UFC 87 Kenny Florian vs Roger Huerta Betting Preview

Written by Scott Burgess

Wednesday, 06 August 2008

Kenny Florian looks for his fifth win in a row, Saturday August 9th, at UFC 87 when he squares off against the tough Roger “El Matador” Huerta in what promises to best one of the best Lightweight matches in recent memory. Oddsmakers at BetUS.com have Kenny Florian as -145 moneyline favorite over Roger Huerta who is listed as +115 underdog. Get your UFC 87 Kenny Florian vs Roger Huerta Prediction in now at BetUS.com

Kenny Florian (11-3) is on a four fight win streak with victories over Joe Lauzon, Alvin Robinson, Din Thomas, and Dokonjonosuke Mishima. He’s a fighter with great jiu-jitsu skills along with some of the deadliest elbows in the biz. Florian is fresh off a win against Joe Lauzon at UFC Fight Night in which he won by TKO. Despite the win, Florian still felt there was room for improvement. “I still did a lot of things wrong in that fight,” he said. “There is always room for improvement. Either for physical or technical reasons, I didn’t show what I was fully capable of in the Lauzon fight, it should have been even easier. I’ll never be satisfied with any performance, I’m sure of it. Right now, my team and I are taking certain steps to improve on past performances. Not many people go to the lengths that I do to get better.” Florian is adjusting his game plan accordingly to Huerta’s fighting style. “Personally, I always try to step it up and push a little harder when I train for each fight,” he said. “This time around, I worked a lot on my nutrition and getting a little bigger. In training, I worked a lot on my boxing and wrestling. I think I’m going to be able to finish him.”

Thoughts on opponent, Roger Huerta - Roger Huerta is a tough opponent who is well rounded and has a big heart.

Roger Huerta (22-1-1) is a well rounded fighter brimming with confidence, he’s a very exciting fighter who hasn’t lost in six fights. He has wins over Jason Dent, John Halverson, Leonard Garcia, Doug Evans, Alberto Crane and most recently Clay Guida. He defeated Clay Guida by choke hold at the start of the third round. For two rounds, Huerta was a normal fighter, average even, as Guida picked him apart with head-snapping counters and bone-rattling takedowns. When the second round ended, Huerta walked back to his corner down by two points on two of the judges’ scorecards and three points on the other judge’s tally sheet. He would need a knockout or submission to win the fight. Sure enough 51 seconds in the third Huerta was able to sink in a rear naked choke that forced Guida to submit. His last six wins have come by either KO, TKO or submission.

Thoughts on upcoming opponent, Kenny Florian - I respect Kenny, but I’m gonna take him out. I’m gonna be explosive, faster, and stronger, and at the end of the night, I want him to say ‘he was the better fighter.

UFC 87 Kenny Florian vs Roger Huerta
When: Sat, August 9, 2008 10:00 PM ET
Line: BetUS.com
Pick: Kenny Florian -145

Point-Spreads.com UFC 87 Kenny Florian vs Roger Huerta Prediction - : Kenny Florian -145

The Bottom Line: This is one of the most unpredictable fights in recent history, both fighters have almost identical fighting styles, combinations of elbows, knees and explosive take downs. Florian should win it if he takes the fight to the mat, based on his slight advantage in jiu-jitsu. Get your UFC 87 Kenny Florian vs Roger Huerta Prediction in now at BetUS.com and receive a 10% sign-up bonus on your initial deposit!