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UFC 81 Odds & Predictions

Jimmy Boyd is your one and only choice for mixed martial arts insight. This UFC 81 preview, odds, and predictions article will get you up to speed on Saturday’s big event. The UFC has branded this event as the Breaking Point. I have to say I like the flair it adds. With this thing going down at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Sin City, you can bet that many of the people in town for the Super Bowl will take action on this event as well. It's a great weekend to be in Vegas.

The feature fight is between Tim Sylvia and Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira. They will be battling it out for the UFC’s Interim World Heavyweight Championship. The current heavyweight title holder, Randy Couture, declined a title bout with Nogueira to set up our feature fight.

Many are excited about UFC 81 because it marks the debut of former collegiate wrestling champion and WWE champ, Brock Lesnar. He will be pitted up against former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir. Lesnar is the -150 favorite in his debut. Could he be the next great ultimate fighting champ? With respect like that from oddsmakers right out of the gates, someone sure things so.

Let’s take a more in depth look at the feature brawl. Tim “The Maine-iac Sylvia is a former UFC heavyweight champ and one of the biggest names in the sport with 26 wins against just 3 defeats. Sylvia lost his heavyweight championship to Randy Couture last March but since rebounded to beat Brandon Vera last October. This fight will no doubt be his biggest since the one with Couture. Sylivia is an imposing force standing at 6' 8''. While his size has benefited him in more than a few fights in the past, we feel it will be to his disadvatage with Nogueira's ability to take down his opponents and submit them.

Nogueira is currently ranked as the number two heavyweight in the world by several souces. He is the former PRIDE heavyweight champion and comes into this one as the favored fighter. He is a more technical fighter than Sylvia but also has power behind his technique and various forms, which include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and boxing. At 6'3'' 241 lbs, he is built to enforce pain. He has a professional record of 30-4 and is the favored fighter for a reason. Value hunter beware as we like the “Minotauro” to win the Interim Heavyweight Title.

Here are the UFC 81 odds:

Light Heavyweights –

David Heath -270
Tim Boetsch +210

Welterweights

Keita Nakamura -265
Rob Emerson +205

Middleweights

Terry Martin -220
Marvin Eastman +180

Welterweights

Chris Lytle -600
Kyle Bradley +400

Middleweights

Ricardo Almeida -130
Alan Belcher EVEN

Lightweights

Tyson Griffin -450
Gleison Tibau +300

Middleweights

Nate Marquardt -225
Jeremy Horn +185

Heavyweights

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira -165
Tim Sylvia +135

Heavyweights

Brock Lesnar -150
Frank Mir +120

Updated January 31st, 2007

Red = Best Line for Top Fighter
Green = Best Line for Bottom Fighter

Line moves colors: < 1 min. < 3 min. < 5 min. < 10 min.
Date	Teams	Score
Last update			15:55	15:55	15:55	15:55
10/18 19:00	Michael Bisping Chris Leben		-220 +175		-250 +200	-200 +160
10/18 21:00	Keith Jardine Brandon Vera		+145 -185		+155 -195	+150 -180
10/25 22:00	Patrick Cote Anderson Silva		+550 -800		+525 -725	+500 -800
11/05 22:00	Leonardo Garcia Jens Pulver				+155 -185
11/05 22:00	Jake Rosholt Danillo Villefort				-245 +195
11/05 22:00	Chael Sonnen Paulo Filho				+130 -160
11/16 00:45	Couture/ Lesnar Fight does not go 2:30 of Round 3 Couture/ Lesnar Fight goes 2:30 of Round 3					+150 -200
11/16 00:00	Kenny Florian Joe Stevenson					-180 +150
12/27 23:30	Rashad Evans Forrest Griffin					+100 -130
12/27 23:00	Quinton Jackson Wanderlei Silva					-115 -115
12/27 23:00	Frank Mir Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira					+250 -325
01/17 22:00	Rich Franklin Dan Henderson					-105 -125