The sportsbook MMA betting odds look to be in favor of Chael Sonnen when he faces Tito Ortiz in the main event of Bellator 170 on Saturday, January 21st:
Tito Ortiz 2½ (-175) +135
Chael Sonnen 2½ (+155) -155
MMA Betting Odds
Fans who bet on MMA might not believe this, but this will mark the first time that these two fighters will meet inside of a steel cage in the almost 40 years of combined career. Remember how Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair never wrestled in WWE but they did in WCW? This is a similar case. Even though Sonnen has had an on-and-off relationship with UFC, and Ortiz has even been an UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, it will be only now in Bellator that they will trade punches and kicks. Some people may think that Bellator is the poor man’s UFC, but with a bout like this, it is safe to say that we are all winners – figuratively speaking.
You can be an actual winner if you bet on MMA and your guy – whether Ortiz or Sonnen – makes you win big. In addition to that LHW title, Ortiz is actually one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history and earned his rightful place in that organization’s Hall of Fame.
However, Sonnen is no stranger to beating UFC champs; he has defeated former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Maurício Rua, as well as the current UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping. Sure, the latter was about five years ago, but it still counts. Even if it’s retroactively, he does own a win over the UFC MW champion.
Despite the MMA betting odds favoring Sonnen, Ortiz is no slouch, either. He is tied for most fights in UFC history (with the aforementioned Bisping) and has bragging rights over such top fighters as Alexander Shlemenko, Stephan Bonnar, Wanderlei Silva, Ken Shamrock and Forrest Griffin, among others. Although they are both relatively new to Bellator, Ortiz has more experience with that promotion.
Ortiz is 2-1 in Bellator, having defeated the aforementioned Shlemenko and Bonnar, and losing his most recent match to Liam McGeary, who submitted Ortiz with an inverted triangle choke. On the other hand, Sonnen will be making his Bellator debut. Sonnen’s previous bout – and last in UFC so far – was a TKO loss to Rashad Evans at UFC 167 in 2013. That was three years ago, but Sonnen spent the last two suspended for failing multiple drug tests. In other words, fans who bet on MMA can expect him to have the proverbial chip on his shoulder.
On September 15th, 2016, it was reported that Sonnen had signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator. Therefore, we can be hopeful that this will be only the first of many fights featuring Mr. Sonnen. As for Ortiz, as we all know he went on a 10-minute retirement, and is already three fights into his Bellator career, so this one should be interesting, since this two guys have probably forgotten more about mixed martial artists young whippersnappers will ever know.