Bodog is Messing with your MMA Mind

Recent news (rumours) has surfaced that Spencer Fisher will not fight at UFC Fight Night 8. What makes this frustrating and interesting at the same time is that nobody can confirm or deny the rumour.

UFC.com has not posted any new information about a substitution on the fight card. Spike TV hasn't made any changes either and MMAWeekly has an interview with Spencer posted today. So where does this rumour come from?

The betting lines!

You see, anything worth its weight in gold has to have betting lines and this is where the rumour originated (thanks Bodog!). Funny thing here is that not all betting companies have changed the fight card betting line on the Fisher fight 'cause they still have him listed to fight. A couple have changed the fight card and this sent a ripple throughout the MMA world on the eve before the fight.

Bodog has the fight card changed and the Sherdog Forum is all a buzz about the rumour. If you check out Sherdog's main site, they have a preview of the upcoming fight and posted a page about Spencer Fisher and Hermes Franca fighting tomorrow night.

From what I see, Bodog is using its power of betting influence to piggyback off of the publicity of the fight and also suck in people to place bets with them. This is my opinion and I can't substantiate it however, this is my world so will stand behind what I say and tell you that Bodog is messing with your MMA mind.

Good old Calvin Ayre - Founder of Bodog and fellow Canadian who's doing his best to promote BodogFight. Coincidence?

It would be irresponsible for UFC and Spike TV to not divulge any change in the fight card with the rest of the world. Dana White and the Spike TV execs know exactly what's at stake here and Spike doesn't want to mess with its viewership which is why they dropped the Lister fight from the broadcast. Oh, did I mention that Lister sucks ass?

Anyway, I am looking forward to when the current Champ, Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk fights again. Because the UFC has no rhyme or reason as to who fights who 'cause they don't have an established contention formula. It is most likely that Sherk will fight either Fisher or Franca next to defend the Lightweight belt but I wouldn't hold my breath.

I want to see B.J. Penn take on Sherk instead... Sherk is a mini Matt Hughes so this would suffice for now to satisfy my craving for a Penn, Hughes rematch. It would be nice to see a well conditioned Penn take on Hughes instead of the "Hilo doughboy" we saw when Hughes trapped Penn and delivered 42 unanswered shots to his head. I like Hughes, don't get me wrong but his stand-up game is nowhere near mine was when I was in the 5th grade at recess. Sorry, I digress.

By the way, The Ultimate Fighter 5 begins again on Spike TV starting April 5, 2007. Jens Pulver"ize" and B.J. "The Prodigy" Penn are the coaches of the 155 pound Lightweights.

*** This just In***

Fisher-Franca fight is on according to NBC Sports