Preview: UFC 181 ‘Hendricks vs. Lawler 2’

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BANTAMWEIGHTS

Urijah Faber (31-7, 7-3 UFC) vs. Francisco Rivera (10-3, 3-1 UFC): Former WEC featherweight champion and two-time bantamweight title challenger Faber gets the brick-fisted Rivera in the preliminary headliner. The ageless Faber’s game remains predicated on his powerful single punches, explosive takedowns, heavy top game and the transitions between them. Rivera is more of a sprawl-and-brawler with iron in his hands, but he works at a quick pace and has enough of a wrestling game to add another dimension. Unless Faber suddenly falls off a cliff physically, however, he should be able to handily deal with Rivera. Faber by rear-naked choke submission in the second round is the pick.

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Eddie Gordon (7-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Josh Samman (10-2, 1-0 UFC): “The Ultimate Fighter 19” winner Gordon returns to action against Season 17 competitor Samman, who has been forced into a long layoff due to personal tragedy. Gordon, a former football player, is a fantastic athlete with a basic forward-moving striking game and a ton of power in his strikes. Samman is more polished, especially in the clinch and as a grappler, but likely lacks the wrestling to consistently put Gordon on his back. While Gordon is and should be the favorite, I think Samman will grind him down in the clinch early and eventually get him to the ground, taking a close decision along the way.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS

Corey Anderson (4-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Justin Jones (3-0, 0-0 UFC): “The Ultimate Fighter 19” winner Anderson draws newcomer Jones on extremely late notice. Anderson, a Division III All-American wrestler, is a rangy athlete with excellent takedown skills and little else for the moment, though he is improving quickly. Jones, a natural middleweight or even welterweight, is most comfortable brawling in the pocket, though he has some wrestling skills of his own. Unless Anderson plays around on the feet, he should be able to ground Jones and pound him out early. “Beastin’ 25/8” by knockout due to ground strikes in the first round is the pick.

WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHTS

Raquel Pennington (4-4, 1-1 UFC) vs. Ashlee Evans-Smith (3-0, 0-0 UFC): Undefeated newcomer Evans-Smith steps in on late notice to take on veteran Pennington. Evans-Smith is essentially a wrestler who specializes in chaining relentless takedowns and working patient top control, while Pennington throws solid combinations and low kicks at range and does good work in the clinch. Lacking a particularly explosive shot, I think Evans-Smith will struggle to get Pennington down and will get beaten up a bit with sharp knees at close range. Pennington by decision is the pick.

BANTAMWEIGHTS

Sergio Pettis (11-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Matt Hobar (9-2, 1-1 UFC): The UFC lightweight champion’s younger brother takes on Texas’ Hobar in a matchup of young bantamweights. Pettis lacks his brother’s ultra-dynamic game, preferring a more meat-and-potatoes attack that consists mostly of crisp punching combinations, slick counters and well-timed kicks, with enough ancillary skills to get by for the time being. Hobar is mostly a wrestler and infighter with strong takedowns and excellent work in the clinch, but his height at 5-foot-10 belies his lack of an outside game aside from a long straight left. I expect Pettis to stuff Hobar’s takedowns and take him apart in the pocket and at kicking range for a dominant unanimous decision.

FEATHERWEIGHTS

Alex White (10-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Clay Collard (13-5, 0-1 UFC): Two thrilling featherweights kick off the proceedings in a matchup that guarantees fireworks. White is an athletic, rangy striker whose game revolves around sharp front and round kicks and powerful punching combinations as he moves forward; Collard is a pressure fighter who focuses on lengthy, Diaz-esque punching combinations against the cage and work with knees and elbows in the clinch. This fight profiles as an absolute barnburner between a pair of high-output fighters, and I like White’s length and power over Collard’s absurd volume for an entertaining decision.

Follow Sherdog.com preview expert Patrick Wyman on Twitter.