UFC 107 Betting Odds
UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Venue: FedExForum
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
B.J. Penn will defend his UFC lightweight title against Diego Sanchez on Dec. 12 in Memphis, Tenn. Unbeaten at 155 pounds for nearly eight years, BJ Penn has ruled the lightweight division with an iron fist, finishing top contenders Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk, and Penn submitted Kenny Florian in his most recent defense at UFC 101 in August.
Sanchez, 2-0 at 155 pounds and 21-2 overall, is coming off a split decision over Clay Guida in June. Sanchez, the first contract winner of The Ultimate Fighter, has only had two fights at lightweight following several years as a welterweight. But Sanchez's 8-2 record in UFC as a 170-pounder gave him instant credibility as a top lightweight. His status was further bolstered by wins over Guida and Stevenson.
Cheick Kongo vs. Frank Mir
Plus, former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir (14-5-1) will try to bounce back from his crushing loss to Brock Lesnar at UFC 100, to begin his quest for a third title, and to move back up the ladder in one of the sport’s toughest divisions. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace will have to survive the ferocious striking attack of French contender Cheick Kongo (12-4), who knows that a win over a superstar like Mir will move him closer to his first title opportunity.
Another exciting match up will be the Lightweight bout between Kenny Florian and Clay Guida that will also take place on the main card of UFC 107.
Florian (11-4) fell short in his bid to wrest the title from Penn at UFC 101 last month, losing by rear naked choke in the fourth round. He had not lost since a first shot at the belt against Sean Sherk in October 2006, amassing six straight victories on his road back to contention. An alum of the original "The Ultimate Fighter," where he fought as a middleweight, Florian fought as a welterweight two times before making his original run for the revamped title.
Guida (25-10) saw his three-fight win streak broken against contender Sanchez, fighting a brutal war of attrition with the original TUF alum in a June appearance at the Season 9 finale of the show. Long considered one of the toughest competitors in the division, Guida has gone 5-4 in the Octagon since making his debut at UFC 64, the same card Florian got his title shot.
MAIN CARD
* Champ B.J. Penn vs. Diego Sanchez (for lightweight title)
* Cheick Kongo vs. Frank Mir
* Jon Fitch vs. Mike Pierce
* Kenny Florian vs. Clay Guida
* Paul Buentello vs. TBA*
PRELIMINARY CARD (un-aired)
* Alan Belcher vs. Wilson Gouveia
* Shane Nelson vs. Matt Wiman
* Ricardo Funch vs. Johny Hendricks
* Lucio Linhares vs. Rousimar Palhares
* Edgar Garcia vs. DaMarques Johnson
* Kevin Burns vs. T.J. Grant
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