UFC Fight for the Troops 2: Betting Odds And Predictions For Every Fight

On Saturday, January 22, 2011, the UFC will travel to Fort Hood to put on a show for the men and women of the United States Military. With a card full of exciting fighters ready to go to war, the real life soldiers are unlikely to leave the event disappointed.

In addition to the exciting match-ups, a featherweight title shot could be on the line for Mark Hominick in his fight against George Roop. Dana White announced that, with a win over Roop, Hominick would meet UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo at UFC 129 in Toronto.

With the betting lines for several of the fights being very close, this event also provides some great money-making opportunities. For those of you who may not have much knowledge of the lesser-known fighters on the card, or even if you're just not sure who to pick for the card's main event, let this article serve as your betting guide for UFC Fight For The Troops 2.

Will Campuzano Vs. Chris Cariaso

Will Campuzano -145 

Chris Cariaso +115

Will Campuzano will return to the Octagon for the second consecutive month to take on Chris Cariaso. Campuzano's last fight, his first with the UFC, was scheduled to be the first bantamweight fight in the promotion's history. However, Campuzano's opponent, Nick Pace, failed to make weight for the bout.

Campuzano went on to lose in his UFC debut, submitting due to a creative choke, which was later named the Pace Choke. With a 1-3 record under Zuffa promotions, Campuzano is in need of a win at UFC Fight For The Troops 2.

Cariaso, who posted a record of 1-1 while in the WEC, will be making his UFC debut against Campuzano. In his last fight, Cariaso suffered a submission loss in the first round against Renan Barao.

Both of these fighters prefer to stand, but neither is too uncomfortable on the ground either. With 50 percent of his wins coming by knockout, Campuzano has the slight edge in striking over Cariaso, but neither fighter has shown the ability to finish high-level opponents on their feet.

It's hard to imagine either fighter dominating the other on the ground, so the winner of this fight is most likely going to be the more effective striker. Even if Cariaso were to take his opponent down, Campuzano was able to reverse position on Pace, a much better grappler than Cariaso, a couple times.

In addition to having already experienced fighting on the world's biggest stage, Campuzano possesses a significant reach advantage over Cariaso. This fight isn't a complete mismatch by any means, but Campuzano has the advantage no matter where the fight goes.

Prediction: Campuzano defeats Cariaso by unanimous decision 

Charlie Brenneman Vs. Amilcar Alves

Charlie Brenneman -250

Amilcar Alves +190

After losing to Mike Pierce in his promotional debut, Amilcar Alves will take on Charlie Brenneman in his second UFC appearance. Before winning by submission, Pierce was able to continually take Alves down and control the fight for two and a half rounds.

Brenneman, who wrestled at Lock Haven University, is more than arguably a better wrestler than Pierce. After losing to Johny Hendricks in his last fight, it appears that this match-up lends itself to Brenneman getting back on a winning track.

Even if Brenneman decided to stand with Alves, he probably wouldn't be at a disadvantage. Five of Brenneman's eleven career victories have been knockouts. Still, this fight is more likely to play out much like Pierce vs. Alves did.

Instead of attempting a submission though, Brenneman is more likely to ground-and-pound his way to a fairly easy victory.

Prediction: Brenneman defeats Alves by technical knockout in the second round

Waylon Lowe Vs. Willamy Freire

Willamy Freire -130

Waylon Lowe EVEN

After losing to Melvin Guillard in his first fight with the UFC, Waylon Lowe bounced back with a split decision victory over Steve Lopez at UFC 119. A three-time NCAA Division II Wrestling Champion, there is no secret what Lowe's approach will be heading into this fight. Lowe will most likely try to take the fight to the canvas and work his ground-and-pound.

Lowe's opponent, Willamy Freire, will be making his UFC debut at UFC Fight For The Troops 2. Freire, who vacated his Shooto Welterweight Championship to join the UFC, has not lost since July 2007. With nine submission victories in his 20 fight career, Freire could possess the perfect answer to Lowe's game plan.

