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Nov 4, 2009 - 1:54:37 PM By Matt Pelkey, MMATorch Columnist We usually just do contests for UFC pay-per-views, but I decided (along with a gentle push from Rich Boles) to do a little something for Strikeforce's CBS debut this Saturday. The prelims are jam-packed with completely nondescript fighters and fights, so we're keeping it to the main card. With only four fights with which to do a contest, predictions don't make much sense, so its strictly a betting contest. Unlike our usual contests, you have to bet on all four fights. To help make sure we have some variance on the entries, bets can be made in increments of $50 instead of the usual $100. Standard rules that apply: you have $1000 to play with and $500 is the max bet on one fighter. Whoever makes the most money on their bets will earn a future title shot for one of our UFC contests to be cashed in whenever they choose for either the prediction contest or betting contest, hence the Money in the Bank title (if you're not a wrestling fan this might make no sense). Here's the odds...
FEDOR EMELIANENKO (-625) VS. BRETT ROGERS (+415)
JAKE SHIELDS (-300) VS. JASON MILLER (+235)
GEGARD MOUSASI (-500) VS. RAMEAU THIERRY SOKOUDJOU (+365)
FABRICIO WERDUM (-165) VS. ANTONIO SILVA (+135)
If you're new to the betting contest, this is how it works. If a fighter has a negative number next to their name, they're the favorite and the number represents how much you'd have to bet to make $100. For example, if you bet $500 on Mousasi and he won, you'd make $100 profit plus the $500 you bet for a total payout of $600.
If the number is positive, the fighter in an underdog and the number represents how much you'd make on a $100 bet on them. So if you bet $100 on Sokoudjou and he won, you'd make $365 plus the $100 you bet for a total payout of $465. Make sense?
As usual, you can submit your bets either on the message boards, in the comments section below, or by email at matt6buckeye@hotmail.com. As long as you get them to me before the show goes on the air Saturday night you're good.
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