UFC 71 Odds and Other MMA News

On the eve of UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson, it’s time for some news and notes from the world of MMA.

MMA IS NOW IN THE MAINSTREAM

UFC 71 marks the first time that sports juggernaut ESPN will really give prolonged coverage to a MMA event. The good news it that it should continue for every event which comes afterwards. In fact, ESPN has just added a long-overdue MMA section to their website.

Way to go, ESPN. It only took you about five years longer than it should have.

LESNAR NEEDS NEW OPPONENT

The California State Athletic Commission has denied “Techno Goliath” Hong Man Choi a license to compete due to undisclosed medical reasons. The 7-foot-2, 350 pound giant was scheduled to take on the debuting Brock Lesnar at K-1’s Dynamite!! USA show on June 2nd.

An appeal has been made, but that is unlikely to change the outcome. Promoters are working hard to find a replacement for Choi, and Tank Abbot’s name has been thrown around quite a bit. While Lesnar may shy away from a replacement with too much MMA experience, the perpetually punch drunk Abbot would no doubt make for a perfect punching dummy.

SO DOES GRACIE?

Even with the Lesnar match presenting difficulty, the promoters of the K-1 event can still rely on the other main event of Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Royce Gracie, right? Wrong. Sakuraba has yet to pass his physical, and because of the holiday weekend will not be able to take any other tests until Tuesday or Wednesday. They’re cutting it pretty close, and the clock keeps right on ticking. This is turning out to be a very bad month for K-1.

MORE UFC 71 ODDS FROM BODOG

While Bodog odds for Quinton Jackson vs. Chuck Liddell and Karo Parisyan vs. Josh Burkman have been covered in another article (see bottom for the link), the online sportsbook is now offering odds for the rest of the card. They are:

Carmelo Marrero +220

VS.

Wilson Gouveia -280

Jeremy Stephens +260

VS.

Din Thomas -330

Sean Salmon -145

VS.

Alan Belcher +115

Thiago Silva -230

VS.

James Irvin +190

Kalib Starnes +185

VS.

Chris Leben -225

Houston Alexander +350

VS.

Keith Jardine -500

Terry Martin +140

VS.

Ivan Salaverry -170

By the way, here are the latest Bodog odds for the two main bouts:

Karo Parisyan -270

VS.

Josh Burkman +210

Chuck Liddell -170

VS.

Quinton Jackson +140

For more on the world of MMA, read the following:

UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson

K-1 Dynamite!! USA

UFC 71 Odds and Other MMA News