WEC 37 Breakdown

Brian Bowles vs. Will Ribeiro

Brian Bowles Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’7/135 lbs.
Age: 28
Hometown: Athens, Ga.
Fighting out of: Athens, Ga.
Record: 6-0

The stakes: For all intents and purposes, this is the bout to decide the next challenger to the WEC bantamweight crown. Granted, many feel Bowles should be the one headlining this card against Torres after a string of wins that included victories over Shooto stalwart Marcus Galvao and veteran contender Charlie Valencia. While Bowles has youth on his side, he’d be faced with a long road back should he slip up at the finish line against Ribeiro.

The breakdown: Save for a sloppy KO win over Galvao, Bowles’ best work is done on the ground, where his wrestling background and surprising submission savvy make him a handful on the mat. Against Ribeiro’s powerful striking style, Bowles’ best bet is to close the gap early and turn this into a trench war that leaves Ribeiro no room to breathe.

Ribeiro Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’8/135 lbs.
Age: 23
Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fighting out of: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Record: 10-1

The stakes: A virtual unknown upon his arrival in the WEC, Ribeiro announced his presence in style with a hard-fought decision win over former bantamweight champion Chase Beebe. That win alone landed Ribeiro a number one contender’s bout for the bantamweight belt and an opportunity to break up the recent string of American dominance in the WEC’s sub-lightweight divisions.

The breakdown: A muay Thai specialist in the vein of Brazilian exports like Thiago Alves, Ribeiro has quickly become one of the division’s premier strikers. While Ribeiro lacks bulletproof takedown defense, he’s a natural grappler who’s often difficult to control, especially when he’s working from the full guard. Against Bowles, Ribeiro must set a tone early on with his striking and remain mindful of takedown attempts by controlling both the distance and tempo of the bout.


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The bottom line: As much as Bowles has impressed in his WEC run, his most notable win remains a sloppy showing against Marcos Galvao who, like many Shooto veterans, has flopped stateside. Ribeiro represents Bowles’ biggest test yet, and his marked advantage on the feet will leave the Georgian battered before he can get his own offense going. Ribeiro should put this one away by knockout.