- Check out UFC 130 Odds.

The next main Ultimate Fighting Championship event is just a month away. UFC 129 will be held on April 30th at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The card will feature seven preliminary bouts prior to the five main fights.

Welterweight Championship bout: Jake Shields (+275) vs. Georges St-Pierre (-450)

Shields (26-4-1 MMA record) will be making just his second appearance at a UFC event. The 32-year-old American stopped Martin Kampmann at UFC 121 last October. He has won 15 consecutive MMA bouts to gain a title shot. Shields has a fighting style that has elements of wrestling, kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. St-Pierre (21-2) is the reigning Welterweight champion and a veteran on the UFC circuit. The 29-year-old Canadian has participated in 17 UFC events since 2004. The two-time UFC Welterweight champ has been able to defend his current title in five fights since August of 2008. St-Pierre’s style is influenced by boxing, wrestling and Muay Thai. In his home country, the favorite prevails in this one.

Featherweight Championship bout: Mark Hominick (+275) vs. Jose Aldo (-450)

As a native of Ontario, Canada, Hominick (20-8) will have the crowd on his side in this matchup. He has been able to get a shot at the title with five straight victories. In January, the 28-year-old Hominick defeated George Roop in a title eliminator match. His style is based on elements of kickboxing and Muay Thai. Aldo (18-1) will be making his UFC debut in this bout. The 24-year-old Brazilian was the World Extreme Cagefighting Featherweight champion when WEC was merged into the UFC last year. In the transition, he was declared as the first UFC Featherweight champion. Aldo’s fighting style is based on Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The favorite wins again in this bout.

Light Heavyweight bout: Randy Couture (+225) vs. Lyoto Machida (-350)

Couture (19-10) has won his last three fights heading into this battle. The UFC legend stopped former boxer James Toney in his most recent bout last August. At the age of 47, Couture is trying to recapture some of his past glory that has enabled him to be a five-time UFC champion in two weight classifications. He is set to tie Matt Hughes for most all-time UFC fights with 24. Couture has a pretty basic style in the cage that is based on boxing and wrestling. Like Couture, Machida (16-2) is a former UFC Lightweight champion. The 32-year-old Brazilian held a perfect MMA record until losing both of his outings in 2010. He fell to Quinton Jackson at UFC 123 in his most recent effort. Machida attacks his foes with elements of Karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The younger fighter gains the edge in this matchup.

Lightweight bout: Ben Henderson (-115) vs. Mark Bocek (-115)

Henderson (12-2) is another WEC transplant. The 27-year-old American lost his last fight to Anthony Pettis last December. Henderson is influenced in the cage by wrestling and Tae Kwon Do. Bocek (9-3) will be eager to fight in his hometown at UFC 129. The 29-year-old will be making his eighth appearance at a UFC event. His style is based on elements of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kempo. In a tight bout, Bocek delights the fans with a victory.

After UFC 116 in July, the next major UFC event will head to the Bay Area. UFC 117 will be held at the Oracle Arena in Oakland on August 7th. It will mark the first time that the city has hosted a UFC card. The lineup features six preliminary matches with five bouts on the main card.

A couple of countries will be seeking bragging rights on the main card. All five bouts will feature fighters from the United States against Brazilian opponents. In a heavyweight bout, American Roy Nelson will take on Junior Dos Santos. A lightweight fight will feature Brazil’s Rafael dos Anjos versus Clay Guida. In a welterweight battle, Matt Hughes from the United State will square off against Ricardo Almeida. Another welterweight bout, Brazil’s Thiago Alves will tangle with Jon Fitch. In the headline affair, American Chael Sonnen will attempt to take the middleweight title away from Anderson Silva.

