UFC betting players will be focused on the lightweight title bout between B.J. Penn and Kenny Florian at UFC 101 on August 8th, but there will also be a lot of attention paid to the fight before that, when Anderson Silva continues to feel out the light heavyweight division with a tilt against Forrest Griffin, the former champion of the division, and Silva is a huge betting favorite.
Silva (24-4) is arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and after three years of completely annihilating the middleweight division, Silva is looking for a new challenge. He’s won a UFC-record nine fights in a row, and his last fight, a win over Thales Leites, was the first time he’d even been taken the distance in the UFC. On the ground, his long limbs (hence the nickname “Spider”) can wrap you up from across the octagon, and standing up, Silva is so good that he wants to fight boxing legend Roy Jones Jr…..and he’d have a good chance. Then there’s the Muay Thai clinch, which Silva can land a flurry of knees that has ended many a fight.
Griffin (16-5) lost the title to Rashad Evans at UFC 92, but at least we know he’ll give Silva a better fight than the boring Leites, who was just trying not to get beat up. Griffin’s last two fights have been the “Fight of the Night”, and his epic war with Stephen Bonnar was recently voted the most popular fight in the history of the UFC. Griffin is a better grappler than people give him credit for, but he lacks power, despite his willingness to throw haymakers. If he had power, he’s have more knockouts than just three.
Silva is a ridiculous -330 favorite according to betting services, and Griffin will be game, there is no doubt about that. But Silva is so patient and his strikes are so accurate and clinical, that if Griffin tries to bull-rush him, he won’t make it out of the first round. If it goes to the ground, Griffin’s mat game has improved, but he’s still not even close to Silva. The only way Griffin should be one of your sports picks is if he can catch Silva with a good shot, but Silva also has a great chin. It’s not looking good for the fan favorite, Griffin.
