Top-20 UFC Betting Upsets of 2010 (10-6)

Greetings, fellow purveyor of fine cognac and gentlemanly wagers!  Join me for a spirited match of bocce on the lawn?  No?  Well very well, next time.  Watch and learn, rapscallion!

(throws ball roughly three yards)

Err...erhm....a cramp!  A dastardly cramp hath robbed me my verile Herculean strength!  Clarence!

(The manservant lifts up the ball and drops it on the jack)

BULLY!  Another fine strike by yours truly!  Now, as we bask in my bocce wizardry, let's take another look at the vainglory and shame of the bettors' ilk.

via cdn1.sbnation.com

10. Duane Ludwig (+260) vs. Nick Osipczak
UFC 122

No-Brainer: Bang Ludwig hadn't been in the UFC since 2006.  Since then, he had a decent run, but was 0-2 in his UFC return, both getting finished in the first round by Jim Miller and Darren Elkins.  By some grace of God, he wasn't released, so he decided to move up in weight, of all things.  Waiting for him was Nick Osipczak.  Nick won his first two fights easily, finishing both opponents, but had lost his last two by decision.  This was to be an opportunity to redeem himself. and finish his opponent.

WTF?: The much older Duane, whilest in Europe, where American fighters tend to struggle, took the fight to Nick and took the split-decision, giving Osipczak his third straight decision loss.

via cdn2.sbnation.com

9. Takanori Gomi (+260) vs. Tyson Griffin
UFC on Versus 2

No-Brainer: Takanori Gomi, for all intents and purposes was done.  DONE.  D-U-N.  After sluggish performances in Japan after Pride closed and questions about his dedication, desire, and conditioning, his debut fight against Kenny Florian was his litmus.  Now losing to Ken-Flo is no reason to fret, but it was the way he lost.  He was embarassed thoroughly and made to look like a club fighter by Kenny.  Tyson's speed, wrestling ability, and cardio were sure to crush the washed-up legend.

WTF?: Just when the last thumbtack was falling out of their tear-stained Pride poster, the fanboys watched as their idol unleashed one (final?) overhand right that knocked Griffin out cold.  Griffin had never even been finished in a fight in his MMA career, let alone KO'd.  Gomi's star may be dimmed, but he showed a flash from the past that night.

via cdn2.sbnation.com

8. Chris Leben (+260) vs. Aaron Simpson
UFC TUF 11 Finale

No-Brainer: Aaron Simpson looked to be a rising star in the middleweight divsion with a feel-good story behind him.  At 35, he'd probably never be a contender, but he was someone people rooted for, having not had his first professional fight until he was 33.  He was 3-0 in the UFC and 7-0 overall, including a KO of the night and his most recent bout against Tom Lawlor awarded Fight of the Night.  Chris Leben was 1-2 in his last three fights with steroid and off-the-ring issues constantly hanging over him like a dark cloud.  Sure, he escaped against Jay Silva, but it appeared that the oft-loved/oft-hated wild card from The Ultimate Fighter was on a road to nowhere.

WTF?: For the better part of the fight, what happened was what everyone expected.  Simpson's fantastic wrestling experience humbled Leben time and time again.  However, in the second round came a Leben trademark; taking a beating to deliver one.  Simpson ran out of gas, and Leben was all too eager to pounce, eventually TKO-ing the A-Train.  The Crippler was reborn.

via cdn1.sbnation.com

7. Sam Stout (+275) vs. Joe Lauzon
UFC 108

No-Brainer: Joe Lauzon was 5-1 in the UFC, with his lone loss to Kenny Florian and all five victories by stoppage, both by KO and Submission.  Lauzon was looking like a contender once again.  Sam Stout was 3-4 in the UFC, but his propensities for great fights and FOTNs, kept him employed and got him a fight, really, that he probably didn't deserve against Creepy Joe.  Lauzon loves to put on a great fight himself, so while this fight should be fun, Joe simply had too much.

WTF?: There's no better way to put it other than that Stout was just plain better.  Just.  Flat Out.  Better.  Stout was more precise, crisper, and more damaging.  Stout won every round from every judge, including a 10-8.  I could break down every facet of what Stout did to neutralize Lauzon, but it's just easier to say he was the far better man that night.  At least Joe got yet another FOTN, which he probably spent 20% of below.  So he's got that going for him...which is nice.

via a323.yahoofs.com

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6. Cyrille Diabate (+275) vs. Luiz Cane
UFC 114

No-Brainer: I don't have the records in front of me, but I don't think the track records of 36-year old first-time UFC strikers is, well, very good.  That's what Diabate was.  His only other foray into major MMA, he was literally stomped out by Shogun Rua in five minutes.  Luiz Cane, meanwhile, was on a fast-track to being a contender.  He had won his last three and was 10-1, with his lone loss by DQ.  Yes, he got finished by Rogerio, but it's Rogerio!  A legend who looked amazing!  Cane was just a little too young and a little too green, maybe pushed a little too fast.  No worries, great rebound fight.  Someone who will stand and bang with LAC and give him some solid highlight-reel fodder to build him back up as a contender.

WTF?: Cane came out great and aggressive, showing few ill effects of his beating at the hands of Lil Nog and taking the fight right to Diabate.  Know what sucks about fighting a guy who's 36?  The fact that he's 36.  Diabate had been around the block, even if that block wasn't Broadway, and he knew what to do.  He didn't panic, he fought his way out of a jam and eventually TKO'd Luiz Cane for the second straight fight.  A once promising top contender is now fighting for his job.  Rebound fights are scary stuff.