Preview: UFC on Fox 22 ‘VanZant vs. Waterson’

Welterweights

Alan Jouban (14-4) vs. Mike Perry (9-0)

THE MATCHUP: What an amazing fight. Neither man is particularly close to title contention at this point, but Jouban and Perry are two of the fiercest fist-swangin’, skull-bangin’, slobber-knockin’ welterweights currently on the UFC roster.

Jouban may look like Johnny Depp, but he is Depp as John Dillinger -- a ruthless man with no compulsions about removing those in his way. Jouban seems to delight in the prospect of a brawl and returns fire with aplomb, usually favoring his left round kick, left cross and right uppercut. Jouban is no one-dimensional brawler, however. He is a good submission grappler, and his defensive wrestling allows him to decide whether or not to show off his guard. Once the opponent’s shot has been stuffed, Jouban is a brutal clinch striker, using knees and elbows to smash his opponent into submission.

The weapons of choice may differ, but Perry is essentially the same guy. Though he has only been fighting professionally for two years, Perry has already demonstrated a preternatural understanding for the ins and outs of the fight game. His technique needs time to develop: Perry’s upright head is an inviting target, and both his pressure and defense would benefit from some more thoughtful, deliberate footwork. Perry takes a great shot, however, and delivers thunder in return. In nine bouts, Perry has knocked out all nine of his opponents.

Jouban’s grappling and clinch games could give him an edge, but Perry has at times looked like the more focused fighter, even if his arsenal is more limited. If Jouban fights too recklessly in the early going, few men are as likely to knock him out as Perry. Jouban’s more diverse array of attacks and responses should allow him to dictate the pace and range of the fight, should he stay cool enough to make those decisions. However, of the two, Jouban is the only man to have suffered a knockout in the past -- two of them, actually, and numerous staggering blows in other bouts besides. Prepare for fireworks.

THE ODDS: Perry (-125), Jouban (+105)

THE PICK: I more or less covered every dynamic of this fight in the analysis above, and still I do not know who to pick. Experience tells me not to trust Perry against this level of opposition just yet. His inexperience and rote technique will come back to bite him someday soon, and Jouban is just dangerous and crafty enough to deliver that decisive blow. Danny Roberts could not press the action frequently enough to get to Perry, and Hyun Gyu Lim was not careful enough to survive the counters. Jouban strikes a happy medium. The pick is Jouban by second-round TKO.

Last Fights » The Prelims