Back to the quaint confines of the UFC Meta APEX we go for this week’s UFC LV116, an event scheduled for thirteen bouts with athletes ranging in size from115lb. Strawweight ladies to the heavyweights where the weight limit is 266lbs.
This card is populated with relatively unrecognizable talent but there are a handful of matchups on the card that will be more than compelling.
There are four larger weight class clashes taking place at 170lbs. and greater as well there are seven fights with wide ranges between the combatants ages (fighters five years or more younger than their adversary win at a 64% clip, and that rate grows higher as the age gap widens!
The international cast of athletes arrive mostly from varying locations in the states however there are five fighters that must travel (Brazil and Equator) into the US to take on domestic athletes who do not have to endure global travel and the weight complexities that go with it.
Last week’s release of Canadian Mandel Nallo went down in flames as Jai Herbert finished the Canadian in short time.
We head into this card holding a 7-8-1 -2.35u tally.
Let’s Fight
Yousuff Zalal -155 vs. Aljamain Sterling +130 Featherweight (145lbs) main event
Seventh ranked featherweight Zalal arrives to this fight riding the momentum of winning five straight UFC battles.
Zalal has dynamic athleticism, he is nimble on his feet, fast, fluid, and frenetic when he needs to be while his cage generalship and strike defense are world class as evidenced by his 67% strike defense.
Zalal is decorated with a black belt in BJJ, but opponents must not regard him as singularly equipped for Zalal’s mixed martial arts weaponry is complete, well developed and is practiced with a great deal of ill intent.
Zalal’s stepping WAY up in class for this fight for his opponent is a former champion at 135lbs. and has looked forceful in his last two bouts.
For Aljo Sterling, this fight is but another test the UFC is putting him through because fighter traits like world class wrestling, dogged determination coupled with unending cardio are not the traits the organization wants to see its fighters take.
After all this is the age of Paramount, 100K fight bonus’s and anti-wrestling/grappling sentiment.
We understand that the UFC yearns for toe-to-toe, sledgehammer competitions where someone ends up quivering on the canvas. Unfortunately, world class wrestlers like Aljo do not provide the fans with that form of entertainment.
Despite Aljo’s propensity to be overlooked, his striking has developed and as always, his unrelenting forward pressure, his cardio, and his grip lock embraces are sophisticated and subtle enough to dominate anyone on the division.
Interestingly Zalal, twenty-nine will be the larger man in the cage Saturday and that is sure to force Aljo into even more forward pressing pressure wrestling for Sterling will not stand for any length of time on the outside with Zalal without blitzing him like a linebacker in the super bowl.
Aljo is now thirty-six but a man who has faced the absolute elite of two weight classes. He will force Zalal into defending his advances every second of the fight which will force Zalal to expend energy while simultaneously not being able to find the space/time to strike.
Aljo, like many practiced mixed martial arts insiders, understand that world class wrestling is kryptonite to world class BJJ, so look for Aljo to immediately engage while Zalal will strive to find room to breathe, let alone earn this space to strike.
These two have trained together prior. They know one another well, which adds dynamic to this confrontation.
This fight will be tightly contested and while I hesitate to side with an athlete seven years the elder fighter, I must recognize who Sterling is, his experience and the fact that he has competed in many main events before while Zalal is in his first.
Sterling came -200 at open and now I can invest in him plus money?
Sterling +130
Total in this bout: 4.5 Over -185
Strong lean over, strong lean to Sterling decision also.
Alexander Hernandez -125 vs. Rafa Garcia +105 Lightweight (155lbs)
Firefight!
Garcia is one tough, durable Mexican mixed martial artist who has an iron chin, unending cardio, and a blue belt in BJJ.
Garcia’s striking is based on volume, and he does possess accumulated power in his hands. The thing with Rafa is that when he fights standing, he is more than willing to take one in order to give one and in this matchup that may be dangerous.
Garcia’s plan in any fight is to tax the opponent with forward striking pressure then initiate his apt clinching, takedown strategy. Once in the clasp and/or on the mat Garcia works to suck the life out of opponents with his constant pressure wrestling/grappling.
Garcia’s completes 3.13 takedowns per fifteen minutes of fight time while being able to defend 76% of opponent takedowns. This means he often fights from top position.
Garcia’s opponent, Alex Hernandez takes this fight on the momentum of four straight wins, his latest a finish of Brazilian Diego Ferreira. Hernandez’s striking is his bread and butter.
Hernandez power is unusual but like Garcia, he is more than willing to receive one in order to unleash one. Hernandez negative .50 strike differential (per minute) is poor, but he overcomes getting flushed so often because of the tremendous power he packs in his shots.
This fight introduces fighters who are both entering with confidence and who are fighting for position for the victor of this fight see’s themselves in the top twenty of this stacked lightweight division.
Garcia will want to grapple and smear the floor with Hernandez while Hernandez will strive to keep this fight standing where he can attempt to maim the Mexican mauler.
Both men are confident in their application of their expertise, and both men stand to make substantial jumps in earning power with a victory Saturday night.
This fight will be highly competitive and it’s my take that it is likely to go to decision.
Total in this Fight: 2.5Rds Over -220
Friday morning the ‘Bout Business Podcast, currently on a tear drops across all podcast platforms as well at GamgLou.com
Thank you for reading and enjoy the bouts!