UFC 149 odds: Hector Lombard opens as big favorite over Tim Boetsch

When Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) makes its debut in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on July 21, 2012, at the Scotiabank Saddledome for UFC 149, it will do so with the long awaited debut of former Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard against current contender Tim Boetsch.

And to the surprise of no one, "Lightning" is heavily favored.

According to MMAOddsbreakers, Lombard has been inserted as a -310 favorite for his Octagon debut, which comes after a long career of tearing up the regional scene and terrorizing the best Bellator could offer. In fact, there's been talk that if he wins impressively here, he'll be next in line for a 185-pound title shot and a crack at the winner of the Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen showdown taking place at UFC 148 on July 7 in Las Vegas.

Boestch, who limps in as the +240 underdog, is none too happy about all that talk and plans to use it as motivation to "take him out" and steal his title shot in the process.

Since dropping to middleweight in early 2011, Boetsch (15-4) has rattled off three straight wins inside the division. That includes a technical knockout (TKO) win over former 185-pound number one contender Yushin Okami at the UFC 144 event last February in Japan.

"The Barbarian" has looked impressive as all hell since finding his new home but does that mean he's good enough to hang with the best the promotion has to offer?

He's yet to taste defeat in his new weight class, but are you ready to call him the next contender with an upset win over Lombard?

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