UFC 124 Preview: The Prelims

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Not to be outdone by the UFC 124 main card, Saturday’s preliminary lineup is filled with dangerous veterans and hungry newcomers with a gleam for greatness in their eyes.

Dustin Hazelett vs. Mark Bocek

Hazelett is dropping down from welterweight, where he scored impressive submissions in wins over Tamdan McCrory and Josh Burkman. At 6-foot-1-inch, he’ll be extremely tall for the weight. Fighting smaller guys will make his game more effective, provided he can handle the cut.

Bocek, a veteran of the submission wrestling circuit before turning pro in 2004, is a ground-based fighter with a lot of stamina and not a lot of standup, though he has proven willing to let his strikes go when forced.

This one comes down to how effective Hazelett can be at 155 in a bout that is likely to go into deep waters unless Hazelett scores an early submission -- no easy feat against the savvy Bocek. The pick is Hazelett, who can use his standup to wear his opponent down and pick up points, while neutralizing Bocek on the ground and getting the better of the positional battle on his way to a decision.