Chael Sonnen has dropped his two most recent Octagon appearances and has not scored a Light Heavyweight win inside the Octagon since defeating Trevor Prangley via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 4 back in April 2006.
Nonetheless, the self-proclaimed "American Gangster" from West Linn, Ore., is currently sitting as an early betting favorite (-139) over former 205-pound champion, Mauricio Rua (see the line here), in the build-up to their UFC on FOX Sports 1 #1 main event, which is slated for TD Garden in Boston, Mass., on Aug. 17, 2013.
Yes, the mixed martial arts (MMA) event will go on as planned!
However, it's safe to assume that more than a few combat sports fans are scratching their heads with the oddsmakers' assessment. That's because Sonnen was able to talk the talk in his two most recent fights, but failed to walk the walk, coming up empty in consecutive title challenges against Anderson Silva at UFC 148 and then Jon Jones at UFC 159.
Then again, Silva and Jones are perhaps the two best fighters on the planet. Not to mention"Shogun" is looking to rebound from a unanimous decision defeat to current No. 1 division contender Alexander Gustafsson last December on FOX. And the Brazilian has been unable to win consecutive fights inside the Octagon since knocking out Chuck Liddell back in 2009, compiling an even record (4-4) over that span.
For what it's worth, unlike Sonnen -- who has done it on three separate occasions throughout his career -- Rua has never lost consecutive MMA matches.
There is a first time for everything, right ... or wrong?
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