UFC 103 Preview: The Prelims

Drew McFedries vs. Tomasz Drwal

The Storyline: This fight has knockout written all over it. These two men have gone the distance just three times in 31 combined fights. McFedries sits at 4-4 in the UFC and needs to remind matchmaker Joe Silva that he can be a reliable performer with another entertaining bout. Polish standout Drwal has been tearing it up recently and should be even more successful as he moves down to his natural weight class of 185 pounds. He could theoretically make a plea for a fight with one of the promotion’s big guns at middleweight with a convincing win.

The Breakdown: Drwal has vastly improved his game since relocating from Krakow, Poland, to San Diego, where he trains at the Throwdown Elite Training Center with Dean Lister, kickboxing coach Tony Palafox and his Polish friend and training partner Jan Blachowicz. The move to the United States has done wonders for the 27-year-old.

McFedries is one of the last UFC fighters still training at the Miletich Fighting Systems camp in Bettendorf, Iowa. Former champions like Matt Hughes, Jens Pulver, Jeremy Horn and Robbie Lawler have left, and excellent training partners for one-time second stringers have gone with them. McFedries’ success inside the Octagon will be instrumental for MFS if it wants to build a strong squad for the future.

* * *

The Prediction: While weight and reach should be virtually identical, Drwal has the edge in youth and, at the same time, experience. He has also successfully competed at a higher weight class for most of his career. Take the “Gorilla” by technical knockout midway through the first round.