UFC 116 Preview: The Prelims

Seth Petruzelli vs. Ricardo Romero

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Light heavyweight UFC debutante Romero takes on the returning Kimbo conqueror Petruzelli in a bout that is of the must-win variety. There is zero room for error in the hyper-competitive light heavyweight division, so the loser may not get a second chance at carving out a spot on the UFC roster.

The expectation here is that we’re in for a striker’s delight, and that is entirely possible considering both men have no qualms about exchanging on the feet. How they go about their work is quite different, however. Petruzelli prefers to strike at range using flashy kicks and occasionally stepping inside with punches from unusual angles. Romero, on the other hand, is a bit more conventional and has shown a particular affinity for dirty boxing against the cage.

Should this fight turn into a game of exchanges, Romero is at a distinct disadvantage considering Petruzelli’s superior power and speed. What he does have on “The Silverback” is the ability to work on the mat, which is actually his preference. A solid grappler with the ground striking to back it up, Romero will start going after Petruzelli’s legs if he can’t put hands on him.

That second dimension is exactly what’s missing from Petruzelli’s game, as he is completely reliant on his striking and lacks the takedown defense to force his game on opponents with different plans. While Romero is hardly an A-grade wrestler, his takedowns are just good enough to get Petruzelli horizontal and keep him there. Considering he’s never much of a guard player, Petruzelli doesn’t have much to offer Romero on the floor.

Still, Petruzelli’s striking will be enough to keep this bout competitive, but he’s not going to be able to stop Romero from bulling him down to the mat. Romero’s own habit of spending too much time on the feet will keep this fight from being a particularly impressive debut for him. Still, the New Jersey native should take home a quality decision win.