Middleweight Championship Fight: Chael Sonnen (+350) vs. Anderson Silva (-500)

In the marquee bout of the evening, Sonnen (24-10-1 MMA record) will try to pull a significant upset. The 33-year-old has posted a 10-2 mark in his last 12 fights to get a crack at the title. Sonnen made the transition to MMA after being an All-American wrestler at the University of Oregon. His initial pro MMA fight was in 2002. In his last bout, he defeated Nate Marquardt at UFC 109 in February. Silva (26-4) has become a dominant force in UFC. He has won 12 straight matches since his last defeat in early 2006. Silva captured the UFC title with a victory over Rich Franklin in October of 2006. Since that win, the 35-year-old has successfully defended his belt on six other occasions. In his last fight in April at UFC 112, Silva handled Demian Maia. His versatility in a variety of mixed martial arts has helped Silva greatly in the UFC. Silva is experienced in Boxing, Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Judo and Capoeira. He has been a pro MMA fighter since 2000. In this matchup, Silva’s dominant run continues. (Collect Your MMA Betting Bonus!)

Welterweight Fight: Jon Fitch (+110) vs. Thiago Alves (-140)

Fitch (22-3) has lost only once in his last 21 bouts. The 32-year-old moved into MMA after being a wrestler in college for the Purdue Boilermakers. He made his pro MMA debut back in 2002. Fitch came up short in his bid for the UFC Welterweight Championship two years ago. At UFC 87, he lost to Georges St-Pierre in a title bout. In his last fight, Fitch defeated Ben Saunders at UFC 111 in March. Alves (16-6) will be looking for some revenge in this matchup. He lost to Fitch back in 2006. After that defeat, the 26-year-old reeled off seven straight wins to get a title match against St-Pierre. At UFC 100 last July, Alves dropped a unanimous decision to the Canadian. With a background in Jiu-Jitsu, he made his MMA debut in 2001. In the rematch against Fitch, the younger Alves prevails. (Collect Your MMA Betting Bonus!)

Lightweight Bout: Rafael Dos Anjos (-115) vs. Clay Guida (-125)

Dos Anjos (14-4) has won his last three bouts heading into this matchup. In his last outing, the 25-year-old stopped Terry Etim at UFC 112. Dos Anjos has a style of fighting that is based in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He made his UFC debut in November of 2008. In that bout, Dos Anjos lost to Jeremy Stephens at UFC 91. Guida (26-11) defeated Shannon Gugerty in his last fight in March. The 28-year-old made the transition into MMA after being a wrestler in high school and college. Guida made his professional debut back in 2003. He began his run in the UFC three years later. In a tight battle, Dos Anjos pulls this one out. (Collect Your MMA Betting Bonus!)

Welterweight bout: Matt Hughes (+140) vs. Ricardo Almeida (-170)

Hughes (44-7) is just 3-3 in his last six fights. He was able to handle Renzo Gracie in his last outing at UFC 112. The UFC Hall of Famer and two-time Welterweight champion is trying to get back on top at the age of 36. Hughes had a background in wrestling before getting involved in MMA. He made his pro debut in 1998 before joining the UFC a year later. Hughes captured the UFC Welterweight championship with a victory over Carlos Newton. He defended his belt in five straight title bouts before losing the crown to B.J. Penn at UFC 46 in 2004. Hughes was able to regain his title at UFC 50 with a win over Georges St-Pierre. After being able to defend his championship twice, Hughes dropped a rematch to St-Pierre at UFC 65 in 2006. Almeida (12-3) defeated Matt Brown in his most recent bout at UFC 111 in March. The 33-year-old uses elements of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, wrestling and boxing in his fighting style. Almeida made his pro MMA debut back in 2000. He joined the UFC ranks two years ago. In this matchup, the younger Almeida prevails. (Collect Your MMA Betting Bonus!)

Heavyweight bout: Roy Nelson (+250) vs. Junior Dos Santos (-350)

Nelson (15-4) will be making his initial appearance at one of the UFC’s marquee events. The bout against Dos Santos will determine who will become the #1 contender for the UFC Heavyweight championship. The 34-year-old Nelson won his UFC debut against Stefan Struve in March. His fighting background features elements of boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Shaolin Kung Fu. Nelson was able to move into the UFC after winning the Ultimate Fighter title. His exhibition victory over Kimbo Slice was one of the highest rated telecasts in MMA history. Dos Santos (11-1) is an emerging force on the UFC circuit. He has won his last six bouts heading into this matchup. In his last fight, Dos Santos stopped Gabriel Gonzaga in March. The 25-year-old made his MMA debut in 2006. He made his UFC debut at UFC 90 in 2008. Dos Santos has a style that is based in boxing, kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The heavy favorite continues his roll in this one. (Collect Your MMA Betting Bonus!)

