Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013 | 2 a.m.
Fans are labeling UFC on Fox 9 the Team Alpha Male card.
The Urijah Faber-led fight team has a member in each of the three headlining bouts — Joseph Benavidez, Chad Mendes and Faber himself — at Saturday night’s event held down the street from their home gym in Sacramento, Calif. Danny Castillo makes it four Team Alpha Male representatives in the top six billed fights.
Sports books aren’t certain it will turn into the celebration they’re all expecting, though. Two of the four Team Alpha Male fighters, Benavidez and Castillo, are underdogs. Faber is favored by the slimmest of margins.
The odds against all of them proving victorious are considerable as a four-team parlay with Benavidez, Mendes, Faber and Castillo pays approximately 11-to-1.
That translates to an 8 percent chance of all the hometown fighters winning.
Check below to find the odds on all of their fights as well as the rest of the UFC on Fox 9 card, along with picks from ESPN Radio’s Steve Cofield (130-61), Las Vegas Sun’s Case Keefer (123-68), Las Vegas Sun’s Ray Brewer (123-68), ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto (122-69) and KSNV’s Kevin West (116-75).
Joseph Benavidez
- Age: 29
- Height: 5’4”
- Weight: 125
- UFC record 6-1
- MMA record 19-3
- Out of: Sacramento, Calif.
- Betting line: +105
Demetrious Johnson
- Age: 27
- Height: 5’3”
- Weight: 125
- UFC record 6-1-1
- MMA record 18-2-1
- Out of: Kirkland, Wash.
- Betting line: -135
Flyweight Championship Bout
Main Event
Last fight: First-round TKO victory over Jussier Formiga at UFC Fight Night 28.
Punch list: “Joe Jitsu” has declared himself the best 125-pound fighter in the world. He admits Johnson got the best of him at UFC 152 and doesn’t dispute the split decision, but says that bout isn’t representative of their true talent level.
Picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Johnson
Cofield: Benavidez
Last fight: Submitted John Moraga in the fifth round at UFC on Fox 8.
Punch list: “Mighty Mouse” has demonstrated that he’s the best 125-pound fighter in the world. He’s beaten the top four in his division, which includes the latest victory by stoppage in UFC history against Moraga in July.
Picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Benavidez
Brewer: Benavidez
Okamoto: Benavidez
Michael McDonald
- Age: 22
- Height: 5’8”
- Weight: 135
- UFC record 5-1
- MMA record 16-2
- Out of: Modesto, Calif.
- Betting line: +130
Urijah Faber
- Age: 34
- Height: 5’6”
- Weight: 135
- UFC record 5-2
- MMA record 29-6
- Out of: Sacramento, Calif.
- Betting line: -150
Bantamweight Bout
Co-Main Event
Last fight: Second-round submission victory over Brad Pickett at UFC Fight Night 26.
Punch list: McDonald always maintained that despite his friendly relationship with Faber, he’d be willing to fight him. Now he lives up to that promise. The youthful McDonald should have a power advantage, but Faber has honed his technique over years in the sport.
Picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Faber
Cofield: Faber
Last fight: Unanimous-decision win over Yuri Alcantara at UFC Fight Night 26.
Punch list: As two Northern California-based professional fighters, Faber and McDonald have known each other for years. They briefly trained together when McDonald was a hotshot prospect that hadn’t yet turned 21-years-old and Faber welcomed him into his gym.
Picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Faber
Brewer: Faber
Okamoto: McDonald
Nik Lentz
- Age: 29
- Height: 5’8”
- Weight: 145
- UFC record 8-2-1
- MMA record 24-5-2
- Out of: Eden Prarie, Minn.
- Betting line: +400
Chad Mendes
- Age: 28
- Height: 5’6”
- Weight: 145
- UFC record 6-1
- MMA record 15-1
- Out of: Sacramento, Calif.
- Betting line: -600
Featherweight Bout
Featured Contest
Last fight: Unanimous-decision victory over Hacran Dias at UFC on FX 8.
Punch list: The former University of Minnesota wrestler’s UFC record is impressive enough, but consider it since he dropped to featherweight — 3-0. “The Carny” is stronger and more dangerous since retreating from lightweight.
Picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Mendes
Cofield: Mendes
Last fight: Third-round TKO victory over Clay Guida at UFC 164.
Punch list: Mendes, a college wrestler at Cal Poly, strikes down former lightweights for hobby. He’s done it in each of his last two bouts, knocking out Guida and Darren Elkins. The one-time top contender looks for his fifth straight win against Lentz.
Picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Mendes
Brewer: Mendes
Okamoto: Mendes
Mac Danzig
- Age: 33
- Height: 5’8”
- Weight: 155
- UFC record 5-7
- MMA record 21-11-1
- Out of: Los Angeles
- Betting line: +155
Joe Lauzon
- Age: 29
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 155
- UFC record 9-6
- MMA record 22-6
- Out of: East Bridgewater, Mass.
- Betting line: -170
Lightweight Bout
Main Card Opener
Last fight: Second-round knockout loss to Melvin Guillard at UFC on Fox 8.
Punch list: Yes, “The Ultimate Fighter” 6 champion is still kicking around in the UFC. The promotion didn’t see losses in three of his last four, or four of his last six, as grounds for dismissal. He may not be so fortunate with one more defeat.
Picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Lauzon
Cofield: Lauzon
Last fight: Unanimous-decision loss to Michael Johnson at UFC Fight Night 26.
Punch list: For the first time in his UFC career, the all-time leader in fight-night bonuses is riding a losing streak. There’s a debate over whether Lauzon’s losses to Johnson and Jim Miller were just tough matchups or a sign he’s slowing down. The pairing with Danzig should hint at the answers.
Picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Danzig
Brewer: Lauzon
Okamoto: Lauzon
Ryan LaFlare
- Age: 30
- Height: 6’1”
- Weight: 170
- UFC record 2-0
- MMA record 9-0
- Out of: Farmingdale, N.Y.
- Betting line: -115
Court McGee
- Age: 28
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 170
- UFC record 5-2
- MMA record 18-3
- Out of: San Diego
- Betting line: -115
Welterweight Bout
Fox Sports 1 Prelim
Last fight: Beat Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC Fight Night.
Punch list: A teammate with the likes of middleweight champion Chris Weidman for Serra-Longo, LaFlare is looking to rise the ranks in a hurry. That explains accepting a short-notice bout here three days after his last fight in November.
Picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: McGee
Cofield: LaFlare
Last fight: Split-decision win over Robert Whittaker at UFC Fight Night 27.
Punch list: Aside from a two-fight losing streak a year ago, “The Ultimate Fighter” 11 champion has put together an outstanding UFC career. He’s lost no more than three rounds in his other five fights inside the octagon.
Picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: McGee
Brewer: LaFlare
Okamoto: LaFlare
Edson Barboza
- Age: 27
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 155
- UFC record 6-1
- MMA record 12-1
- Out of: Rio de Janeiro
- Betting line: -250
Danny Castillo
- Age: 34
- Height: 5’9”
- Weight: 155
- UFC record 6-2
- MMA record 16-5
- Out of: Sacramento, Calif.
- Betting line: +200
Lightweight Bout
Fox Sports 1 prelim
Last fight: Second-round TKO win over Rafaello Oliveira at UFC 162.
Punch list: Many fighters caution fans with a cliché “don’t blink” before their bouts. Barboza could actually mean it. His inventive striking, particularly his kicks, give the possibility of his fights ending at any moment.
Picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Barboza
Cofield: Barboza
Last fight: Beat Tim Means by unanimous decision at UFC on Fox 8.
Punch list: In this striker vs. grappler matchup, Castillo satisfies the latter. The first of the Team Alpha Male fighters on the card, Castillo will look to control Barboza with his wrestling as he does in most of his bouts to success.
Picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Barboza
Brewer: Barboza
Okamoto: Barboza
Pat Healy
- Age: 30
- Height: 6’0”
- Weight: 155
- UFC record 0-1
- MMA record 31-16
- Out of: Portland, Ore.
- Betting line: -170
Bobby Green
- Age: 27
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 155
- UFC record 2-0
- MMA record 21-5
- Out of: Fontana, Calif.
- Betting line: +140
Lightweight Bout
Fox Sports 1 prelim
Last fight: Unanimous-decision loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 165.
Punch list: “Bam Bam’s” early UFC career hasn’t gone smoothly. The veteran, who rose as Strikeforce disintegrated, saw a big win over Jim Miller overturned to a no contest because of a positive drug test for marijuana before the lopsided loss to Nurmagomedov.
Picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Healy
Cofield: Healy
Last fight: First-round TKO win over James Krause at UFC Fight For The Troops 3.
Punch list: Things couldn’t have gone much better for the Strikeforce journeyman since coming over to the UFC. He’s finished both of his opponents, including Krause so easily that he was able to accept this fight five weeks later.
Picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Healy
Brewer: Healy
Okamoto: Healy
Zack Makovsky
- Age: 31
- Height: 5’4”
- Weight: 135
- UFC record 0-0
- MMA record 16-4
- Out of: Philadelphia
- Betting line: +200
Scott Jorgensen
- Age: 31
- Height: 5’4”
- Weight: 136
- UFC record 3-3
- MMA record 14-7
- Out of: Boise, Idaho
- Betting line: -250
Flyweight Bout
Fox Sports 1 Prelim
Last fight: Beat Matt Manzanares at RFA 11.
Punch list: “Fun Size” got the call with a UFC offer just last week after Dodson pulled out of the fight. It’s not just another signing, as Makovsky is the former Bellator bantamweight champion and known for brawling.
Picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Jorgensen
Cofield: Makovsky
Last fight: Fourth-round submission loss to Urijah Faber at “The Ultimate Fighter” 17 finale.
Punch list: Odds-wise, Jorgensen caught a break when original opponent John Dodson went down with an injury. The former Boise State wrestler projected as a significant underdog against Dodson, but instead gets to be favored by a decent clip against Makovsky.
Picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Jorgensen
Brewer:Jorgensen
Okamoto: Makovsky
Cody McKenzie
- Age: 25
- Height: 6’0”
- Weight: 146
- UFC record 3-3
- MMA record 14-3
- Out of: Spokane, Wash.
- Betting line: +200
Sam Stout
- Age: 29
- Height: 5’9”
- Weight: 155
- UFC record 8-8
- MMA record 19-9-1
- Out of: London, Ontario
- Betting line: -250
Lightweight Bout
Fox Sports 1 Prelim
Last fight: Unanimous-decision win over Leonard Garcia at UFC 159.
Punch list: A year could pass without a single “McKenzintine choke” for the first time since 2007 if the namesake doesn’t pull off his signature move here. At one point, McKenzie had won 10 straight fights with his modified guillotine choke.
Picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Stout
Cofield: Stout
Last fight: Third-round loss to James Krause via submission at UFC 161.
Punch list: As his nickname “Hands of Stones” hints, Stout prides himself on his background as a fierce-striking kickboxer. It eats at him that he’s only pulled off one knockout in his UFC career, so that’s what he’ll be looking for in Sacramento.
Picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Stout
Brewer: Stout
Okamoto: Stout
Roger Bowling
- Age: 33
- Height: 5’9”
- Weight: 170
- UFC record 0-1
- MMA record 11-4
- Out of: Cincinnati
- Betting line: +120
Abel Trujillo
- Age: 32
- Height: 5’8”
- Weight: 170
- UFC record 1-1
- MMA record 10-5
- Out of: Des Moines, Iowa
- Betting line: -150
Welterweight Bout
Fox Sports 1 Prelim
Last fight: No contest with Abel Trujillo at UFC Fight Night 27.
Punch list: Bowling has a history of irresolute fight conclusions, perhaps because of his unrestrained style. A fight between Bowling and rival Bobby Voelker infamously went to technical decision in 2010 after he suffered an inadvertent eyepoke.
Picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Trujillo
Cofield: Trujillo
Last fight: No contest with Roger Bowling at UFC Fight Night 27.
Punch list: The UFC seeks resolution with this fight. A fight between these two in August ended prematurely when the referee ruled a Trujillo knee as illegal. Trujillo was rightfully irate as replay confirmed there was nothing wrong with his strike.
Picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Trujillo
Brewer: Trujillo
Okamoto: Trujillo
Alptekin Ozkilic
- Age: 27
- Height: 5’7”
- Weight: 125
- UFC record 0-0
- MMA record 8-1
- Out of: St. Charles, Mo.
- Betting line: -250
Darren Uyenoyama
- Age: 34
- Height: 5’6”
- Weight: 125
- UFC record 2-1
- MMA record 8-4
- Out of: San Francisco
- Betting line: +200
Flyweight Bout
Facebook Prelim
Last fight: First-round TKO victory over Antonio Banuelos at Legacy Fighting Championships 20.
Punch list: Knocking out a UFC veteran in 30 seconds served as the final straw for convincing the UFC brass that this prospect deserved a shot in the octagon. Ozkilic rides a streak of two straight TKO wins into his UFC debut.
Picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Ozkilic
Cofield: Ozkilic
Last fight: Knocked out by Joseph Benavidez in the second round at UFC on Fox 7.
Punch list: The grappling guru will look to take this fight to the ground. Before losing to Benavidez, Uyenoyama had submitted Phil Harris and severely out grappled Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto to start 2-0 in the UFC.
Picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Uyenoyama
Brewer: Ozkillic
Okamoto: Uyenoyama
Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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