Bodog Beat

St-Pierre is just one of the huge names at UFC 100. (MMA Weekly Photo)

They’re calling it the “semi-main event” for Saturday’s UFC 100 at Mandalay Bay. Whatever. True fight fans will be reaching for their wallets in anticipation of the Welterweight title bout between champion Georges St-Pierre (–295) and challenger Thiago Alves (+235).

Many insiders are calling this one for Alves – perhaps out of distaste for St-Pierre as much as for Alves’ tremendous leg kicks. At 16-3 lifetime and on a seven-match winning streak in the Octagon, Alves has a ton of betting value Saturday. But his strength is also his weakness. Those leg kicks are also invitations for St-Pierre to put the Brazilian on the mat, and if that happens, those same insiders agree that Alves will be toast.

The champion has won his last five fights in a row since his upset loss to Matt Serra, which St-Pierre avenged last year. His supreme conditioning and size advantage should carry the day.

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