UFC 114 Preview: The Prelims

Many of you did not enjoy it when I compared prelim fights to “Futurama” on the basis that they’re both designed to appeal to nerds. Well, let me assure you that your reaction confirms that you are all indeed nerds, and that is something to be proud of. After all, history’s greatest figures -- everyone from Copernicus to Rakim -- are rightly regarded as huge nerds and they’re still awesome.

With that in mind, let us all relish in the nerdy goodness that is the prelim lineup of UFC 114 “Rampage vs. Evans.” In fact, extra relishing is in order since Spike will be airing the Persian hipster Amir Sadollah’s fight with judoka slash elbow fiend Dong Hyun Kim as well as Mexican hero in the making Efrain Escudero taking on the Lauzon brother who doesn’t look like my mind’s image of the Zodiac killer.

So get your brain cells properly prepared for the fights to come with another round of full-bearded analysis, prognostication and pop culture meandering.

Amir Sadollah vs. Dong Hyun Kim

Sadollah is a walking case study on why winning “The Ultimate Fighter” is equal parts hex and godsend. He won the show’s seventh season despite having the detached air of a Williamsburg hipster and no professional experience whatsoever. A preternatural grasp for the sport, however, is insufficient at this level and Sadollah was promptly stopped by the bearded brawler Johny Hendricks in 29 seconds flat at UFC 101. Watching their would-be golden boy get wailed on forced the UFC’s matchmakers to switch gears, and Sadollah has since gone 2-0 thanks to more stylistically favorable matchmaking.

His good luck ends with Dong Hyun Kim, the physically imposing Korean welterweight fresh off a one-sided ground-and-pound pelting of TJ Grant. Kim is simply a difficult style matchup for anyone in the division. He’s particularly problematic for Sadollah because there is no chance he’ll oblige him on the feet.

At this point in his career, Sadollah is a muay Thai fighter with decent offensive submission skills but not the fundamentals or technique to be considered a high-level grappler. Combine that with his lackadaisical takedown defense and you have the sort of fighter Kim can control from bell to bell.

One of the better judokas in the game today, Kim is especially adept at using reaps as well as head-and-arm throws from inside the clinch. Although Sadollah does have a real talent for landing knees and in-line elbows from the clinch, Kim keeps his opponents in tight with underhooks and presses them into the cage to further eliminate space.

It does bear noting that Matt Brown managed to rough up Kim from inside the clinch at UFC 88, but that was largely because Kim gassed himself out early by being over-aggressive. Conditioning was also a problem for Kim in his UFC 94 bout with Karo Parisyan, but he has since adopted a more disciplined approach and significantly improved his conditioning while adding lean muscle mass. Considering Sadollah isn’t some hulking beast built for a trench war, Kim’s size advantage and grinding style could wear on him as the bout progresses.

The other issue awaiting Sadollah is his own -- namely, his lacking KO power. Landing accurately and in volume is Sadollah’s style, and it has worked well against opponents who were willing to trade with him on the feet. Against an opponent like Kim who will give him precious few opportunities on the feet, Sadollah is missing the kill-shot power to maximize those opportunities.

Should Kim’s cardio issues come creeping back, however, Sadollah has shown many times that he can outlast people like he’s playing “Survivor.” Still, it’s hard to believe that scenario will play out since Kim outclassed Grant for 15 minutes without even a hint of trouble. If Grant’s nifty butterfly guard couldn’t stop Kim from rag-dolling him, it makes you wonder how Sadollah manages any better than a lopsided decision loss.