MMA Stock Projection for August: Who to Bet On, Who to Avoid

The UFC will bring a lot of MMA action to your television screen in the month of August. Four events will go down, with two title fights leading the charge.

The featherweight crown will be up for grabs between Jose Aldo and "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung, at UFC 163 at the start of the month. And Benson Henderson will defend the lightweight strap against Anthony Pettis at UFC 164. In between will be strong fights up and down each and every card.

The odds are already starting to roll out on the fights.

There will be a lot of tough fights with tough decisions this month. Deciding which fighters to bet on and which to back away from will be hard in this unpredictable sport.

This is whom you should bet on and whom you should avoid for the month of August.

Note: Odds via Bovada.

Bet On: Josh Clopton

Josh Clopton is fighting an uphill battle at UFC 163. Rani Yahya has been on fire, and he is seeking his third straight victory.

Let's face it: Yahya is the strong favorite in this fight.

So, why bet on Clopton?

Yahya has underperformed in the past, and he has been a victim to strikes. Clopton has every chance of winning this fight. And the main reason he's a good bet is the 6:1 odds, minimum, he's been getting on the books.

At such steep odds, he's worth the small risk.

Bet On: Phil Davis

Much the same as the Clopton vs. Yahya fight, this is all about value.

Phil Davis is a nearly 3:1 underdog against No. 1-ranked Lyoto Machida. That is a bit high considering "Mr. Wonderful" has all the tools to win. The No. 7-ranked light heavyweight is a strong wrestler with a good submission game.

There is little question that he is the underdog in this fight, but with his top-tier skills, it is a bit questionable that he's that big of one. This is a very good value for a very good fighter.

Avoid: Matt Brown

Matt Brown has been picking up steam over the past two years, but steer away from him in August.

He will meet Mike Pyle in a welterweight clash at UFC Fight Night 26, the inaugural card on Fox Sports 1. He has won five straight, and his exciting style has made him a fan favorite.

Pyle, a winner of four straight, is an interesting stylistic matchup for Brown. The odds for the fight should be fairly close, but Pyle has more outs.

The odds won't be worth the risk.

Avoid: Urijah Faber

Urijah Faber sits at -275 on Bovada, and those are accurate odds for this fight.

Faber has earned that. He's been a longtime contender in both the featherweight and bantamweight divisions, and he has only been defeated by the elite.

Is Yuri Alcantara elite?

That question will be answered with this fight.

However, I would still be wary of Faber. Alcantara's skill set makes him a less-than-stellar matchup for Faber. He's shown enough to make one think he has a good chance of pulling off the upset. You should take a step back from Faber in this fight.

Bet On: Shogun Rua

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua has slowed. That is undeniable. But he is still a Top 10 light heavyweight.

The No. 8-ranked light heavyweight will take on Chael Sonnen in just a couple of weeks. Sonnen possesses a unique set of skills that could cause trouble for Rua, but it is nothing new for the former PRIDE and UFC champion.

What makes Shogun even more enticing? The odds.

Rua is the underdog. He is +115 at Bovada. For all his skills and Sonnen's submission vulnerability, this is a prime time to bet on Shogun.

Avoid: Sara McMann and Sarah Kaufman

This fight is exciting. Two of the top contenders in the division will lock horns, with a title shot potentially awaiting the winner.

However, this fight should be watched purely for the enjoyment. It's too close to call, and the odds will be as well.

It's a crapshoot.

With either woman, you are taking a significant gamble. McMann will likely end up as the favorite but only just so.

Avoid: Martin Kampmann

In the main event of UFC Fight Night 27, Martin Kampmann will take on Carlos Condit for the second time. This rematch will be a lot of fun, and it will help sort out the title picture at 170 pounds.

Kampmann will be enticing. He'll be the underdog, but he holds a previous win over Condit, making it seem as if he has a good chance at the upset. That bout was in 2009, though; things have changed.

I am not counting Kampmann out completely, but Condit has evolved into one of the best in the world. He was just a bit shy of capturing Georges St-Pierre's title with a head kick. Kampmann will be game, but don't let the odds warp your mind.

Bet On: Chad Mendes

Chad Mendes is a virtual lock to defeat Clay Guida at UFC 164.

Thanks to Guida's skills, recent win and fandom, the odds will be ripe for a good play on Mendes.

He is just a fight or two away from earning another shot at the UFC Featherweight Championship. With Duane Ludwig in his corner, he has become an even more dangerous opponent.

You can thank Guida for closing the distance on the odds. Mendes will take this fight with relative ease.

Bet On: Josh Barnett

Josh Barnett, a former UFC heavyweight champion who is now ranked at No. 10, will take on No. 6-ranked Frank Mir in the co-main event of UFC 164.

Mir has lost two in a row, while Barnett is coming off a recent win in Strikeforce. Their recent common loss is to Daniel Cormier; however, their losses were to the elite of the elite. There is no shame in losing to Junior dos Santos or Cormier.

Barnett is at -205 on Bovada. Those odds will come down closer to fight time.

He has more to prove in this fight and a lot of advantages against Mir. He's a smart play with minimal risk.

Avoid: Anthony Pettis

Anthony Pettis is like Martin Kampmann in this regard. He holds a previous win over his opponent, and he will enter as an underdog.

That will make him an enticing play for some.

Don't bite on it.

Their first razor-thin fight in the WEC was won by a rare "Showtime" kick. That isn't likely to happen in the rematch. Henderson has also changed his game since that time, and it's one that gives him a tactical advantage over Pettis.

And let's not forget that Pettis is coming off an injury. He may have some cage rust to knock off.

The odds won't be big enough to warrant a play on Pettis. They will be close to dead even. There will be better, less risky options on the UFC 164 card.