Freire has ended multiple fights with his guillotine choke, a technique that Lowe could be susceptible to during one of his inevitable takedown attempts. At only 23-years-old, Freire has excellent potential, and Lowe could end up being a stepping stone on the way to a great UFC career.

Freire's lack of top-flight competition is likely the only legitimate reason that the odds for this fight are so close, and that is something that should be taken advantage of. 

Prediction: Freire defeats Lowe by submission in the first round 

Mike Brown Vs. Rani Yahya

Mike Brown -340

Rani Yahya +260

After losing the WEC Featherweight Championship to Jose Aldo, Mike Brown has gone 2-2. In his first fight with the UFC since the WEC merger, Brown lost in a split decision to Diego Nunes. Just three weeks later, the 35-year-old Brown will fight Rani Yahya in a fight that could determine the future of his career with the UFC.

Yahya enters his UFC debut on a two fight losing streak. Out of 15 career victories, Yahya has won 14 by submission. Brown has been submitted in four of his seven career losses, but none of those submissions have come within the last five years.

Besides, Brown will likely elect to stand with Yahya. Standing, Yahya poses almost no threat to Brown, who should be able to deny any attempted takedowns. Brown may no longer be a threat to reclaim his spot as the top featherweight in the world, but he will have enough left in the tank to rebound with a win over Yahya.

Prediction: Brown defeats Yahya by technical knockout in the first round

DaMarques Johnson Vs. Mike Guymon

DaMarques Johnson -140

Mike Guymon +110

Both DaMarques Johnson and Mike Guymon have disappointed in their time with the UFC. Johnson has posted a record of 2-2 in the UFC, while Guymon has gone 1-2 in the promotion. Of the three combined fighters that the two have defeated, none remain in the UFC. All that being said, and with the number of fighters that have been cut from the UFC recently, it seems that there is a strong possibility that the loser of this fight will be removed from the promotion's roster.

Three of Guymon's four career losses have come by submission, and Johnson certainly has the tools to force that trend to continue. Having submitted multiple opponents with triangle chokes, Johnson has shown that he can finish opponents off of his back. 

In 19 career fights, Johnson has only gone to two decisions. Similarly, Guymon has only had three fights decided by the judges in his 17 professional bouts. So, it is unlikely that this fight will go the distance. These fighters are very evenly matched, but look for Johnson to catch Guymon with a triangle at some point during an otherwise closely contested fight.

Prediction: Johnson defeats Guymon by submission in the first round

Cody McKenzie Vs. Yves Edwards

Yves Edwards -250

Cody McKenzie +190

Cody McKenzie's streak of ten consecutive victories by guillotine choke is an amazing accomplishment. Of course, McKenzie was unable to defeat Nam Phan on The Ultimate Fighter, but that fight did not count toward either fighter's official record. It is only a matter of time before someone puts McKenzie's amazing streak to an end, and Yves Edwards will be the next fighter to try.

With 56 professional fights under his belt, Edwards has never tapped due to a guillotine choke. If anyone were to be the first to accomplish that feat, it would be McKenzie, but Edwards' experience could be the determining factor in this fight.

If Edwards has half a brain, he will avoid the ground altogether and exploit McKenzie's sloppy stand-up. As long as Edwards refrains from attempting a takedown, he should be able to quickly dispose of McKenzie.

Prediction: Edwards defeats McKenzie by knockout in the first round 

Cole Miller Vs. Matt Wiman

Cole Miller -170

Matt Wiman +140

Both Cole Miller and Matt Wiman have quietly put together commendable records with the UFC. With back-to-back submission victories over Ross Pearson and Dan Lauzon, Miller has run his UFC record to 6-2. Meanwhile, Wiman's two fight win streak has improved his record in the UFC to 6-3.

A three-time Submission of the Night winner, Miller has a dangerous ground game. However, Wiman has not been submitted once in his MMA career. Still, Wiman's submission defense has only been truly tested by Thiago Tavares, who has not exactly proven to be a submission ace against high-level competition.

