Sugar is No Sweet Pick in UFC 88 Betting!

‘The Iceman’ Chuck Liddell (-260) vs. ‘Sugar’ Rashad Evans (+200)

Online MMA betting enthusiasts will have an exciting sports wagering opportunity on September 6th, as Dana White and the UFC crew dip into the trusted “Old School vs. New School” pond once again. With Anderson Silva and Dan Henderson bringing in a nice pay-per-view ratings night, White decided to mix up a similar formula and give Ultimate Fighter II champion Rashad Evans a shot at the face of the UFC—Chuck Liddell.

Power vs. Speed

‘The Iceman’ might be the best puncher in the history of MMA—just ask Randy Couture, and a proverbial “who’s who” of the fighting world. Liddell is more than content staying on his feet and waiting for a knockout opportunity in his unorthodox stance.

Across the ring from him, ‘Sugar’ Rashad Evans will most likely be playing the survival game. It’s a game he’s got down to perfection, and is the very reason the now-light heavyweight was able to march through the heavyweight division of The Ultimate Fighter II. Evans has certainly handled power before, as evidenced in his series-ending victory over 6-foot-7 Keith Imes.

However, Imes is no Liddell. If Evans wants to keep this fight alive and wear down ‘The Iceman,’ he’s going to have to use his exceptional wrestling skills to do so. The problem is Liddell might also have the best takedown defense in all of MMA. Seldom does the wily veteran find himself in the wrong position on the mat—or even on the mat at all. Evans is a former Division-I wrestler; however he compiled a far-from-flawless record of 48-34 during his time at Michigan State.

If there is one bright spot for Evans, it is that he was able to neutralize and hang with a very similar fighter in Tito Ortiz. Both are veterans of the octagon, and both are renowned for sniffing out a knockout at all costs. Ortiz is similarly comfortable on the mat, and has finished off the likes of Guy Metzger by submission, however the youngster stayed out of trouble with his smart ground game. Evans trains and is close friends with Keith Jardine, who danced and low-kicked his way to victory over Chuck Liddell at UFC 76. He will need to employ a similar strategy; however he hasn’t shown to have the kicking prowess that his pal has in his repertoire.

The Edge

It’s very tough not to favor Liddell in this one. With two patient fighters in the octagon, it may be the first time that one budges that will bring about the outcome. Evans will need to either take Liddell down and keep him there in every round, or have developed an acute kicking sense since his last fight in order to last with ‘The Iceman.’ The big issue is that ‘Sugar’ hasn’t proven that he can finish a fight off, either on his feet or on the mat. Outside of his Ultimate Fighter bouts, Evans has taken the vast majority of his contests to a decision—and won.

Unfortunately, Liddell has learned from his matchup with a similar fighter in Keith Jardine, and will likely find a hole in the newcomer’s game—he always seems to find a way.

Prediction:

Liddell by KO in the second round. Wagering at -260 isn’t a bad payday, but the big winnings will come if BetUS customers lay down prop bets on a Liddell knockout, or on the fight to go to a decision. Based on these fighters’ history, there’s no other way this bout will turn out!