Worldwide View of 2010 Vancouver Olympics

Being from Canada and Vancouver I am extremely proud to be Canadian and show why Vancouver is the most livable cities in the world. But despite my proud patriotism I cannot help but see how these Olympic Games but be considered the worst in history.

Take away the costs, the security and the general cost of the games. That happens with ever big event. The world is now viewing Vancouver as a third rate event with countless problems.

Despite the fact, the games are still a shining example of Canadian pride which the world should still view as a success.

As much as I like the game we are plagued with problems that i have not seen in any Olympics.

Maybe because we are in the Olympics but this seems to be the most problems I have ever heard of.

1) Opening ceremony - pillar did not rise, major mistake makes us look ghetto

2) luger dies - major mishap and our fault makes us look incompetent

3) Rain and warm weather – Cypress looks like a mud pit and images viewed all over the world and being a third rate facility

4) Ice machines don’t work in Richmond oval – causes delays in men ling track – NBC blasted us as being third rate and amateur

5) Whistler – runs cancelled – even Olympics cancels ski runs so not that big

6) Buses break down and cannot get people to Cypress – poor planning

7) 12 injured – At live concert last night 12 people injured and had to stop concert

8) Cypress – cancels standing room tickets to event

9) The torch being so far away that no one can get a good view of it

10) Stupid protesters made us look bad on worldwide TV

This has probably been one of the freest Olympics ever. Lots of cheap food, concerts as opposed other games.

Despite the entire setback it's about tourists/non-athletes having' a good time, not about how many medals are won or if some bigwig on the IOC is satisfied. Who cares about them? People will forget about that Olympic stuff long after it's gone. It's just the positive spinoffs of tourism and foreign investment we should be concerned about.

But the one thing the news media hasn't mentioned is that the tourists are very happy, and there are lots for them to do for free.

Sorry to say these might be the worst held Olympics ever, poor planning and a ton of problems.

Still no matter what I am happy they are here but not happy in how we are portrayed in the world.

Still proud to be Canadian but would like to be prouder.

UFC 101 Nogueira vs Velasquez Fight Prediction

UFC 101 Nogueira vs Velasquez Fight Prediction: "UFC 101 fight prediction and detailed breakdown for the Nogueira versus Cain Velasquez mixed martial arts fights in the heavyweight divison"

UFC Fight Night 20 Sports Betting Odds

UFC Fight Night: Maynard vs. Diaz, also referred to as UFC Fight Night 20, is an upcoming mixed martial arts event to be held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on January 11, 2010 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. 5 Dimes has released their full sports betting odds and lines along with UFC sports betting props.

The fight card and betting lines for these fights include:

Main Card

Lightweight bout: Gray Maynard vs. Nate Diaz
Lightweight bout: Efrain Escudero vs. Evan Dunham
Middleweight bout: Tom Lawlor vs. Aaron Simpson
Welterweight bout: Amir Sadollah vs. Brad Blackburn
Preliminary Card
Middleweight bout: Chris Leben vs. Jay Silva
Welterweight bout: Rick Story vs. Jesse Lennox
Lightweight bout: Thiago Tavares vs. Nik Lentz
Welterweight bout: Mike Guymon vs. Rory MacDonald
Lightweight bout: Kyle Bradley vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Middleweight bout: Gerald Harris vs. John Salter
Middleweight bout: Nick Catone vs. Jesse Forbes
UFC lines
Jay Silva +135
Chris Leben -165
Mike Guymon +170
Rory MacDonald -215

Jesse Lennox +210

Rick Story -270

Kyle Bradley +270

Rafael dos Anjos -360

Nik Lentz +180
Thiago Tavares -240

Jesse Forbes +165
Nick Catone -205

John Salter +230
Gerald Harris -290

Brad Blackburn +1352
Amir Sadollah -155

Over 2½ -1601.625
Under 2½ +120
Blackburn/Sadollah goes 3 round distance -120
Fight won't go 3 round distance -120
Blackburn wins inside distance +282

Not Blackburn inside distance -402
Blackburn wins by 3 round decision +367

Not Blackburn by 3 round decision -557
Sadollah wins inside distance +225

Not Sadollah inside distance -305
Sadollah wins by 3 round decision +180

Not Sadollah by 3 round decision -260
Blackburn/Sadollah draw +6000

Fight not a draw -15000
B.Blackburn wins in round 1

Any other result -1410
B.Blackburn wins in round 2 +860

Any other result -1535

B.Blackburn wins in round 3 +1030

Any other result -1825
A.Sadollah wins in round 1 +610

Any other result -1075
A.Sadollah wins in round 2 +700

Any other result -1300
A.Sadollah wins in round 3 +860

Any other result -1535
Blackburn/Sadollah starts round 3 -202

Fight won't start round 3 +158
Blackburn/Sadollah starts round 2 -511

Aaron Simpson -320
Tom Lawlor +260
Over 1½ -131
Under 1½ -109
Lawlor/Simpson goes 3 round distance +270
Fight won't go 3 round distance -390
Lawlor wins inside distance +339
Not Lawlor inside distance -509
Lawlor wins by 3 round decision +964
Not Lawlor by 3 round decision -1964
Simpson wins inside distance -165
Not Simpson inside distance +125
Simpson wins by 3 round decision +441
Not Simpson by 3 round decision -722
Lawlor/Simpson draw +8000
Fight not a draw -21500