This should be a tightly contested grappling match throughout. As the better wrestler, Wiman may have a slight edge on the scorecards for most of the fight. Eventually, Miller is bound to grab a hold of one of Wiman's limbs. There's a first time for everything, and there is a good chance Wiman will tap for the first time in this fight. 

Prediction: Miller defeats Wiman by submission in the third round 

Pat Barry Vs. Joey Beltran

Pat Barry -250

Joey Beltran +190

Pat Barry had a golden opportunity to make a name for himself with a win over Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. However, Barry would suffer multiple injuries in the fight, which would contribute to his submission loss. Now Barry will fight Joey Beltran in a fight that promises to be a stand-up war.

Both fighters have accumulated a majority of their wins by standing technical knockouts. It seems likely that neither fighter would stray from their comfort zone in this fight.

Arguably, Barry is the more technical and powerful striker. With nearly six years of professional kickboxing under his belt, there is a reason Barry is favored so heavily in what doesn't appear to be a huge mismatch at first glance.

Barry should have his way with Beltran for the most part. However, Beltran has the chin to take this one the distance. It probably won't be as lopsided as the betting lines make it out to be, but Barry should do enough to take a convincing decision victory.

Prediction: Barry defeats Beltran by unanimous decision

Mark Hominick Vs. George Roop

Mark Hominick -250

George Roop +190

With a win at UFC Fight For The Troops 2, Mark Hominick will receive a shot at the UFC Featherweight Championship according to Dana White. Mark Hominick has had a respectable career thus far, and he is currently riding a four fight win streak into his fight with George Roop. However, it seems that Hominick's chance at becoming the top featherweight contender is primarily based on the fact that he would be a Canadian born fighter competing for the title at UFC 129 in Toronto.

Both fighters have recently fought to close decisions with Leonard Garcia, but who hasn't? Hominick received a win on the cards, while Roop earned a draw with Garcia. Both fighters are also well-rounded, but Hominick should have an advantage in all disciplines.

Four of Roop's six losses have come by submission. Aside from George Sotiropoulos, Hominick is a much more accomplished grappler than the other fighters who have submitted Roop. This is Hominick's fight to lose. Unless he lets the enormous pressure of winning this fight get to him, Hominick should be Jose Aldo's next opponent.

Prediction: Hominick defeats Roop by submission in the second round

Matt Mitrione Vs. Tim Hague

Matt Mitrione -270

Tim Hague +210

With two-first round knockouts outside of the promotion, Tim Hague has earned his way back into the UFC. Hague was cut from the roster after losing three consecutive fights to Todd Duffee, Chris Tuchscherer, and Joey Beltran.

Meanwhile, Matt Mitrione has gotten his MMA career off to an impressive 3-0 start. Mitrione's most recent win was a decision victory over Beltran. A former professional football player, Mitrione athletic ability far surpasses that of Hague.

After beating Beltran, there is really no reason to believe Mitrione can't dominate Hague. Mitrione's submission defense has not yet been tested, but he should try to keep this fight standing anyway. The only real threat Hague poses is securing a guillotine choke if Mitrione attempts a takedown.

Prediction: Mitrione defeats Hague by unanimous decision

Evan Dunham Vs. Melvin Guillard

Evan Dunham -225

Melvin Guillard +185

In his last fight, Evan Dunham dropped a razor thin decision to Sean Sherk. Had Dunham been awarded the victory, he would likely be a serious title contender. Still, Dunham is probably only a win or two away from becoming a legitimate threat to fight for the belt.

Dunham has an excellent guillotine choke, a submission from which Guillard has tapped multiple times. Guillard has been known to lose focus at time in his fights, especially in the later rounds. There is a strong possibility that Guillard attempts a lazy double-leg takedown and gets caught.

Considering he was expected to fight Kenny Florian at this event, it is clear that the UFC expects Dunham to be a future contender. In order for that to happen, Dunham will have to show he can beat opponents that he should be able beat. Count Guillard as an opponent that Dunham should be able to handle.

Prediction: Dunham defeats Guillard by submission in the third round