In one of the most anticipated battles of 2011 the UFC crosses the northern border for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship as Lyoto Machida takes on Jon Jones in Toronto, Canada for UFC 140.

One of the best strikers in the UFC Jones is also dangerous when the fight gets to the ground. Quick on his feet with the front kick Machida is also dangerous on the ground as we have already seen. The fight makes for the match of styles of the year in the UFC and is too close to pick.

The once reputed Huntington Beach Bad Boy, Tito Ortiz, is quickly becoming a fan favourite again. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will fight Ortiz on the undercard of Machida vs. Jones and should prove to be bout that won’t disappoint.

Not smart enough to stop coming after a fighter once he is hurt Nogueira knows only one speed. Healthy for the first time in five years Ortiz is like a new man in the ring. The fans will get their money’s worth on this one in spite of the fact that this fight will not go the distance.

In the heavyweight battle “Big Nog” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira takes on Frank Mir which could be last fight for the loser. Looking bad in recent fights both Mir and Nogueira will be kicked to the curb by Dan White if one of them puts in a poor performance. Both fighters are under a lot of pressure in this one.

Can’t make this fight? No problem you can still get in on the action at an online sports betting site.

Jon Jones’ odds have dropped, but he is still the favorite at UFC 128 in his Light Heavyweight title fight against the champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua on Saturday.

Jon Jones opened at -215, but he is now down to -185 in UFC 128 odds while Rua is paying +155.

Jon Jones (12-1-0) has taken the UFC by storm going undefeated while knocking off his opponents in both convincing and spectacular fashion. Jones has a freakishly long reach and he uses it to his advantage whether it is dominating stand up, or getting opponents to the ground where his excellent wrestling skills come in to play.

If there is any weakness in Jones’ game it’s that he hasn’t had his chin tested yet and testing chins is something Shogun Rua is pretty good at. The Pride veteran has showcased his power on a number of occasions.

Jones has also never faced a fighter as experienced as Mauricio Rua and Rua has shown that he can execute game-plans against unconventional fighters before. While Jones may be able to use his reach advantage to control stand up, Shogun can take a punch and he is technically the better striker so you have to think that at some point he will hit Jones harder than he’s ever been hit before.

We may not see it very often, but Shogun is also an excellent BJJ fighter. Jones might be able to get this fight to the ground, but he could be in for a big surprise when it happens.

I like Jones as a fighter, but I don’t think it is his time yet. Take the veteran Rua with the better pay day.