T.Lawlor wins in round 1 +800
Any other result -1475

T.Lawlor wins in round 2 +920
Any other result -1630
T.Lawlor wins in round 3 +1490
A.Simpson wins in round 1 +255
Any other result -335

A.Simpson wins in round 2 +280
Any other result -370

A.Simpson wins in round 3 +625
Any other result -1110 1

Lawlor/Simpson starts round 3 +158
Fight won't start round 3 -202

Lawlor/Simpson starts round 2 -230
Fight won't start round 2 +170

Evan Dunham +210
Efrain Escudero -250

Over 2½ +111
Under 2½ -151

Dunham/Escudero goes 3 round distance +155
Fight won't go 3 round distance -195
Dunham wins inside distance +415
Not Dunham inside distance -635

Dunham wins by 3 round decision +456
Not Dunham by 3 round decision -767

Escudero wins inside distance -110
Not Escudero inside distance -130
Escudero wins by 3 round decision +304
Not Escudero by 3 round decision -424

Dunham/Escudero draw +7000
Fight not a draw -18500

Dunham wins in round 1 +875
Any other result -1560

Dunham wins in round 2 +1300
Any other result -2575

Dunham wins in round 3 +1575
Any other result -3875

Escudero wins in round 1 +325
Any other result -435

Escudero wins in round 2 +375
Any other result -515

Escudero wins in round 3 +760
Any other result -1390

Dunham/Escudero starts round 3 -113
Fight won't start round 3 -127

Dunham/Escudero starts round 2 -292
Fight won't start round 2 +212

Nate Diaz +260
Gray Maynard -320

Over 2½ -314
Under 2½ +23

Diaz/Maynard goes 3 round distance -245
Fight won't go 3 round distance +175

Diaz wins inside distance +348
Not Diaz inside distance -522

Diaz wins by 3 round decision +917
Not Diaz by 3 round decision -1867

Maynard wins inside distance +469
Not Maynard inside distance -805

Maynard wins by 3 round decision -170
Not Maynard by 3 round decision +130

Diaz/Maynard draw +5500
Fight not a draw -13500

Diaz wins in round 1 +9251
Any other result -1635

Diaz wins in round 2 +1115
Any other result -2037

Diaz wins in round 3 +1200
Any other result -2250

Maynard wins in round 1 +1250
Any other result -2375

Maynard wins in round 2 +1373
Any other result -2900

Maynard wins in round 3 +1465
Any other result -3510

Diaz/Maynard starts round 3 -396
Fight won't start round 3 +276

Diaz/Maynard starts round 2 -902
Fight won't start round 2 +501

UFC 115 Cleared for Vancouver June 12

Vancouver Canada has been voted the best place to live in the world numerious times. With the ocean, mild temperature, mountians and the 2010 Olympics just around the corner, Vancouver can also lay claim to being a UFC event site now.

Vancouver city council has cleared the way for professional mixed martial arts fights in the city, and now organizers are hoping to stage an Ultimate Fighting Championship at General Motors Place in mid-June next year.

It was confirmed that the date has been set for Jine 15, 2010 at GM Place.

The Vancouver police department has raised no objections to professional MMA fights being held in the city, council was told.
UFC spokesman Lawrence Epstein was clearly delighted with council’s decision and he said the long debate “was clearly one of the most thoughtful I’ve heard.”
“We’re very pleased with the result,” Epstein said. “It’s important for this issue to be considered. Once people understand what this sport’s all about, they generally reach this conclusion.
“We’ve actually never lost a vote like this anywhere in the world. It’s an education process and the process worked well in Vancouver today.”

Back in December, the promotion cleared a legislative hurdle in holding an event within the city limits of the 2010 Winter Olympic host site; the Vancouver city council agreed to sanction events as part of a two-year pilot program.

The ruling was a clear victory for Canadian fans who have long waited to see a UFC event in the Pacific Northwest city.
Although the city previously hosted MMA shows, the council backed away from the sport in September 2007 when lawyers determined the city was exposed to liability if there was a mishap during one of the shows.

