UFC 159: Light Heavyweight Champ Jon Jones Defends title Against Chael Sonnen

The UFC is about to wrap up four weeks of intense MMA action with a top class event. This time, MMA fans and bettors will enjoy what for many experts could be the best fight of the year when the undisputed Light Heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, puts his title on the line against top contender and TUF coach Chael Sonnel.

UFC 159: "Jones vs. Sonnen" takes place this Saturday, April 27th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.  Jones and Sonnen will be joined in the main card by Middleweight contenders Michael Bisping and Alan Belcher, as well as Heavyweight fighters Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo. The main card is round up by light Heavyweight fighters Phil Davis and Vinny Magalhaes anas well as Lightweight prospects Jim Miller and Pat Healy.

Ranked as the No.1 light heavyweight fighter in the world and No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Jones holds more records than any other fighter in the UFC. At only 25 years, Jones is not only the youngest champion in UFC history (23-y.o) but also the youngest fighter to defend a championship belt (24-y.o).

Jones, who has never lost a fight via submission, KO or decision, is also tied with Brazilian fighter Lyoto Machida for the longest in light heavyweight history (eight-fight win-streak), and holds the record for most submission victories in light heavyweight history with five, as well as five career wins over undisputed UFC champions.

Ranked the #2 middleweight in the world by Sherdog, Sonnen also owns an impressive MMA record (27 wins, 7 by K.O, 4 by Submission and 16 by decision, 12 losses and 1 draw). The former college wrestler and silver medalist at the 2000 Greco-Roman World University Championships made his UFC debut against former IFC Light Heavyweight Champion Renato Sobral at UFC 55, submitting his rival with a second-round triangle choke. After moving to Bodog Fight and getting a spot in the World Extreme Cagefighting, Sonnen returned to the UFC and won three fights by unanimous decision against Dan Miller at UFC 98, Yushin Okami at UFC 104, and Nate Marquardt at UFC 110. As a result, Sonnen received the opportunity to fight for the UFC Middleweight Championship against Anderson Silva.

The fight took place at UFC 117 on August 7, 2010. Heading into the fifth and final round, Sonnen led on scorecards 40–34, 40–35, and 40-36, but just minutes before the end of the fifth, Silva caught Sonnen in a choke and made him tap out. 

After a short suspension by the California State Athletic Commission, Sonnen returned to the UFC on October 8, 2011, defeating Brian Stann with a second round arm triangle choke at UFC 136. A rematch with Anderson Silva was scheduled at UFC 148, but the Spider retained the title thanks to a K.O at 1:55 of the second round.

 UFC 159 Fight Card and Odds:
Light Heavyweight: Jon Jones (-950) vs. Chael Sonnen (+525)
Middleweight: Michael Bisping (-170) vs. Alan Belcher (+140)
Heavyweight: Roy Nelson (-230) vs. Cheick Kongo (+190)
Light Heavyweight: Phil Davis (-320) vs. Vinny Magalhaes (+250)
Lightweight: Jim Miller (-300) vs. Pat Healy (+240)

The odds above are provided by Sports Betting Online. MMA and sportsbook betting fans are welcomed to open an account for free and get access to up to date lines and odds for all major sport leagues, including UFC, NBA, MLB, NFL, NBA, NCAA, European Soccer, Horse Racing and much more. Join now and receive 10% cashback on all your bets, win or lose.

NFL Unveils 2013 Regular Season Schedule: Ravens Open Season on the Road against Broncos

Great news for all NFL Football fans. Days after the NFL announced that the 2013 NFL schedule was expected to be released in one or two weeks, officials of the National Football League surprisingly unveiled the calendar this Thursday night.  The reigning NFL champ, the Baltimore Ravens, are stated to open the 2013 season on the road against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. The game is schedule to take place on September 5th at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

With this change, the Ravens will become first NFL champ to kick off the regular season on the road since the new opening game format was introduced in 2004. The decision was taken after the NFL was forced to reprogram the game due a schedule conflict with the Baltimore Orioles.

 The Orioles are scheduled to open a three game series against the White Sox at Camden Yards the same night, but since the Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium share a parking lot, handling MLB and NFL games at the same time brings a long list of issues and inconveniences for the organization.

The NFL sustained negotiation talks with Baltimore Orioles’ representatives, but the Orioles ended up denying NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's request to reschedule the game against in order to accommodate the NFL's opening-night in Baltimore.

Despite the haze of confusion that surrounded the league this week, all games and matches for the 17 weeks were finalized before expected and unveiled to bettors and fans yesterday night.

So now that the NFL's 2013 regular-season schedule is officially confirmed, it’s time to give a look to some of the most attractive games programmed this season.

Ravens at Broncos (Sept. 5)
Falcons at Saints (Sept. 8)
Packers at 49ers (Sept. 8)
Eagles at Redskins (Sept. 9)
Jets at Patriots (Sept. 12)
Redskins at Packers (Sept. 15)
Broncos at Giants (Sept. 15)
49ers at Seahawks (Sept. 15)
Chiefs at Eagles (Sept. 19)
Colts at 49ers (Sept. 22)
Texans at Ravens (Sept. 22)
Steelers vs. Vikings (Sept. 29)
Seahawks at Colts (Oct. 6)
Saints at Bears (Oct. 6)
Eagles at Giants (Oct. 6)
Texans at 49ers (Oct. 6)
Saints at Patriots  (Oct. 13)
Packers at Ravens (Oct. 13)
Broncos at Colts (Oct. 20)
Dolphins at Patriots (Oct. 27)
Bears at Packers (Nov. 4)
Redskins at Vikings ( Nov. 7)
Seahawks at Falcons (Nov. 10)
Broncos at Patriots (Nov. 24)
Broncos at Patriots (Nov. 24)
49ers at Redskins (Nov. 25)
Patriots at Texans (Dec. 1)
Patriots at Ravens (Dec. 22)
Falcons at 49ers (Dec. 23)



All Odds on NFL and future bets to win Super Bowl XLVIII will be available in the coming weeks at Sports Betting Online.

Hearings for NFL Concussion Litigation Begin in Philadelphia

Sportsbook betting site, Sports Betting Online reported this morning that a federal court hearing over a concussion litigation filed by thousands of former NFL players and their families kicked off this Tuesday morning in the state of Philadelphia.

A large group consisting of approximately 4.200 players filed a case accusing the league of concealing information about the risk of playing after a concussion. Some of them suffer illnesses and other brain problems while others simply want to receive proper medical attention and make sure they’re fine.

According to a complaint filed last year, the players accuse the NFL of “intentional tortuous misconduct, including fraud, intentional misrepresentation, and negligence” and claim the league was aware of the risks but deliberately ignored the data and concealed the information.

A considerable number of former players, including Ray Easterling and 12-time Pro Bowler Junior Seau, committed suicide after years dealing with health and mental issues. Recent studies by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that Seau suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition also found in other deceased former NFL players.

As of December 2012, a total of thirty-three former NFL players were diagnosed post-mortem with CTE.  The list includes former Detroit Lions lineman and eight-time Pro Bowler Lou Creekmur, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Tom McHale, former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson,  Miami Dolphins linebacker John Grimsley, former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, former Buffalo Bills star running back Cookie Gilchrist and Wally Hilgenberg.

The NFL denies any fraud or negligence and insists that player safety is a top priority for the league. The arguments were presented this Tuesday morning to U.S. District Judge Anita Brody, who heard close to one hour of oral arguments and announced that she will rule “When I sort this whole thing out for myself."