UFC 95 Best of the Best - Joe Daddy vs. The Nightmare
by Corey E
Joe "Daddy" Stevenson takes on Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez.
For those evaluating Stevenson.
In Stevenson's case, this is a make or break matchup in terms of his career. Crushing losses to B.J. Penn and Kenny Florian suggest that perhaps he was pushed too far, too quickly by UFC brass, and that MMA betting experts may have thought too much of him. The idea was that Stevenson would be a fearsome striker after coming out of The Ultimate Fighter with all kinds of momentum. Of course, Stevenson managed to dominate opponents on the undercard as he worked his way up the title rankings, however once he faced top-flight talent, he truly hit a wall. Both Penn and Florian embarrassed him in the stand-up game, and what's not very intriguing for "Daddy" is that Sanchez could be an even better striker than those two.
UFC odds favor Sanchez quite favorably at -350 on BetUS Sportsbook lines, and so far, sports betting sharps have been all over it. MMA experts suggest that the weight difference will not affect Sanchez's speed game enough to hinder him, which will be very bad news for a downtrodden Stevenson. Unfortunately for the Ultimate Fighter II winner, this could be the very last time he headlines a UFC betting card.
The Pick: Sanchez by KO
