UFC 108: Underdog Value of the Night

A puncher's chance, any given Sunday, games are not played on paper, and if Nick Cannon can marry Mariah then anything can happen are all tired clichés, but that does not make them untrue.  At this level in sport anything really can happen and it is one of the reasons we tune in to watch.  This is even more true in combat sports where literally one moment can end the match.  There may be a decisive touchdown, or pivotal home run, but only in combat sports can one participant simply end the contest with one act. 

The gambling spotlight will be returning following UFC 108, but for this event I still wanted to put something together.  That is why I have decided to offer my advice on which underdog provides the best chance at surprising the masses.  Masses may be a bit of an exaggeration, but let's just go with it.  Using MMA Moneyline I narrowed down my options for those fighters where a bet of at least +200 can be placed.  This is not Fox NFL Sunday where their upset picks are 1.5 point underdogs. 

This leaves me with Sam Stout, Duane Ludwig, Gilbert Yvel, Jacob Volkmann, and Ryan Jensen.  The obvious pick here is Gilbert Yvel.  Stout and Ludwig are fighting an uphill battle as they have been presented with difficult stylistic match ups.  Volkmann might have some potential, but striking has some major flaws which will be a problem against Kampmann. 

Yvel is facing a fighter who shares the same strength.  This will most likely allow him to do exactly what he wants, a stand up battle.  Yvel has also beaten his fair share of talented strikers, just ask Cheick Kongo.  Dos Santos is the better fighter at this point in their careers and should be the favorite, but Yvel definitely still posses KO power and if Dos Santos decides to keep the fight upright he might end up horizontal.  In WKR picks I chose Dos Santos and I do believe he will win, but if you are a gambling man getting Yvel at +275 is simply too good a value.

SBN coverage of UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva