The UFC yesterday booked a number of awesome new matches, including a featherweight bout at UFC on FOX 9 between two top 10-ranked fighters looking to move one step closer to a title shot. Nik Lentz vs. Chad Mendes, UFC on FOX 9 Chad Mendes will have to fight at least once more before he gets another title shot as he has will take on Nik Lentz at UFC o FOX 9 in what I believe should be an excellent matchup. Mendes is an absolute beast but Lentz is seriously underrated and should give Mendes a hell of a fight. That being said, Mendes is still a very likely winner here and I wouldn’t be surprised if he opened at 4-to-1. Ian McCall vs. Scott Jorgensen, UFC on FOX 9 Scott Jorgensen has dropped down to flyweight and in his 125-pound debut he’ll take on Ian McCall in what should be a very entertaining fight. This is a tough one to call as I expect it to be a very competitive decision if it does indeed hit the judges’ scorecards like I expect it to. Since McCall is more proven at the weight, it’s fair if he opens as a tiny favorite here, but I really think this is a fight that can go either way. Joe Lauzon vs. Mac Danzig, UFC on FOX 9 A lightweight fight between two fading veterans has also been added to UFC on FOX 9 as Joe Lauzon will take on Mac Danzig. This should be an exciting fight and should be fairly competitive but after both guys’ last performances, no way would I lay my money on either one of these guys. As far as how I think the line will open, Lauzon will likely be a small favorite here. Steven Siler vs. Dennis Bermudez, UFC Fight Night 31 Another fun featherweight fight has been booked for the third UFC Fight For The Troops event as Steven Siler will take on Dennis Bermudez after Lentz was shifted to fight Mendes. This should be a very competitive fight but Bermudez will likely open as a slight favorite here. Still, I’m leaning Siler in this fight and if he’s a decent-sized dog when the actual odds are released in November, I may make a play. Travis Browne vs. Josh Barnett, UFC 168 And finally, the UFC booked a heavyweight tilt between Josh Barnett and Travis Browne for the year-end UFC 168 card, and it’s a fight that could earn either man a title shot with an impressive victory. This is an excellent matchup and a very difficult one to predict. I give Browne the striking edge, but Barnett has better grappling so I think this fight depends on whether or not Barnett can impose his girth on Browne and push him up against the cage like Cheick Kongo did at UFC 120. It’s a close fight but I would guess Barnett opens as a slight favorite, perhaps at -140 or so to +110 for Browne.
