UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz 2
MGM Grand, Las Vegas, December 30, 2006
In what is expected to be the most viewed UFC match in history, Tito "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" ORTIZ (15-4) gets his chance at revenge against Chuck "The Iceman" LIDDELL (19-3). Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has recently passed boxing in terms of fan support and interest. It is an exciting sport on the rise with many accomplished wrestlers amongst its growing legion of fighters. Both Tito (Cal State Bakersfield) and Chuck (Cal Poly) have collegiate wrestling backgrounds. And, both have become legends in their MMA sport. This revenge rematch (Chuck won by TKO in the last fight) has been greatly anticipated. It should be a fight for the decades.
Tito OrtizI think Tito has just enough punching power to buy some time to work his magic. The adrenalin will flow when Tito finds himself on top. And the UFC finds it has a former Tank Abbott sparring partner as its new light heavyweight champion. Take ORTIZ +230 over Chuck LIDDELL. Tito wins by "ground-and-pound" TKO in the second round!
Forrest GRIFFIN (13-3) has become one of the UFC's most popular fighters, best known for his toe-to-toe bloodbath fight with Stephan Bonnar. Forrest also won the rematch. He doesn't feel like he's in a fight until he tastes his own blood! His opponent tonight is an ex-bounty hunter, Keith "the dean of mean" JARDINE (11-3-1), who lost a close and controversial decision to Bonnar. Both fighters like to stand and "duke it out". If it goes to the mat, Griffin will win. I'm laying my money that GRIFFIN at -335 gets a judge's decision in this one.
Andrei "The Bit Bull" ARLOVSKI (11-5) once dominated the heavyweight division, showing his abilities to win by both knockout and submission. His fights have been short. Tonight will be another. Marcio "Pa De Pano" CRUZ (2-1) is a skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter whose pathetic punching style makes going to the mat a must if he is to have any chance of winning. He doesn't, and this one will end in minutes with ARLOVSKI at -500 getting a first round KO over the out-classed foe. Andrei wants his belt back. And, rumor has it that Mirko Cro-cop may have something to say about that, too …
Michael BISBING (11-0) is a British heavyweight that is rolling through his opponents with early knockouts. He has even shown the ability to end fights through submission, a heavyweight rarity indeed. Eric SCHAFER (9-1-2) has choked out his last four opponents, so his plan is evident. He needs to get close enough to BISBING to get him vulnerable to submission in order to win. I don't see that happening. Michael is too big and too fast. This one ends with a second round KO and BISBING backers at -400 go to the winner's window again.
Chris LEBEN (15-2) was rolling through the UFC destroying people until he met up with Anderson Silva and got a first hand lesson in muy-thai fighting. Anderson pummeled and controlled Leben, locking up his head and unloading vicious leg and knee strikes. Rich Franklin lost his middleweight belt to Silva in the same manner. Canadian Jason MACDONALD (17-7) is no muy-thai fighter. But, he may be quick enough to be able to get Leben to the mat and work a submission on him. Chris will want to stand up and punch or go to the "ground-and-pound," but MMA chat rooms are a buzz at the attractive odds on this 'dog. I'll bite and take MACDONALD at +190 to get a surprise second-round arm bar submission on the red-haired psycho, Chris LEBEN.
In the undercard bouts, I see:
Tony DOSOUZA (9-2) pulls a mild upset at +110 beating Thiago ALVES (15-4) with a third-round rear-naked choke submission.
Yushin OKAMI (18-3) at �475 smothers Rory SINGER (10-6) with a second-round triangle choke submission.
Christian WELLISCH (7-2) at �145 kicks his way to a TKO victory over Anthony PERROSH (5-2).
… and in a heavyweight brawl, Gabriel GONZAGA (6-1) at �300 ends Carmelo MARRERO's (5-0) unbeaten streak with a first-round KO.
Hopefully, this card will provide not only a night full of excitement, but, a little extra holiday spending money to boot!
This upcoming year of 2007 promises to be the UFC�s most exciting season yet. Enjoy the fights!
See you at the winner's window.
The UFC Monster
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