Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Hendricks vs. Thompson’

Light Heavyweights

Misha Cirkunov (10-2) vs Alex Nicholson (6-1)

THE MATCHUP: In a depleted light heavyweight division, Cirkunov is about to be put into the same dangerous waters as fellow prospect Corey Anderson: too good for the cannon fodder but untested against the elite. Fortunately, he faces the debuting Nicholson rather than a top 15 opponent, giving him a chance to develop and acclimate himself to the Octagon.

Cirkunov has black belts in both judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and he moves with a grace on the ground that is uncommon among 205-pounders. His striking is still clunky and disconnected, but he should improve with time. For the moment, the clinch remains his strong suit on the feet, as you might expect of a judo expert. Cirkunov has a confounding array of trips, sweeps and throws from just about every clinch position: Check out the slick hip-block throw he hit in his UFC debut against Daniel Jolly. Knees and elbows are Cirkunov’s friends in the clinch, as well.

Where CIrkunov is in some ways a brawler by training or lack thereof, Nicholson is a brawler by nature. His one aim in every fight is to hurt the opponent as badly and as often as possible; and it must be said that despite a fairly middling level of competition, he has accomplished this goal quite well throughout his career, finishing six of his seven opponents, five of them in the first round.

When the opponent punches, Nicholson attacks, firing back with combinations and spinning backfists. When the opponent grabs Nicholson’s leg, he attacks, chipping away even as his base is taken out from under him. When the opponent puts him on his back, Nicholson attacks, grabbing guillotines and countering with takedowns of his own. Sensing a theme here? Nicholson’s style is rarely pretty, but he is a tough test regardless. He is durable, powerful and extremely aggressive, all factors that make him an excellent challenge for Cirkunov.

THE ODDS: Cirkunov (-920), Nicholson (+620)

THE PICK: Unpolished as he may be, Nicholson is a dangerous sort for a relatively untested prospect. Cirkunov has only been competing in MMA for six years, and he may very well allow Nicholson to drag him into a war. Cirkunov is certainly capable of locking down Nicholson and taking the fight out of him on the ground. With a brawler’s courage, Nicholson tends to clinch with everybody, no matter how much stronger or more skilled they are than him. Given that innate wildness, I will take Cirkunov to win by third-round TKO.

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