Don’t underestimate a UFC betting event just because it lacks a title fight. If online betting fans do that, they’ll miss an exciting card in UFC 95. You’ll want to make your sportsbook picks soon, as the action gets going Saturday, Feb. 21 at 9:00 p.m. ET on Spike.

UFC 95 betting features some athletic, versatile fighters and a main event that should significantly impact the lightweight ladder. Let’s break down the matchups.

Joe “Daddy” Stevenson (34-9) vs. Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez (21-2)

2008 was an up-and-down year for Joe “Daddy” Stevenson, who faced some of MMA’s best lightweight competition. He was bloodied, beaten and choked out by BJ Penn in the interim lightweight title match at UFC 80. He then won back some MMA betting fans by submitting Gleison Tibau with his signature guillotine choke at UFC 86. After that it was back in the loss column for Daddy after Kenny Florian boxed him beautifully before choking him out at UFC 91.

It’s tough to harp on Stevenson considering his last two losses were against, arguably, the UFC’s two best lightweights. Still, the stocky, tough Stevenson is developing a reputation as a guy who can’t win “big fights.” That doesn’t bode well for him considering his next opponent.

Sanchez, who joins Stevenson as a winner of the Ultimate Fighter reality series, is one of MMA’s most talented yet enigmatic fighters. Though not considered a powerful striker, his only two losses were via decision and he now drops down to lightweight after fighting at welterweight and middleweight in the past. That means the powerful Stevenson may not have the strength advantage people would expect against Sanchez, an accomplished grappler.

Sanchez’s greatest obstacle is between his ears – his losses to fellow wrestlers Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck occurred on nights in which his focus seemed off and he became timid during the most crucial moments of the fights.

Stevenson may be the tougher, easier-to-understand fighter but Sanchez has the natural talent advantage. I think MMA betting fans should give him one more chance to prove he’s a lightweight contender. Go with Sanchez in what should be a very close bout.

Other fights of interest…

Both Nate Marquardt and Wilson Gouveia are fresh off impressive victories, but Marquardt should be the hungrier fighter here. After all, he had Thales Leites beaten last year before losing points on an illegal knee, and now Leites gets a title shot against Anderson Silva. Bet on Marquardt to make a statement against the strong finisher Gouveia, who should put up a good fight.

I believe in Demian Maia. The guy is 10-0 and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu prodigy. He’ll lie on the ground and bend Chael Sonnen’s limbs into oblivion.

Paulo Thiago, undefeated and making his UFC betting debut, is a total wild card. I’d stick with Josh Koscheck in this one. A next-generation fighter, Koscheck is extremely athletic, fearless and tough to knock out. Even if he gets caught off guard, he’ll survive this bout.

The beastly Stefan Struve is probably just a knockout dummy for Junior Dos Santos, who wowed those who bet on MMA with his knockout of Fabricio Werdum in UFC 90. You never know, though, as Struve is 6’8” and could surprise. For now, make Struve prove himself in his UFC debut. Pick dos Santos.