Preview: UFC on ESPN 34 Prelims

Lightweights

NR | Drakkar Klose (11-2-1, 5-2 UFC) vs. NR | Brandon Jenkins (15-8, 0-1 UFC)

BETUS ODDS: Klose (-550), Jenkins (+400)

It is nice to see Klose back in action, given that there was some question about whether the Michigander would ever fight again. Klose was not a particularly hyped prospect upon his UFC debut in 2017, but he quickly made a name for himself as a spoiler in the lightweight division, particularly in his sophomore effort against Marc Diakiese. Klose’s typical approach is not usually all that inspiring—powerful punches leading into a grinding clinch game where he is at his most comfortable—but it has been enough to rack up the wins, with his only losses coming to David Teymur and Beneil Dariush. After the Dariush fight, which devolved into an entertaining war that saw Klose suffer a knockout loss, he was out of action until a slated April 2021 fight with Jeremy Stephens that never made it to the cage. Stephens caught Klose off-guard with a shove during a faceoff as part of the weigh-ins, enough so that he sustained a spinal injury that threatened to end his career. Klose finally makes his return here. Jenkins is a dangerous fighter—the flying knee knockout of Jacob Kilburn that put him on the UFC’s radar proves as much—but “The Human Highlight Reel” is not particularly consistent. Jenkins is quite prone to stretches of inactivity in between moments where he decides to uncork his dynamic offense; it was a tendency that cost him in an uninspiring September debut against Zhu Rong. Unless Klose is greatly diminished post-injury, he should be able to take this without much trouble. He is hittable, but Jenkins figures to give him enough time and space to gain the initiative and turn this into a grind. It may not be pretty, but the pick is Klose via clear decision.

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