Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Rockhold vs. Bisping’

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MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Clint Hester (11-3, 4-0 UFC) vs. Robert Whittaker (12-4, 3-2 UFC)

THE MATCHUP: “The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes” winner Whittaker moves up to middleweight to meet the rising Hester, who has won all four of his fights since entering the UFC last year. This profiles as an exciting, quick-paced striking matchup between two evolving young fighters.

Hester, a former boxer, has grown into a fine all-around fighter. That boxing base remains the centerpiece of Hester’s game. At his best, he moves fluidly at the fringes of his range, leaping in and out with a crisp jab, powerful single kicks and a leaping left hook as his primary power punch. Very much a rhythm striker, Hester counters beautifully and mixes up his strikes to the body and head nicely; although he has some pop in his hands, Hester is less a pure puncher than a guy who relies on accumulating damage.

While he relied on his plus athleticism and strength to defend takedowns earlier in his career, Hester has now developed a solid all-around wrestling game and uses the occasional takedown to keep his opponents on their toes. He is a decent grappler who can maintain top position, throw ground strikes and defend from the bottom. Although Hester has a tendency to look tired late in the fight, appearances matter less than output, and he throws good volume until the final bell.

Whittaker has seen mixed results since winning “The Ultimate Fighter,” but he is a promising youngster with slick skills. A smooth athlete, Whittaker is very much a rhythm striker who takes sharp angles and bounces in and out of range with great speed. He has weapons at every range, from kicking distance to the clinch, and throws lovely punch-kick combinations at a rapid-fire pace. Offensively, Whittaker is dangerous, but his generally solid head movement comes and goes, and he does not consistently pull his head off the center line when he throws strikes, which renders him a bit too hittable; he froze against Stephen Thompson, for example, which got him knocked out. He has always been an excellent defensive wrestler, but recent fights have seen Whittaker shooting explosive, well-timed and authoritatively finished double-legs, as well. The Kiwi’s grappling is no more than solid, but it has yet to lose him a fight.

BETTING ODDS: Hester (-175), Whittaker (+155)

THE PICK: This is a difficult fight to predict, because both Whittaker and Hester are evolving and improving at such a rapid rate from fight to fight. Whittaker’s debut at a new weight class adds another X-factor to the mix. In sum, however, I lean toward the Kiwi. His command of angles, output and speed were notable at 170 pounds, and I believe they will stand out even more at 185 against slower and less technically skilled opposition. The pick is Whittaker by decision in a fun, back-and-forth fight.

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