UFC 66: Is the World Ready for UFC Betting?

With the Bodog Entertainment Group's push into the world of Mixed Martial Arts (a la Bodog Fight) and the obvious growing popularity of the UFC (witness December 30 UFC 66 and the amount of traffic to Sports911.com), UFC betting is coming into its own.

Much like boxing, there is a real niche and great value betting on the UFC.

BetUS.com (see website here), known for offering controversial entertainment betting propositions, is one of the first to jump on board the UFC betting bandwagon. 

And while the headliner of Tito Ortiz (15-4) vs. Chuck Liddell (19-3) will likely draw the most betting action, BetUS.com is offering odds on the entire UFC 66 card.

"While the rematch between these former friends and training mates is getting the overwhelming share of attention from MMA fans - and for good reason - the balance of the 66 card is nothing short of outstanding," writes Steve Sievert in his "Brawl Sports" blog featured in the Houston Chronicle.

"It's arguably the deepest fight card ever assembled for an evening in the octagon, with three champions or former titleholders (Liddell, Ortiz and Andrei Arlovski) in the house, a trio of stars-in-the-making (Forrest Griffin, Chris Leben and Michael Bisping) and some talented guys (Jason MacDonald, Thiago Alves and Keith Jardine) looking for difference-making wins to continue their climbs up the UFC ranks."

For Sievert, the best undercard matchups are Arlovski vs. Marcio Cruz, Leben vs. MacDonald and Griffin vs. Jardine.

Arlovski is a huge -500 favorite at BetUS.com while Marcio Cruz is listed as a +350 underdog paying out $350 for every $100 bet should he win.

Leben and McDonald are pretty even in the odds department.  Keith Jardine is a +250 underdog verses Forrest Griffin. 

And what about the main event? 

Unlike a lot of the more recent lopsided boxing matches, this one promises to be any fighter's to win with Chuck Liddell favored by only -200 (you would have to wager $200 to win $100 plus your initial $200 bet).  Ortiz would pay out $160 on a $100 bet as the underdog.

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Tyrone Black, www.sports911.com

Originally published December 28, 2006 7:51 pm ET