UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson - Odds Update

A new month brings another UFC event, and this one promises to be particularly exciting. Dubbed UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson, this MMA event from the MGM Grand in Vegas will feature the long-awaited rematch between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell (with Liddell‘s Light Heavyweight title on the line).

The odds makers have been busy on this one, and we here at DaretoGamble wanted to give you an update on how the betting was shaping up. Keep in mind, of course, that the odds discussed in this article will change as the fight approaches (it’s scheduled for Saturday, May 26th), especially on the day on the fight.

KARO PARISYAN VS. JOSH BURKMAN

At the moment, odds have been posted for two fights on the card. The first is Karo “The Heat” Parisyan versus Josh Burkman. Parisyan is a UFC veteran with a record of 6-2 and an overall MMA record of 16-4. His primary style is judo, but it has been modified over the years to be more effective inside the octagon. His last fight was on December 13th, 2006, when he captured a unanimous decision win over Drew Fickett on Spike TV’s UFC Fight Night 7.

Burkman, on the other hand, has a background in wrestling. He was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 2, and he’s 4-1 in the UFC with an overall MMA record of 8-3. Most recently, he defeated Chad Reiner by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 8.

With two submission specialists in the octagon, expect this one to go to the ground early and stay there. While anything is possible, I’d be surprised if this one didn’t go to the judges. This may not be the most crowd-pleasing fight on the card, especially considering the usual short attention span of the Vegas crowd.

Odds for the Fight

Bodog.com (Max Bet $500)

Karo Parisyan -325

Josh Burkman +250

BetonFighting.com (Max Bet $500)

Karo Parisyan -320

Josh Burkman +260

Betus.com

Karo Parisyan -300

Josh Burkman +220

With Parisyan having the greater experience (and higher caliber of opponents), he’s the clear favorite in this bout. However, I seem to remember that Mirko Cro-Cop and George St. Pierre were both expected to roll over their opponents in the last couple of UFC events, too.

CHUCK LIDDELL VS. QUINTON JACKSON

These two met in the semi-finals of PRIDE’s 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix, with Jackson beating Liddell so bad that his corner was forced to throw in the towel. Rampage would then go on to get knocked out later in the night by a series of knees from Wanderlei Silva.

Since that night, Jackson is 7-2, including a second tough loss to Silva. Liddell, meanwhile, has won all 7 of his fights since losing to Jackson, including two wins apiece over Tito Ortiz and current Heavyweight champ Randy Couture. Along the way, he has become the face of MMA in America.

Odds for the Fight

Bodog.com ($500 max bet)

Chuck Liddell -190

Quinton Jackson +155

BetonFighting.com ($500 max bet)

Chuck Liddell -200

Quinton Jackson +160

Betus.com ($500 max bet)

Chuck Liddell -210

Quinton Jackson +165

It’s no surprise that Liddell is the favorite to win. He’s been fighting in the U.S. for years, while Jackson has made most of his reputation in Japan. But anyone who has seen his matches against Ricardo Arona and Liddell knows that “Rampage” is a force to be reckoned with.

In the world of MMA, everyone is bound to suffer defeat sooner or later, and Liddell has been on top for a while. It may simply be his time to lose, and Jackson has all the tools needed to make that happen. In this fight, it’s my opinion that the underdog is every bit as skilled as the favorite. My money is on Quinton Jackson.

For more on the UFC, check out the following articles:

UFC 71 - Preview of Liddell vs. Jackson

UFC 70 Results

UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson - Odds Update