Ian Loveland goes for UFC win number two in Rio. | Photo: Sherdog.com
Bantamweights
Yves Jabouin (15-7, 0-1 UFC) vs. Ian Loveland (14-8, 1-1 UFC)
Dropping down from 145 pounds, Jabouin may be too weakened from the cut to effectively keep it on the feet, which is the kind of fight that favors him. He may prove that sentiment wrong, but a general rule of thumb holds that dropping a weight class is always harder for fighters who do not have wrestling backgrounds to call upon.
Jabouin is a talented striker with a solid all-around game. Loveland, however, has the edge in wrestling and takedowns and showed a degree of toughness in his decision loss to the talented Joseph Benavidez at UFC 128 in March.
The Pick: Loveland will take some shots early from the clever Jabouin, but he eventually hits enough takedowns to slow him up and grind out a late stoppage or decision win.
Continue Reading » Next Fight: Erick Silva vs. Luis Ramos