Posted on 2/28/2007 1:40:02 PM
UFC 68: THE UPRISING - Fight Breakdown
By Robby Maddux
Saturday evening, UFC 68 invades Columbus, Ohio in its first ever appearance in the Buckeye State for THE UPRISING. Warriors of the octagon do battle all night long, giving fight fans and bettors alike an evening of unprecedented action.
Headlining the magnificent card is two-time UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, Randy ''The Natural'' Couture (14-8-0), taking on UFC heavyweight champion Tim ''The Maine-iac'' Sylvia (25-2-0) in the main event.
Couture, who at 43 is coming out of a year long retirement to try to make history as the first three-time heavyweight champion in UFC history. Couture enters this fight having losses in two out of his last three fights, both to UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell.
Sylvia is a much bigger fighter, with a 7-inch height advantage. He's known for his heavy hands, brutal leg kicks and bone jarring knees. If Couture gets caught off guard, it'll be lights out!
Oddsmakers are predicting Sylvia will retain the title by making him the favorite at -280. But, if you like pulling for the underdog, Couture is your man at +220. Despite the odds being against him, Couture, one of the most revered mixed martial artists of all-time and a UFC Hall of Famer, has never performed up to mere mortals’ low standards.
Also fighting on Saturday are former UFC champions Rich ''Ace'' Franklin (22-2-0) and Matt Hughes (42-5-0), looking to get back in the win column against Jason MacDonald and Chris "Lights Out" Lytle, respectively.
The former UFC middleweight champion Franklin will be attempting to rebound against MacDonald from a devastating first-round stoppage loss at the hands of Anderson Silva in his last fight.
Hughes, the former UFC welterweight boss, lost his title via a second round TKO to Georges St. Pierre last November. A win over Lytle on Saturday will propel him to a third bout with St. Pierre, assuming the Canadian defeats Matt Serra at April 7th’s UFC 69 in Houston.
Franklin and Hughes both have oddsmakers respect at -500. But MacDonald and Lytle will have something to say about that, as they look for big paydays for their supporters who bet the dogs.
This sport is sweeping the betting nation off its feet with great action and even better odds on building bankrolls. There are several other fights on Saturday's THE UPRISING card and we have odds on them all. So check them out. Are you ready? Let's get it on!
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