There are too many exciting UFC 100 odds to count! Cards just don’t get more exciting than this one. Everyone’s making picks for the main events. This time, we’ll give you something different and go with the secondary fights – and there are plenty of goodies.
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WELTERWEIGHT<o></o>
Jon Fitch (22-3) vs Paulo Thiago (11-0)
Betting favorite: Fitch -400
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Why Fitch could win: Fitch will win if he continues to be Jon Fitch, essentially. He’s one of the top welterweights in the world and would likely be champ for a while if GSP wasn’t so far ahead of the field. He’s a world-class wrestler with underrated striking and great toughness. He’s unlikely to get dropped against Thiago the way Josh Koscheck did, as he hasn’t been knocked out in seven years.
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Why Thiago could win: He’ll win if he’s a better fighter than most sports predictions experts think. Koscheck didn’t exactly have a glass jaw, so maybe Thiago hits really hard? Also, he could grind out a submission on the ground if Fitch leaves himself open.
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Outlook: Personally, I don’t think Thiago deserves this fight yet. Why not Martin Kampmann? Fitch should dominate, but maybe Thiago pulls a Demian Maia and proves that he was simply a very well-kept secret. Gambling software picks Fitch to win, though.
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Daily sports pick: Fitch -400
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LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT<o></o>
Stephan Bonnar (14-5) vs Mark Coleman (15-9)
Betting favorite: Bonnar -300
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Why Bonnar could win: Bonnar takes this fight if he keeps it standing. We know even a big guy like Coleman can’t hurt Bonnar, who’s never really been knocked out. A sledgehammer wouldn’t stand a chance against Bonnar’s ridiculous chin. Bonnar is faster and a better natural puncher, so he should score points standing up against the Hammer.
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Why Coleman could win: Coleman is still a fantastic wrestler, even at his age, so he may have a chance if he can take Bonnar down and mount him to set up the ground-and-pound.
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Outlook: Even if Bonnar ends up on the ground, he’s a solid Jiu-Jitsu fighter, so he could submit Coleman. I’m not sure if Bonnar will finish him, but I still like the American Psycho to win.
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Daily sports pick: Bonnar -300
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MIDDLWEIGHT<o></o>
Yoshihiro Akiyama (12-1) vs Alan Belcher (14-5)
Betting favorite: Akiyama -300
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Why Akiyama could win: He can win in a number different ways if his scouting report, which rates him as the No. 10 middleweight in the world, is correct. He gets lots of submissions via armbar but has also shown knockout ability. By the sounds of it, he has a versatile arsenal and can feel out what works best against Belcher.
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Why Belcher could win: Well, I suppose he could surprise if Akiyama is a bust (which some fighters have been once they crossed the pond). Think of Alan Belcher as a solid UFC stepping stone. He’s not a bad fighter but he’ll never really beat anyone noteworthy. He’s brought in to battle up-and-comers and make them work hard, and that’s what he’ll do against Akiyama.
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Daily sports pick: Akiyama
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> </o>WELTERWEIGHT<o
></o>Jon Fitch (22-3) vs Paulo Thiago (11-0)
Betting favorite: Fitch -400
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> </o>Why Fitch could win: Fitch will win if he continues to be Jon Fitch, essentially. He’s one of the top welterweights in the world and would likely be champ for a while if GSP wasn’t so far ahead of the field. He’s a world-class wrestler with underrated striking and great toughness. He’s unlikely to get dropped against Thiago the way Josh Koscheck did, as he hasn’t been knocked out in seven years.
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> </o>Why Thiago could win: He’ll win if he’s a better fighter than most sports predictions experts think. Koscheck didn’t exactly have a glass jaw, so maybe Thiago hits really hard? Also, he could grind out a submission on the ground if Fitch leaves himself open.
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> </o>Outlook: Personally, I don’t think Thiago deserves this fight yet. Why not Martin Kampmann? Fitch should dominate, but maybe Thiago pulls a Demian Maia and proves that he was simply a very well-kept secret. Gambling software picks Fitch to win, though.
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> </o>Daily sports pick: Fitch -400
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> </o>LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT<o
></o>Stephan Bonnar (14-5) vs Mark Coleman (15-9)
Betting favorite: Bonnar -300
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> </o>Why Bonnar could win: Bonnar takes this fight if he keeps it standing. We know even a big guy like Coleman can’t hurt Bonnar, who’s never really been knocked out. A sledgehammer wouldn’t stand a chance against Bonnar’s ridiculous chin. Bonnar is faster and a better natural puncher, so he should score points standing up against the Hammer.
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> </o>Why Coleman could win: Coleman is still a fantastic wrestler, even at his age, so he may have a chance if he can take Bonnar down and mount him to set up the ground-and-pound.
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> </o>Outlook: Even if Bonnar ends up on the ground, he’s a solid Jiu-Jitsu fighter, so he could submit Coleman. I’m not sure if Bonnar will finish him, but I still like the American Psycho to win.
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> </o>Daily sports pick: Bonnar -300
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> </o>MIDDLWEIGHT<o
></o>Yoshihiro Akiyama (12-1) vs Alan Belcher (14-5)
Betting favorite: Akiyama -300
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> </o>Why Akiyama could win: He can win in a number different ways if his scouting report, which rates him as the No. 10 middleweight in the world, is correct. He gets lots of submissions via armbar but has also shown knockout ability. By the sounds of it, he has a versatile arsenal and can feel out what works best against Belcher.
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> </o>Why Belcher could win: Well, I suppose he could surprise if Akiyama is a bust (which some fighters have been once they crossed the pond). Think of Alan Belcher as a solid UFC stepping stone. He’s not a bad fighter but he’ll never really beat anyone noteworthy. He’s brought in to battle up-and-comers and make them work hard, and that’s what he’ll do against Akiyama.
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> </o>Daily sports pick: Akiyama
