Preview: UFC on ESPN 1 ‘Ngannou vs. Velasquez’

Featherweights

Andre Fili (18-6) vs. Myles Jury (17-3)

ODDS: Jury (-160), Fili (+140)

A fun featherweight fight opens up the main card. The lighter weight classes have been flooded with Team Alpha Male prospects over the years, and Fili was one of the camp’s more hyped exports, mostly for his flashy striking. He quickly got lapped by better prospects, but “Touchy” Fili has settled into a role as an entertaining mid-tier action fighter. Fili has also developed a surprisingly strong wrestling game, which has helped him against grinders like Hacran Dias and Dennis Bermudez. Basically, against minus athletes or slow-footed wrestlers, Fili has had the ability to keep fights standing and pick apart his opponents. When opponents are faster or more fundamental on the feet, he has trouble. It will be interesting to see which side of that bar Jury winds up falling on.

Like Fili, Jury was a much-hyped prospect who eventually settled into the upper part of the UFC’s middle tier. However, Jury had a run where he was getting high-profile fights and seemed to be a UFC favorite -- an odd call since he never particularly showed much charisma or an exciting fighting style. Jury has just been technically sound and not particularly dynamic. At first, he relied on a strong clinch and wrestling game, but as he has moved up the ladder, he has also developed a patient and effective counterstriking attack. After taking all of 2016 to retool after a loss to Charles Oliveira, Jury went undefeated in 2017, but that run was stopped in short order by Chad Mendes in July. There is no shame in a loss to Mendes, but a win here would go a long way towards keeping Jury in people’s minds as someone who still has upward potential.

This might be the hardest fight on the card to call. Fili can cede pressure at times, but it is unclear if Jury is going to apply enough for that to matter. Frankly, this may just come down to which man winds up being the stronger wrestler, something that is not immediately apparent on film. With that said, the wrestling might just cancel itself out, so left with looking at this as a striking match, Fili is probably going to feel comfortable enough to get into his groove, while Jury is probably going to be effective in countering whatever comes his way. This looks like a split decision-type of bout, pitting Jury’s accuracy against Fili’s activity. The pick is Jury via decision.

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