The next major UFC event is set to take place on July 3rd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The lineup will feature six preliminary bouts before the main card of five fights. A heavyweight championship battle including Brock Lesnar is the marquee event.

Heavyweight Championship Fight: Shane Carwin (+160) vs. Brock Lesnar (-200)

Carwin (12-0 MMA record) captured the interim heavyweight belt in his last fight at UFC 111 in March. The 35-year-old can really make a name for himself with an upset in UFC 116. Lesnar (4-1) has emerged as one of the top draws in the UFC ranks. He made a name for himself in the early part of last decade as a wrestler for WWE. In 2004, Lesnar attempted to begin a career in the NFL. He played in some preseason games for the Minnesota Vikings but couldn’t make the regular season roster. Lesnar captured the heavyweight title with a victory over MMA legend Randy Couture at UFC 91 in 2008. In his first defense of the title last year, the 32-year-old Lesnar defeated Frank Mir at UFC 100 to retain his belt. His only MMA defeat had been to Mir at UFC 81. Lesnar defends his title again versus Carwin. (Bet on UFC 116 Today)

Middleweight Fight: Yoshihiro Akiyama (+140) vs. Wanderlei Silva (-170)

After beginning his MMA career on the K-1 circuit in Japan, Akiyama (13-1) pulled out a win over Alan Belcher in his UFC debut last July. The 34-year-old made the transition to MMA from Judo. Silva (33-10-1) will celebrate his 34th birthday in the cage against Akiyama. His most notable bout came back in 2000. Silva fell to Tito Ortiz for the light heavyweight crown at UFC 25 in Tokyo. Recently, he has dropped five of his last seven bouts. During the stretch, Sliva has lost to Chuck Liddell and Quinton Jackson. Look for Akiyama to pull the upset in this one. (Bet on UFC 116 Today)

Light Heavyweight Fightt: Stephan Bonnar (+185) vs. Krzysztof Soszynski (-235)

In a rematch from UFC 110 in Sydney, Australia from earlier this year, Bonnar (11-7) will be seeking some revenge against Soszynski. In their last bout, Soszynski scored a 3rd round TKO over Bonnar. The 33-year-old Bonnar is just 2-5 in his last seven fights. While Bonnar hasn’t had much success recently, Soszynski (19-9-1) has been on a good run. The 32-year-old has won seven of his last eight matches. Soszynski holds off Bonnar again. (Bet on UFC 116 Today)

Heavyweight Fight: Chris Tuchscherer (+250) vs. Brendan Schaub (-350)

After dropping his UFC debut last August, Tuchscherer (18-2) rebounded to defeat Tim Hague in his last outing at UFC 109 earlier this year. The 34-year-old began his pro MMA career back in 2004. Schaub (5-1) has made the transition to MMA after a football background. The 27-year-old was a fullback for the Colorado Buffaloes in college. In the pro ranks, he was member of the Buffalo Bills practice squad and played in the AFL. In his last UFC match, Schaub defeated Chase Gormley in March. The favorite rolls in this matchup. (Bet on UFC 116 Today)

The next marquee UFC event is set to take place this Saturday at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This will be just the fourth time that UFC has held one of its major numbered cards north of the border.

UFC’s 83, 97 and 113 were also held in Canada. UFC 115 will feature six preliminary bouts before the main card of five fights. The marquee bout was originally set to feature Chuck Liddell against Tito Ortiz. Two of the biggest names in UFC have met on two previous occasions. However, a neck injury will keep Ortiz out of UFC 115. Rich Franklin will now square off against Liddell.

