UFC 149: July 21, 2012 Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada UFC Heavyweight Contender Shawn Jordan (-135) Profile: Shawn Jordan, a former fullback at LSU, brings his massive athletic frame to the UFC for just the second time in his career after fighting previously in Strikeforce and Bellator among a few other lesser-known organizations. Jordan lacks experience against top competition but is a world-class athlete with knockout power and a decent ground game. The 27-year-old is still growing as a mixed martial artist and will get his toughest test to date against longtime heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo at UFC 149. UFC Heavyweight Contender Cheick Kongo (+105) Profile: French kickboxer and longtime UFC heavyweight Cheick Kongo (17-7-2) has been middling around outside the UFC heavyweight Top 15 rankings for a few years now. At 37 years of age, Kongo is pushing for one more run at the title. Coming off a devastating TKO loss at the hands of Mark Hunt at UFC 144 after wins over Pat Barry and Matt Mitrione, Kongo draws Strikeforce vet and UFC newcomer Shawn Jordan at UFC 149. While Kongo still has knockout power, his ground game has continued to hold him back as his only real weakness. Opening UFC 149 Odds Analysis: MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas made Jordan a slight -135 favorite (bet $135 to win $100) while Kongo opened as a +105 underdog (bet $100 to win $105) according to the MMA odds. This is basically a Pick’em fight, and one Kongo desperately needs to win following a very disappointing performance against Hunt. He is not getting any younger and will be facing an opponent 10 years his junior in Jordan, who is still looking to make a name for himself in the UFC. Jordan is coming off an impressive win in his UFC debut and has finished 12 of the 13 opponents he has beaten. Kongo may not be forced to the ground in this one, but that may not be a good thing because Jordan has knocked out three of his last five opponents. He will need to use his experience to his advantage and strike first, otherwise Jordan will be the one celebrating a victory.
