Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
The Breakdown: Putting together a 4-0 record in the UFC normally secures one some hype, but Sotiropoulos has remained all but anonymous despite his Octagon success thanks to his spot as a regular preliminary card competitor. That ends with Sotiropoulos’ first dip into the main card pool against Stevenson, a perennial lightweight contender and Satoru Kitaoka clone.
Keeping that undefeated mark intact will come down to Sotiropoulos’ ability, or lack thereof, to force Stevenson to work off his back. Using top control to mesh together his rabid ground-and-pound and Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills has become the backbone of Stevenson’s attack. Explosive leg attacks and a newfound ability to combine takedown techniques make Stevenson a slick wrestler. However, his guard has always been the Achilles’ heel of his grappling game, and Sotiropoulos has proven dangerous from top control. With that said, Sotiropoulos will never be confused as Stevenson’s equal as a wrestler, and he has not shown himself as an adept enough striker to keep Stevenson on the end of his jab for the entire fight.
What’s more, Sotiropoulos lacks the punching power needed to serve Stevenson a chin check special. Meanwhile, Stevenson can always fall back on his wrestling and top control, which should be enough to at least break even with Sotiropoulos on the mat.
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The Bottom Line: All the hard work on the undercard will go for naught for Sotiropoulos, as he ends up outclassed in front of his hometown crowd. Stopping the tough Aussie will be a bridge too far for “Daddy,” but Stevenson will earn a well-appointed decision over Sotiropoulos with pitch-perfect top control.