UFC 112 Preview: You've Got No Fear Of The Underdog

America loves an underdog. I learned that the hard way on Monday as my head-to-toe swaddle in Duke gear — I did my undergrad there — was met mostly with taunting, derision, and the occasional wedgie. While I was certainly thrilled with the outcome of the national championship game, I understand why most of the country found Butler's loss miserable. The thrill of an outmatched opponent beating long odds is a huge part of why we watch sports in the first place.

Saturday night, UFC 112 will broadcast live from the United Arab Emirates. While seeing the UFC branch out into the Middle East is certainly exciting, the top of the card is marked by fights that leave something to be desired competitively. Yes, we'll get to see the best middleweight and the best lightweight in the world ply their trades in championship bouts, in addition to an exciting outdoor venue that the UFC and their foreign partners are committed to doing right. But without good fights, will it be worth tuning in? Well, how badly do you want to see a longshot?

To be the man, first you've got to knock the man off the other man's shoulders.

Jiu-jitsu ace Demian Maia is getting between 3:1 and 4:1 odds for his attempt to take the middleweight belt off Anderson Silva. BJ Penn is even more of a favorite than Silva, defending against Frankie Edgar who is getting approximately 5:1 for your money. Both of the underdogs are legitimate competitors; Edgar has solid grappling and Maia is well-recognized as a BJJ master. Against the best in the world, however, that likely won't mean they'll put on much of a show.

Maia's last two fights have exposed serious holes in his stand-up game, first when Nate Marquardt blasted him for a 21-second KO and again in February when Maia looked tentative slugging his way to a weak decision over Dan Miller. As we well know, "Spider" Silva can knock you out even moving backwards, as he did to Forrest Griffin. Maia will have an edge on the ground, but the only way that Silva is likely to let Maia get to the mat — barring another pull-guard snoozer like Silva vs. Thales Leites — is without consciousness.

Article Author: Matt DeTura

Matt DeTura is a sports nut -- particularly, a big fan of MMA -- currently located in Washington, DC. He can be followed at http://www.twitter.com/mdetura.

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