Technically, the sport is not approved under the country’s criminal code, but the government has not blocked MMA shows in Montreal, Edmonton and Calgary. The UFC source said the promotion planned to lobby the Canadian government to change the law.
Vancouver’s pilot program calls for a $1 seat tax at MMA events to fund the Vancouver Athletic Commission’s new duties. The program also calls for new medical and safety procedures and strict insurance requirements for promoters.

Although the city has just reopened its doors to the sport, several MMA gyms thrive in the area, including Revolution Fight Team, where UFC vets Bill Mahood and Denis Kang have trained. Vancouver is a hot bed for MMA in Canada. Vancouver is home to 7th degree Carlson Gracie black belt Marcus Soares and some of the most promising MMA fighters in the country.
No match-ups are rumored for the June 12 event, which follows the UFC's third annual trip to Montreal's Bell Centre on May 1. After hosting just two Canadian shows to date, the UFC now plans to do two Canadian shows in a mere six-week span.

Most Overrated Fighters in Mixed Martial Arts

The 5 Most overrated fighters who shouldnot be fighting or at least not marketed as much as have been. These fighters have been either overhyped or just not as good as people made them out to be

5) Chris Leben

Leben continues to fight in the UFC because he will stand and slug it out with anyone. Entertaining? Maybe. We can only hear Mike Goldberg talk about Leben’s heart enough times. Leben is over rated because the UFC continues to praise him as a fighter but he has little to back up his fight game.

4) Jorge Gurgel

Ever since Jorge Gurgel starred in the second season of The Ultimate Fighter television series he has been overly hyped as a MMA fighter. He was favored to win that season but lost to Jason Von Flue of all people.

Gurgel got a 7 fight UFC contact strictly on the basis he was Rich Franklin’s friend.

3) Rich Franklin

Becuase he was so popular he was also hyped up and profiled as the face of the UFC. Well despite his popularity Franklin has never been the fighter the hype has made him out to be. Yes he was UFC middleweight champion but he fought in a very weak division and he never fought a top ten fighter.

Franklin never faced real top level competition in his career and once he did he was exposed.

Franklin’s lack of skill has been revealed and the UFC can no longer protect him as more and more people are realizing that he is overrated as afighter. His lack of growth has also been a direct link to the poor training of Jorge Gurgel. Sorry someone has to say it.

2) TUF Cast members

Because of the show many fighters have become top level fighters like Diego Sanchez, Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Kenny Florian, Josh Koscheck and Keith Jardine. However, as the more and more TUF season go on the pool of talent starts to dwindle.

More and more UFC events have TUF fighters in the shows and most of these fighter should not be fighting or are way overrated. Just because people see them on the TUF show they automatically think they are good fighters.

1) Kimbo Slice

No fighter is more overhyped than Kimbo Slice. He was protected in EliteXC and while on the TUF show he was marketing in every commercial and clip they could squeeze him in.

Some people even began arguing that he was a top 10 heavyweight fighter, simply because of the media attention he was receiving in many forums and blogs.

He is by far the most overrated fighter in history.

UFC 109 Preview Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen

When comparing the statistics of Marquardt and Sonnen one would think that the betting lines would be closer than they currently are, however, the fact that Marquardt is a better grappler may have been the determining factor.

Marquardt, a three-time Middleweight King of Pancrase Champion, is a black belt in under Ricardo Murgel. He has 15 out of his 29 wins by submission. He is very good on the ground and has beaten some very good ground fighters in his career such as Demian Maia, Wilson Gouveia, Thales Leites, Jeremy Horn, Anderson Silva and Dean Lister.

Though Sonnen does not have the grappling game he is a better wrestler than Marquardt. Marquardt is a very good ground fighter on his back and if Sonnen was to use his wrestling in an attempt to take Marquardt, it will be his undoing. Unfortunately for Sonnen, Marquardt is also a better striker and will use his long legs to his advantage.

Sonnen has a well-rounded skill set and he is good at a lot of things, but not great at anything. Marquardt on the other hand can fight from anywhere. If Sonnen is to stand a chance in this fight he will need to outwork Marquardt as he does not have the grappling nor striking power to beat Marquardt outright.

This fight will most likely go to a decision which is the perfect prop bet to make. The sports betting lines are pretty steep at -310 but Marquardt has the advantage in almost all areas and the areas in which he does not dominate will be nullified by his dominate grappling.

Look for Marquardt to Win a 3 Round Decision

matchup brough to you by fighting-mma.com

Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva UFC 108 Preview

Though I believe Evans will win this fight I am not in favour of the sports betting odds for this match. Silva opened up at +160 but I think the lines should be a lot closer as the -195 UFC betting line given to Evans is a little off base. The Ultimate Fighter reality show gave Evans exposure to the general populous which makes him more recognizable outside the UFC octagon and betting for MMA has never been about trends nor ability but more about marketing. As Evans has gotten more general exposure as of late, Evans gets more favourable betting lines.

read full UFC fight preview

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