Everyone who follows the UFC is excited about the second meeting between Robbie Lawler and Johny Hendricks, which will take place in December. However from a UFC betting perspective, this is actually a pretty hard one to call, as there are factors that render it unusual. For starters few are used to evaluating Lawler as a challenger, as he has been defeated once in the last 18 months, with his only loss coming when Hendricks took him down at UFC 171 in February 2013. His record stands at 24-10-0, but he will seriously have to be at the top of his game to defeat the Bigg Rigg.

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Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson takes place Saturday night and here are my picks for each of the five main card bouts.

Heavyweight Bout – Fedor Emelianenko (31-3-1) vs. Dan Henderson (27-8) – This is a tough fight to call, but I like Fedor to bounce back and get over his losing streak. I think his size will be too much for Henderson, as he has similar wrestling skills but improved submissions. Both pack a good punch, but Fedor looks like he is in good shape for this fight and will be able to push a faster pace. Give me Fedor to win in the third by submission.

Women’s Welterweight Championship – Marloes Coenen (19-4) vs. Miesha Tate (11-2) – I like Coenen to win this fight by submission in the later rounds. I don’t expect either to land a big strike and expect the fight to be primarily on the ground. There, I look for Coenen to neutralize Tate’s wrestling ability before finding a way to sneak in a submission.

Middleweight Bout – Robbie Lawler (19-7-1) vs. Tim Kennedy (13-3) – Lawler has a pretty obvious weakness against ground fighters, so I think Kennedy should win this one with some ease. Lawler will swing big early, but that will open him up to a takedown, and eventually a submission. I will take Kennedy in the second by choke.

Welterweight Bout – Paul Daley (27-10-2) vs. Tyron Woodley (7-0) – Like Lawler, Daley is somewhat one dimensional, which should allow Woodley to get the win. This will be a big test for Woodley, but I like him to win by TKO with ground and pound as Daley will struggle to hit his big punch.

Welterweight Bout – Scott Smith (17-7-1) vs. Tarec Saffiedine (10-2) – Smith is a dangerous striker and an exciting fighter, but he lacks the all-around skills to compete at the highest level. I look for Saffiedine to control the fight on the ground and get a decision win over Smith.

This Saturday Strikeforce presents one of its best cards in the history of the promotion as Fedor vs. Henderson takes place from Chicago.

The main card airs live on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET and features a championship bout and the long-anticipated showdown between former PRIDE legends, Dan Henderson and Fedor Emelianenko.

Oddsmakers from BetOnFighting.com have Fedor as the favorite in the main event. Fedor comes in with a money line of -260 while Henderson has odds of +210 to win this heavyweight clash. Ememlianenko should have the size edge on Henderson, who has fought at middleweight and light heavyweight for his career. Henderson will have a wrestling edge, but submissions and striking may go to his opponent. It should be an exciting fight where both men leave it all in the cage.

In the co-main event, Marloes Coenen is a slight favorite at -130 against Miesha Tate (+100) as she defends here Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Championship. Coenen is a submission specialist while Tate is primarily a wrestler. Neither has shown tremendous striking ability, so this fight will likely remain on the ground. Whomever can control the fight from there will emerge victorious.

Check out all the available odds after the jump.

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In some news that went under the radar this weekend, Murilo “Ninja” Rua retired from competition following a third-round knockout loss to Tom Watson at BAMMA 6.

Following the loss, Rua announced his retirement on his Twitter page.

I would like to announce officially my retirement from PRO MMA fights tonight. It was an amazing run, and its a very tough moment. But there comes a time for all in life, and it’s time to move on. I am proud of all I did in MMA and all experiences I had. I will continue to work with MMA,doing seminars, eaching classes, training fighters,and doing my share to help our sport that I love so much. Its time now to help others and enjoy my family, my wife, my kids and move one. I want to thank so much all the fans for all the support. Always helping me out and giving me all incentive. Brazil, Japan, USA, England, Canada, Australia. All places I fought, thanks so much!! I want to also thank to all the trainers that helped me from day 1 as a white belt until now.All training partners that pushed me so much. All sponsors that believed and still believe in myself. All my friends in the press. Many thanks to @BadBoyMMA and BVA Bank and mostly, I want to thank my true friends,my family, my mom and dad, my wife that I love so much, my kids who are my joy and my brothers. I want to thank my manager for being my friend, and I want to sincerely thank my brother @ShogunRua for all support and making me so proud. Life goes on, memories will stay forever, and MMA will still be my life forever. THank you so much you all! Murilo “Ninja” Rua.

Ninja retired with a 20-11 record with nine wins by knockout and nine wins by submission.

Rua had been out of the major MMA picture since a loss to Benji Radach in 2008 as part of EliteXC, but he still was the first EliteXC Middleweight Champion and was a visible part of PRIDE during its prime.

Rua had fought some of the best as he took a tough split decision loss to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and faced off with guys like Robbie Lawler and Dan Henderson.

Though he never lived up to the levels of his brother, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, “Ninja” was still a respectable fighter that had a prominent career.