Affliction Day of Reckoning – Full Card Free Picks

Affliction betting: Can 'The Pitbull' take a bite out of Fedor's legacy?

While it appeared that the Affliction dream was all but done less than a few months ago, swallowed up in the over-saturated market that is mixed-martial arts, the Trump -backed promotion realized it still had two things going for them: Fedor Emelianenko and Andrei Arlovski. So, it did the only thing it could do, and booked a bout between the two for January 24, 2008.

Fedor Emelianenko (-375) vs. Andrei Arlovski (+235)

While it may not be on the same level as Georges St. Pierre vs. B.J. Penn to North American fans, MMA betting sharps worldwide are quite aware of the skill level that will be inside the squared circle on Saturday. Arlovski is a former UFC champion, and Emelianenko is perhaps the greatest fighter never to step foot inside an octagon. Both men come from Russian backgrounds, and have iconic status in their homelands, which will certainly aid Affliction in the pay-per-view revenue department.

Fedor is thought of in MMA betting circles as an unstoppable force, and as such, is listed as a -375 favorite on MMA betting lines and Affliction odds. He has defeated a who's who of MMA, including Tim Sylvia, Cro-Cop and Antonio Nogueira, and done so with relative ease. By nature, Fedor is a grappler, however he has shown tremendous knockout power, albeit mostly following a takedown. His opponent, Arlovski, is a Freddy Roach-trained pure striker, who seems somewhat careless and lost when on the mat. Arguably, this fight will come down to who implements their game plan first. Will Fedor take Arlovski down before he gets hit?

Despite the difference on Affliction odds, if you're looking for underdog value on this card, you can't go wrong with Andrei Arlovski. A knockout specialist listed at +235? I don't care who is across the ring from him, I'm going after the big payout. Arlovski by KO

Gilbert Yvel (+375) vs. Josh Barnett (-650)

In an obvious set-up match, premiere heavyweight contender Josh Barnett is given a cream-puff opponent in Gilbert Yvel. Barnett is an excellent grappler, and has shown improved striking skills recently as well. Yvel is a pure striker with a checkered past—which includes abusing referees—and will get no support from the fans, or help from the officials. Parlay a Barnett victory in with any pick you make on Saturday. Barnett by Submission

Matt Lindland (-180) vs. Vitor Belfort (+140)

While Lindland has been on the political campaign trail, Belfort has been training hard to regain the respect he once had as a UFC champion. The +140 underdog has been working with Randy Couture, who trained Lindland for many years. Is this sounding appealing yet? Belfort by KO