MMA Odds and Ends for Monday: New UFC Fights Announced, Including Tuck vs. Parke

The UFC today announced that lightweights “Stormin'” Norman Parke and Jon Tuck have agreed to face off against one another at UFC Manchester, making this an all-international affair in every sense of the word. I actually really dig this matchup and I think it should be one a hell of a fight, for however long it lasts. As far as who I think should be favored, well it’s clear with the line movement in Parke’s last fight against Kazuki Tokudome, that the public hasn’t totally bought into his hype train yet. The truth is that fight was more competitive than it should have been as it was a set-up fight by the UFC, booked specifically to get the TUF: Smashes winner a win and some momentum as he looked to navigate the lightweight waters and yet, Parke struggled a bit. Tuck, on the other hand, defeated Tiequan Zhang in a hell of a fight back at UFC Macau, but he’ll be coming off of an extended layoff into this fight and that’s definitely a knock against him, even though I am very much a believer of Tuck and think he has what it takes to be a dark horse at 155 pounds. This is a close fight, but I would open it at-140 Parke and +110 Tuck, although it wouldn’t shock me if the public went ahead and ate up the + money on Tuck if that’s actually how the lines open. Whiteley vs. Patrick Added To UFC Fight Night 29 The UFC also confirmed a rumored matchup at UFC Fight Night 29 between two UFC newcomers, as American Garett Whiteley will face off against Brazilian Allan Patrick in what, by all indications, should be a high-paced match between two undefeated lightweights. Whiteley is 32 years old, so I’m surprised the UFC is giving him a shot with just an 8-0 record against mostly no-name competition, but it’s clear Joe Silva sees a lot of potential in him and after he defeated UFC vet Jason Gillam in his last fight a few weeks ago, they are going to give him a shot to prove himself in the big show. As for Patrick, the Brazilian is 10-0 so far in his career and, looking to keep his goose egg intact, I see him going all out against Whiteley to keep it that way in front of all his Brazilian countrymen. I need to watch tape on both guys before I cap the fight, but it’s never a good idea to bet against Brazilians in Brazil. So you have to favor Patrick a bit in this fight right off the bat, just because of the hometown edge.