Preview: UFC on ESPN 27 ‘Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw’

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Welterweights

NR | Jordan Williams (9-4, 0-1 UFC) vs. NR | Mickey Gall (6-3, 5-3 UFC)

ODDS: Williams (-165), Gall (+145)

This may not wind up as the highest-level fight, but it should at least be an entertaining bout that answers a lot of questions about both men. Gall certainly had a unique start to his professional mixed martial arts career, as he essentially got to create his own destiny. He was chosen to face Phil Brooks seemingly because he was the first fighter to ask UFC President Dana White in person, then called his shot for a matchup with Sage Northcutt shortly thereafter. That all worked out for Gall in terms of getting a bit of notoriety and star potential, but once he was subsequently booked like any other UFC welterweight, he quickly began to sink back into the pack. Gall is a talented grappler and has some solid ideas on the feet, but there is not much depth to his game. Add in that he is not a physical force at 170 pounds, and Gall has hit a clear wall against opponents he cannot overwhelm or get to the mat. His last loss to Mike Perry put all of those issues into stark contrast, and it will be interesting to see how he stacks up here.

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Williams had a long and tough road to the UFC, both inside and outside the cage. Beyond competing on three different seasons of Dana White’s Contender Series before he earned a contract, Williams’ harrowing account of relying on dog insulin to self-medicate his diabetes stuck out as a particularly rough hardship. Those issues with diabetes—thankfully under more control now that Williams has found a sponsor—have kept him from cutting down to welterweight in the past, so he may unlock some physical potential with the move to 170 pounds. If that happens, it will be a pleasant addition to Williams’ game, as his approach mainly relies on pressure and durability. Williams is the type of fighter who gets by on his ability to eat unholy amounts of damage in the hopes that he can eventually outlast his opponent or find a fight-ending blow. This really could go either way. It is unclear if Williams is the level of overwhelming athlete that can completely drown Gall, but he is guaranteed to be persistent in his aggression until it finally becomes effective. That is probably enough. A finish seems unlikely since Gall is both durable and not particularly powerful, and while both men figure to gas, Williams is more proven in terms of trying to fight through it. The call is that Williams takes the decision.

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