UFC 117 Betting Odds: The UFC's middleweight championship will be on the line this weekend as current title holder Anderson "The Spider" Silva takes on Team Quest's Chael Sonnen. UFC 117 also features a tremendous undercard as top welterweights Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves tangle for another shot at the belt while heavyweights Roy Nelson and Junior Dos Santos vie for an opportunity to meet the winner of the upcoming Brock Lesnar/Cain Velasquez fight. UFC 117 Betting Odds at Bodog.com have Silva listed as a heavy -450 moneyline favorite to take out Sonnen and retain his championship belt.
Anderson Silva is considered the best pound for pound fighter in the world and a look at his record warrants that distinction;
however, many have soured on "The Spider" of late, criticizing the Brazilian fighter for his lackluster performances in beating both Thales Leites and Demian Maia.
The Maia fight in particular got Silva in hot water not only with fight fans, but also UFC President Dana White, as the champion openly taunted his fellow countryman in a title match at UFC 112.
Chael Sonnen has capitalized on the negative feelings toward Silva, and possibly even generated some by revealing that the latter can in fact speak English but chooses not to at pre and post fight pressers.
Sonnen has taken trash talk to epic levels in the lead up to Saturday's fight, often speaking of Silva as though the man stole his wife. The former NCAA wrestling champion even called Silva a "dummy" in a recent phone interview, saying he had no idea how to promote a fight.
Despite Anderson's lack of a response to Sonnen's barbs, MMA fans are chomping at the bit to see this fight. Stylistically the two fighters could not be more opposite, but Sonnen's wrestling skill gives him, perhaps, the best chance of any Silva opponent since the nine time defending champion took on Dan Henderson at UFC 82 in 2008.
UFC 117, which will take place at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, can be seen live on Pay-Per-View this Saturday, August 7th starting at 10:00pm ET.
Bodog.com UFC 117 Betting Odds:
Anderson Silva (-450) vs Chael Sonnen (+300)
Junior Dos Santos (-295) vs Roy Nelson (+235)
Thiago Alves (+100) vs Jon Fitch (-130)
Ricardo Almeida (-155) vs Matt Hughes (+125)
Clay Guida (-125) vs Rafael Dos Anjos (-105)
Dustin Hazelett (-115) vs Rick Story (-115)
Stefan Struve (-200) vs Christian Morecraft (+160)
Ben Saunders (-265) vs Dennis Hallman (+205)
Johny Hendricks (-525) vs Charlie Brenneman (+325)
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