How about this for sports betting paradise? On Saturday afternoon, you can kick start your day with a wager on Ohio State Michigan betting. After that, you can refill the popcorn bowl and enjoy UFC 106 this Saturday night. The latest fight card lacks a title fight but features some intriguing, even matchups -- including Josh Koscheck vs Anthony Johnson. Let's preview that big welterweight bout.
Josh Koscheck
Record: 13-4
Notable victories: Diego Sanchez, Frank Trigg, Yoshiyuki Yoshida
Sportsbook odds: -105
STRENGTHS: First and foremost, Josh Koscheck is one of the UFC's best wrestlers thanks to his accomplished NCAA background. The former Division-1 national champion can dominate opponents with his takedown ability and control from the mount. As a natural athlete, Koscheck is also improving rapidly in other areas. He's cultivating powerful kickboxing -- enough that he's developed knockout power in his hands.
WEAKNESSES: Physically, Koscheck has a ton going for him. The mental game sets him back at times. The brash Koscheck sometimes gets too enamored with his new striking ability and wants to stand with opponents. While he has the power to hurt guys on his feet, keeping the fight standing takes away Koscheck's big advantage -- his wrestling -- and grants opportunities to good strikers. That's why Thiago Alves dominated him.
Anthony "Rumble" Johnson
Record: 8-2
Notable victories: Yoshiyuki Yoshida
Sportsbook odds: -125
STRENGTHS: There are few, if any, more physically imposing fighters in the welterweight division than Anthony Johnson. The man is a monster, standing 6'2", walking around at well over 200 pounds and cutting major weight to fight at 170 pounds. He's so big that he arrived for his last fight six pounds over. He's a devastating striker, capable of dropping opponents in an instant via punches or head kicks. He's also tough to take down or at least hold down because of his size.
WEAKNESSES: Though Johnson has a wrestling background, we really don't know what he can do on the canvas since he's a standup fighter. If Josh Koscheck takes him down, he could be in big trouble.
If Koscheck plays it smart, boxing just enough to set up his takedowns, he'll win. But I don't think he's smart enough to do just that. I'm betting that he gets caught up in the excitement of the striking game and eats a few too many big shots from Koscheck to survive. He's like a quarterback who ruins your football picks because he tries to gunsling too much instead of handing off the rock.
Josh Koscheck
Record: 13-4
Notable victories: Diego Sanchez, Frank Trigg, Yoshiyuki Yoshida
Sportsbook odds: -105
STRENGTHS: First and foremost, Josh Koscheck is one of the UFC's best wrestlers thanks to his accomplished NCAA background. The former Division-1 national champion can dominate opponents with his takedown ability and control from the mount. As a natural athlete, Koscheck is also improving rapidly in other areas. He's cultivating powerful kickboxing -- enough that he's developed knockout power in his hands.
WEAKNESSES: Physically, Koscheck has a ton going for him. The mental game sets him back at times. The brash Koscheck sometimes gets too enamored with his new striking ability and wants to stand with opponents. While he has the power to hurt guys on his feet, keeping the fight standing takes away Koscheck's big advantage -- his wrestling -- and grants opportunities to good strikers. That's why Thiago Alves dominated him.
Anthony "Rumble" Johnson
Record: 8-2
Notable victories: Yoshiyuki Yoshida
Sportsbook odds: -125
STRENGTHS: There are few, if any, more physically imposing fighters in the welterweight division than Anthony Johnson. The man is a monster, standing 6'2", walking around at well over 200 pounds and cutting major weight to fight at 170 pounds. He's so big that he arrived for his last fight six pounds over. He's a devastating striker, capable of dropping opponents in an instant via punches or head kicks. He's also tough to take down or at least hold down because of his size.
WEAKNESSES: Though Johnson has a wrestling background, we really don't know what he can do on the canvas since he's a standup fighter. If Josh Koscheck takes him down, he could be in big trouble.
If Koscheck plays it smart, boxing just enough to set up his takedowns, he'll win. But I don't think he's smart enough to do just that. I'm betting that he gets caught up in the excitement of the striking game and eats a few too many big shots from Koscheck to survive. He's like a quarterback who ruins your football picks because he tries to gunsling too much instead of handing off the rock.