Light Heavyweight bout: Chuck Liddell (+115) vs. Rich Franklin (-145)

In the headline bout on the card, the 40-year-old Liddell (21-7 MMA record) will try to recapture some of his old glory in the underdog role. While Liddell is a UFC legend, he has dropped four of his last five matches. Liddell will be entering the cage for the first time since a defeat against Mauricio Rua in April of 2009. He became a household name in the MMA world by defeating Randy Couture for the UFC Light Heavyweight crown back in 2005. He was able to defend the title in four matches. The run included another win against Couture and a victory over Ortiz.

Liddell finally lost his title belt in 2007 at the hands of Quinton Jackson. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame last year. Franklin (26-5) isn’t as well known as Liddell but he is a former UFC Middleweight champion. Franklin has lost two of his last three bouts. In his last outing, Franklin lost to Vitor Belfort at UFC 103 last September. The 35-year-old Franklin made his pro MMA debut back in 1999. In a mild upset, we expect Liddell to pull this one out.

Heavyweight bout: Marko Filipovic (+120) vs. Patrick Barry (-150)

Filipovic (26-7-2) has moved to the UFC in recent years after fighting primarily in Japan during the early portions of his MMA career. In his last bout, he stopped Anthony Perosh at UFC 110 in February. The 35-year-old Filipovic began his pro fighting career as a kickboxer in 1996. Barry (5-1) has joined the UFC circuit after beginning his pro fighting career in kickboxing. He was able to handle Antoni Hardonk in his last bout in October. The 30-year-old won the Combat USA Heavyweight title in 2008. We expect the favorite to come through in this matchup.

Lightweight bout: Matt Wiman (-110) vs. Mac Danzig (-120)

Wiman (11-5) has dropped two of his last three bouts entering this fight. He was able to defeat Shane Nelson in his last outing at UFC 107 in December. The 26-year-old Wiman began his pro MMA career back in 2004. Danzig (19-7-1) is just 3-5 in his last eight fights. He did handle Justin Buchholz at UFC 109 in February. The 30-year-old is a former King of the Cage champion. In a tight match, Danzig prevails.

Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans UFC 114 Odds

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Jackson (-130
• Evans (even)

Betus.com Odds

• Jackson (-125)
• Evans (-105)

Amir Sadollah vs. Dong Hyun Kim UFC 114 Odds

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Sadollah (-150)
• Kim (+120)

BetUs.com Odds

• Sadollah (-140)
• Kim (+110)

Efrain Escudero vs. Dan Lauzon UFC 114 Odds

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Escudero (-350)
• Lauzon (+275)

BetUs.com Odds

• Escudero (-400)
• Lauzon (+300)

Aaron Simpson vs. Chris Leben UFC 114 Odds

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Simpson (-340)
• Leben (+260)

BetUs.com Odds

• Simpson (waiting on line)
• Leben (waiting on line)

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Machida   (-185)
• Rua             (+155)

Betus.com Odds

• Machida  (-200)
• Rua            (+160)

Paul Daley vs. Josh Koscheck

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Daley          (+190)
• Koscheck  (-240)

BetUs.com Odds

• Daley          (+190)
• Koscheck  (-240)

Kimbo Slice vs. Matt Mitrione

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Slice           (-115)
• Mitrione   (-115)

BetUs.com Odds

• Slice           (-115)
• Mitrione   (-115)

Jeremy Stephens vs. Sam Stout

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Stephens  (+180)
• Stout          (-220)

BetUs.com Odds

• Stephens  (+180)
• Stout          (-220)

Alan Belcher vs. Patrick Cote

Sportsbook.com Odds

• Belcher  (-125)
• Cote        (-105)

BetUs.com Odds

• Belcher  (-125)
• Cote        (-105)

UFC 104 Betting Odds Preview

UFC 104 invades Los Angeles, California on October 24, an event that is shaping up to be a great night for both the fighters and MMA fans alike.  Lyoto Machida is headlining the card, putting his Light Heavyweight Championship on the line for the first time against Maurico Rua.  This card features a total of 10 fights and 5 that have must-see written all over them.

