UFC on Fuel TV 3 ‘Korean Zombie vs. Poirier’ Preview

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Middleweights

Tom Lawlor (7-4, 3-3 UFC) vs. Jason MacDonald (25-15, 7-6 UFC)

The Matchup: Lawlor has lost three of his last four, while MacDonald, in his second go-around with the UFC, has dropped two of his last three bouts since returning to the promotion in 2010. Given their recent struggles, both men could be fighting for their jobs.

Lawlor lost to Chris Weidman, who is regarded as one of the sport’s top middleweight prospects, in his last outing at UFC 139. Though the “Filthy Mauler” is known for his solid wrestling, he has not been able to match top-notch competitors such as Weidman and Aaron Simpson in this area, something that has been evident in his losses.

With that said, he does have the type of skill-set necessary to thwart MacDonald. “The Athlete” is a skilled grappler when in top position, but he struggles when matched with an opponent he cannot control. Lawlor’s wrestling ability will make takedowns difficult to come by for the Canadian, and The Jungle MMA representative will not allow MacDonald to create the space he needs to execute his submissions.

Lawlor has the superior boxing, and if he is inclined to stand and bang, he has the defensive skills to keep the action vertical. MacDonald, meanwhile, uses his strikes primarily to close distance and initiate his grappling game. Lawlor also has the edge in tie-ups, where he is adept at finding openings to land uppercuts in close quarters. His movement will make it difficult for MacDonald to draw a bead on his takedown attempts, as Lawlor makes good use of angles in his attacks.

The Pick: MacDonald is crafty off of his back, as one might expect from someone with 19 submission wins among 25 career victories, and that might be his best chance for victory here. If Lawlor gets comfortable and changes levels for a shot, perhaps “The Athlete” can catch him in a triangle choke. However, it is more likely that MacDonald struggles to control posture and eats a few punches from that position. Expect Lawlor to control much of the fight standing, while mixing in the occasional takedown en route to a unanimous nod.

Final Fights » The Prelims