UFC 118 Betting Odds - Penn vs Edgar

This Saturday the UFC is live from the TD Garden for their ever show in Boston Mass. Match maker Joe Silva has put together another fantastic card for UFC 118 – Edgar vs. Penn 2, the main event features a rematch of the UFC 112 Lightweight title fight where Frankie “The Answer” Edgar upset then champion BJ Penn. 

The UFC odds have the former champion BJ Penn as a huge -350 favorite over the current lightweight champion Edgar. If the underdog champion can defend his title, UFC bettors can make $250 for every $100 risked on “The Answer”.

UFC 118 Betting Odds
August 28, 2010

BJ Penn                                -350

Frank Edgar        +250

Location: TD Garden – Boston MA

Game Time: 10:00pm
TV: PPV

As BJ Penn had been the UFC lightweight champion for so long, the UFC gave Penn an immediate rematch against the upstart Edgar. In their first fight, Edgar used his speed to dance around Penn, hit him with the jab and bounce back.  Edgar was also the first lightweight to take Penn down in years, he did it not only once but twice in their first fight. 

There were a lot of people who decried the result of the first fight, likely those that threw down on Penn at -500 odds. The fight was close, Edgar didn’t dominate the fight but it was clear that he outpointed BJ Penn in the 5-round fight.

Penn has vowed not to let this fight go to the judges’ cards at UFC 118; he says he will finish Edgar to win the fight. That has been the biggest complaint against Penn in his career, because he is so naturally gifted, it appears that he’ll lose his hunger for training and the result is a less than perfect BJ Penn in the cage.  At lightweight, it was never an issue until his fight with Edgar but when he would make the jump to welterweight, Penn would look lethargic and lack the cardio to compete against the likes of Georges St. Pierre or Matt Hughes. 

Edgar, despite winning the title from Penn, is still looking for respect.  He clearly beat the greatest lightweight champion the UFC has seen but people are blaming the Penn more for the loss rather than Edgar for the win.

Edgar is a small lightweight, before his recent run to the title; many UFC experts were suggesting he move to the fight at 145lbs but to his credit Edgar won beat Penn and won fights against tough opponents Hermes Franca, former champion Sean Sherk and Matt Veech.  The only loss of Edgar’s career was to the undefeated Grey Maynard.

Maynard looks to be in line for the next UFC lightweight title shot against the winner of Edgar vs. Penn 2.

When BJ Penn is focused, he’s the in the top 5 of pound for pound fighters in the world. Edgar is a tremendous wrestler but he may want to avoid going to the ground with BJJ black belt Penn.  I love an underdog but I think Penn’s first loss at lightweight since 2002 will serve as a wakeup call for the Prodigy and while I won’t call a finish, I think Penn wins it inside the 5.

UFC Betting Pick: BJ Penn -350