UFC 65 11/18/06

[swope]

a lot of people simply want gsp to win, and the UFC Countdown special really harped on how gsp was dominating hughes in their first fight (which is true). its totally unsuprising that money is flying towards gsp, as a lot of people are basing their decision on what is essentially propoganda + a heartfelt disliking of hughes.

same thing as monson v sylvia; the ufc special is really hyping up monson as this totally legit contender to timmays crown, when the truth is that monson has fought NO ONE of timmays caliber in his entire career, no one even close. within hours of this airing, monsons line went from like -230 to -190.

same thing happened with horn v liddell. chuck was like -360, then the UFC countdown special airs with endless, slow mo footage of horn subbing chuck. an hour later, chuck is -280.

the whole point of these UFC countdown specials is to legitimize underdogs and generate interest in what are usually lopsided matchups.

hughes + gsp is something of an exception, since this *is* a totally legit title fight and gsp *does* have the potential to walk away with a belt, but again, you see enough slow-mo footage of gsp nailing hughes with a spinning back kick two years ago, combined with hughes being an insufferable arrogant racist jock every time a camera is on, and you have the makings for a pretty severe line shift.