mat, and Mendes succumbed after a takedown as well. Silva was previously scheduled to face another unbeaten, Rashad Evans, at UFC 84, but Evans got injured. This fight with Machida was supposed to take place at UFC 89, but Silva pulled out with back problems. This fight might be considered an elimination bout of sorts, because it is quite possible that the winner will get a shot at the UFC light heavyweight champ, Rashad Evans, which would be another unbeaten vs. unbeaten clash. Machida doesn't please a lot of people, because he doesn't wade in and throw caution to the winds but instead plays things very carefully, sometimes avoiding contact altogether. However, he is effective, and no one will say that he is not talented. He's like the guy in boxing who is very technically precise as a pure boxer, but doesn't force any knockout punches and is content to be on the defensive, land scoring punches when the opportunity arises, and win on points. He is also the type who will frustrate an opponent and test his patience. With his style, it is extremely difficult to get a sustained attack going, and that is just fine with Machida. That is what is going to contribute to his success, sooner or later. Against relatively inexperienced opponents that kind of edge can be magnified, and here we can see that even though these guys have the same record, there is a difference in the quality of opposition, and therefore a difference in the experience level. Silva is most certainly a guy who wants to stand and bang. That is what he has shown most interest in doing, what has brought him the best results, and what he is good at. That is also what is going to be his curse here. When you have a guy like Machida who has no problem at all backpedaling and staying out of the fray, a stand-up fighter is liable to find himself "sleep-walking" around the Octagon. This is exactly what Machida wants, and I trust he will know how to take it from there. I'm going with the Japanese-Brazilian over the Brazilian-Brazilian, probably on a decision, but with his hand raised nonetheless, at -300 in the BetUS UFC sports betting odds. JAY'S PLAY: MACHIDA TO WIN (-300) *** (Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars) (Charles Jay is a former manager, matchmaker and color commentator in professional boxing. He currently pulls no punches in the BetUS Locker Room) --- by Charles Jay at 1800-sports.com on January 26, 2009
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