Affliction Odds - Fedor faces toughest test in several years

FEDOR EMELIANENKO -500
JOSH BARNETT +300

RENATO SOBRAL +125
GEGARD MOUSASI -155

VITOR BELFORT -210
JORGE SANTIAGO +170

PAUL BUENTELLO +155
GILBERT YVEL -185

The Affliction odds won't go unnoticed by true fight fans this August. The event features the top two heavyweights in the world according to the “MMA Weekly” world rankings. Sorry, Brock Lesnar – Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett are both ranked above you. The MMA betting world will watch hoping Fedor will cross over to the UFC.

Affliction Odds: Barnett may be Fedor’s first real test in a while

• WHO: Fedor “the Last Emperor” Emelianenko vs Josh “the Babyfaced Assassin” Barnett
  
• WHAT: Affliction betting
  
• WHEN: Saturday, August 1 at 9:00 p.m. ET
  
• WHERE: The Honda Center in Anaheim, CA
  
• KEY STAT: Three of Barnett’s five career losses came against Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic
  
• PICK: Fedor Emelianenko

Fedor vs Barnett odds

The Affliction odds will get plenty of pay-per-view buys with two of the most storied heavyweights in MMA history going head to head.

For the last decade or so, Fedor Emelianenko (30-1) has been not just the standard for heavyweights, but regarded by many betting fans as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. Well-versed in sambo, judo and boxing, he can beat opponents of countless shapes and sizes in countless different ways. He knocked out deadly striker and former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski in his last fight, and he’s submitted both 7’2” Hong-Man Choi and 6’8” Tim Sylvia –amazing feats considering Fedor is a small heavyweight at 6’0” and 230 pounds. Toss in victories over Mark Coleman, Minotauro Nogueira and Mirko Cro Cop and you have a fighter entering the Affliction odds who has beaten the best his weight class has to offer and done so in dominating fashion. Because Fedor’s style is to enter with no real strategy and simply feel out his opponent in the ring, there is no true “good” or “bad” matchup for him on paper. Even a deadly fighter like Josh Barnett could very well play into Fedor’s hands with one mistake.

However, we should give respect to Josh Barnett (24-5) before writing off his Affliction odds. It seems like he’s been around forever, but he’s still just 31 – the same age as Brock Lesnar. He knocked out Randy Couture in 2002 to become the youngest-ever UFC heavyweight champ, overcoming the offshore sportsbook odds stacked against him. The Babyfaced Assassin controls opponents through his wrestling, ground-and-pound and submissions primarily. In addition to Couture, he’s beaten legends like Nogueira and even Dan Severn.

It’s worth noting that many of Fedor’s recent victories came against fighters past their prime – Arlovski and Sylvia’s hey days both came in the UFC – so the flourishing Barnett is Fedor’s toughest test in ages.

THE HAMMER'S PICK: We have to tread carefully with Fedor’s Affliction odds, more so than we did for his other recent fights. Josh Barnett has a very strong ground game and should minimize the usual advantage Fedor has in that respect. However, Barnett is not a striker; he’s powerful but does almost all his damage on the ground, save for the odd home run swing. Fedor, on the other hand, is just as dangerous standing up as he is on the ground. He can neutralize the less versatile Barnett by keeping the fight standing and pumping him with his heavy hands as long as he wants to. Bet on the more versatile Fedor to win this Affliction odds heavyweight title fight, but not without working for it.

OTHER AFFLICTION ODDS TO CONSIDER

Renato “Babalu” Sobral vs Gegard Mousasi: Seasoned Jiu-Jitsu vet Sobral is the underdog against the rising star striker Mousasi. Though Sobral outsmarted Sokoudjou in his last fight, he’s struggled with great kickboxers before (especially Chuck Liddell), so Mousasi is a tough matchup for him. Bet on Mousasi.

Vitor Belfort vs Jorge Santiago: Considering Belfort knocked out guys like Wanderlei Silva at light heavyweight, it’s no surprise that he’s been a devastating striker at middleweight. Bet on Belfort’s Affliction odds to knock out Santiago.

Paul Buentello vs Gilbert Yvel: Don’t expect this fight to reach the ground. Both guys love to strike, but I like the guy with more power. Bet on Yvel.

For Affliction odds and more sports betting tips, visit the Betting Edge at BetOnline.com.

Jack “ the Hammer” Howard is new to the MMA handicapping game, but his roots in the sport run deep. He enjoyed a brief amateur career in mixed martial arts and also has some boxing experience under his belt, making him an authority on the subject. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.