Josh Neer (- -) vs. Gleison Tibau (- -)

With Sean Sherk sidelined because of an injury, Neer vs. Tibau has been made official for UFC 104.   Neer is coming off a UFC 101 loss via unanimous decision to Kurt Pellegrino and is a mediocre 2-2 in last four fights.  Tibau is coming off the heels of a close split decision defeat at the TUF 9 Season Finale this past June against Melvin Guillard.  While both fighters are desperate for a victory, this is more of a must-win fight for Neer who may need a win just to keep in his spot in the promotion.

Cain Velasquez (-260) vs. Ben Rothwell (+200)

With Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar slated to face the beastly Shane Carwin at UFC 106, Cain Velsquez will now step into the octagon against Ben Rothwell, one of the UFC’s latest acquisitions.  Velsquez can breathe a little easier with the “Engineer” out of the picture but shouldn’t take Rothwell lightly.  A standout fighter in the heavyweight divisions of both the IFL and Affliction, Rothwell is a beast in his own right and hungry for blood in the coveted UFC ring.

Joe Stevenson (-200) vs. Spencer Fisher (+160)

Joe Stevenson makes his return to the octagon after a dominating victory over Nate Diaz at the TUF 9 Finale in June.  Stevenson controlled Diaz through all three rounds in route to unanimous decision win and co-winner of the Fight of the Night award.  He must now put his skills up against Spencer Fisher who convincingly beat MMA vet Caol Uno, marking is third straight UFC victory.  Stevenson will surely have his hands full against an impressive Fisher who has won six of last eight fights.

Anthony Johnson (-300) vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (+220)

In an intriguing matchup of two talented welterweights, Johnson and Yoshida will battle it out to determine just who will climb to the top of their division.  Johnson looked very dominant in his last two fights, coming off KO victories against Kevin Burns and Luigi Fioravanti, rebounding nicely after a rather controversial defeat to Burns the first time around.  Yoshida scored a submission win against Brandon Wolff at UFC 98, which saw him bounce back from a brutal knockout loss to Josh Koshcheck last December.  Both fighters look to extend on their winning streaks in what should be a very entertaining bout.

Lyoto Machida (-450) vs. Maurico Rua (+325)

Machida and Rua is the battle of the “Dragon” vs. the “Shogun”.  Both are coming off convincing victories as Machida captured the Light Heavyweight crown from the previously undefeated Rashad Evans and Rua made short work of Chuck Liddell.  Rua’s record of 18-3 is noteworthy but isn’t nearly as impressive as Machida who stands at 15-0.  Look for these two Brazilian standouts to be bring the pain in what could easily be the Fight of the Night.

UFC 103 Betting Odds Preview

UFC 103 takes place September 19th at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.  It will be the MMA organizations’s first event to feature a total of 13 fights.  The card is stacked with many potential Fight of the Night candidates.  Here is a sneak preview of the betting odds for some of the most intriguing fights.

Rich Franklin (-155) vs. Vitor Belfort (+125)

The main event of UFC 103 is a match featuring MMA fighters with two very distinct styles.  Rich Franklin and Vitor Belfort have both bounced back after enduring losing streaks and can strike with the best of them.  This one is sure to be fast, furious and possibly over by the second round.  With the odds being so close, you certainly want to be wise when placing your bets.

Josh Koscheck (-400) vs. Frank Trigg (+300)

Josh Koscheck heads into UFC 103 looking to regain his prominence as a top 170 lb. fighter with a victory over MMA vet Frank Trigg, who is making his return to the octagon.  Although Koscheck has a great shot at winning the fight, the current odds have him slightly overvalued.  After all, Trigg is simply migrating from another promotion, not awakening from retirement.  Koscheck exposed a weak chin in his previous fight so a mistake or two could easily lead to his demise against the wily Trigg.

Junior dos Santos (-135) vs. Mirko Filipovic (+105)

In a potential number one contender’s bout, Junior dos Santos will take on former Pride Fighting star Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. While Filipovic has certainly looked more impressive over his last few fights, he will have a difficult time keeping up with dos Santos who is nearly ten years younger and much faster.  Don’t count out Cro Cop, but the Brazilian just might dominate and end this one in a flash.

Paul Daley (-185) vs. Martin Kampmann (+145)

After suffering a concussion during an intense training, Mike Swick is out and Paul Daley is in against tough guy Martin Kampmann.  At 170 lbs., Kampmann has shined in the welterweight division while Daley has won 9 of his last 11 fights, only losing to ex Bodog Fight champ Nick Thompson and world renowned welterweight fighter Jake Shields within that span.  This is another potential number one contender bout that could just be our Fight out the Night.

Tyson Griffin (-280) vs. Hermes Franca (+210)

The odds for Griffin vs. Franca are pretty much dead on but that does not necessarily make this one an easy fight to bet on.  Collectively, these two MMA fighters have been involved in 6 Fight of the Nights.   Instead of placing a bet, you just might want to sit back and enjoy what should be a very entertaining fight.

Efrain Escudero (-160) vs. Cole Miller (+130)

Escudero and Miller are two young fighters coming in to UFC 103 with a lot to prove.  It is hard to how say how Escudero will fair.  Even though he recently won The Ultimate Fighter, it seems as if TUF doesn’t make ‘em like they used to as winners of earlier seasons have been far more successful.  With that said, Miller has looked impressive in his young UFC career and should give Esudero all he can handle.

UFC 102 Preview and Fight Predictions

UFC 102 will take place on August 29^th, which is surprisingly only a few short weeks after UFC 101.  Many are dubbing this card as “USA vs. Brazil” due to the some of the fights taking place that night.  While Couture and Nogeira are featured as the headliners, there are a couple of bouts that just might steal the show from the main event.

Brandon Vera vs. Matt Hamil

The main card for UFC will begin with Brandon Vera vs. Mark Hamil.   This is one fight that could go either way. If Vera can survive Hamil’s strong take downs, he might be able to dominate with his long limbs.  If Hamil can get inside and put Brandon on the ground, it might be a long, grueling night for Vera.  Although Hamil showed that he is a much improved striker in his last fight, trying to go toe-to-toe with the slugging Vera would be absolutely foolish.  This probably will not be his approach because Hamil is a wise fighter that prefers to grind it out rather than going for the quick kill.  A decision wouldn’t be all that surprising but we predict a Vera win by TKO.

Demian Mai vs. Nate Marquardt

The next bout pits submission expert Demian Maia against the well rounded Nate Marquardt.  Once thought as the fight that would determine the next in line for Anderson Silva’s Middleweight Championship, it is now simply a battle for pride as Silva has moved up to the light heavyweight division.  Maia has made it a habit to submit almost every opponent in his path, including his five UFC bouts, which all ended via submission.  His skills on the mat are undeniable but Marquardt is an entirely different breed of opponent.  This one will be a test of will and patience because if one fighter slips up, the other will take full advantage.  Maia definitely has it in him to pull out a submission, but look for Marqardt to be the more composed and score the victory by decision.

Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva

Coming off a loss to Rampage Jackson, Keith Jardine is looking to redeem himself when stepping into the octagon with fierce Brazilian fighter Thiago Silva.  Jardine is very difficult to figure out as he looked dominant in wins against Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin yet got hammered by relatively unknown Houston Alexander in 48 seconds.  He has shown the ability to rebound, but Silva isn’t the type of fighter to take lightly, especially after coming off a loss against Lyoto Machida.  Out for blood, expect Silva to make short work of the often lazy Jardine with a brutal KO.

Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo

The main event is a fight between two of the all-time MMA greats: Randy Couture and Antonio Rodrigo.  These two legends are set to go head up in a battle that could be the last for both fighters.  Ironically, Couture recently lost to UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar while Rodrigo lost to Interim champ Frank Mir, who fought each other at UFC 100 to unify the title.  Both are obviously past their prime but this should still be a very intriguing matchup.  Expect it to be a long drawn out battle where both men evenly compete to the final bell.  In the end, Couture should pull out the decision win and go out as a victorious legend of the octagon.