UFC 113 Preview: The Main Card

Sam Stout vs. Jeremy Stephens

The Breakdown: The way striking is “supposed” to work in MMA is a topic of perpetual debate. The pairing of Stephen’s bruising big brother style against the smooth, dulcet muay Thai of Stout illustrates that never-ending polemic perfectly. Hollow philosophical disputes aside, what the fight itself hinges on is Stout’s ability, or lack thereof, to use his striking volume and accuracy to keep Stephens’ from clubbing him to death.

There just isn’t a whole lot of tact to Stephens’ game. He tends to feel out his range with leg kicks and left hooks before stepping in with lead knees and his Enola Gay of a right hand. That equation usually leads to Stephens running over whatever unlucky human being is in his way, but Stout eats strikes like they’re chocolate-covered crack and has the technical polish to his game that Stephens lacks.

A proponent of the classic squared-up muay Thai stance, Stout makes his living in the pocket by mixing it up with combinations highlighted by his rib-roasting body punches. While Stout’s “Hands of Stone” moniker is a misnomer, his attacking style and endless cardio often runs opponents ragged. Yet Stephens is the guy who came back from two rounds down to knock Rafael dos Anjos out cold with a legit tiger uppercut. The difference here is that Stout works the legs and body from bell to bell, and there is no outrunning the toll to be paid for that kind of punishment.

Once upon a time the convenient escape would have been for Stephens to change levels for a takedown and work his nasty ground-and-pound game, but Stout has developed adroit takedown defense and a surprisingly competent defensive guard. It’s not like Stephens is the type to turn down a fistfight anyway, and that mentality is what will likely keep him from figuring out Stout. Just watch Stephens’ fight with Justin Buchholz. You’ll see a fighter whose only response to getting hit is to try and ram the kitchen sink down his opponent’s mouth.

Throwing power strikes almost exclusively and with little to no setup is going to leave you open to counters. Because Stout always stays in striking range, he will be in position to exploit those openings and keep Stephens from finding his own rhythm. The prospect of Stephens turning this fight on its head by splitting Stout open is a given, but the halcyon years of the pure slugger are long gone and Stephens is operating on borrowed time.

The Bottom Line: Prepare your brain for the aural onslaught of Shawn Tompkins’ cornering and the visual splendor of Stout plying his game with a willing target. Stephens will certainly keep things interesting, but whiffing on overhands doesn’t score points unless your name is Leonard Garcia. Sooner or later Stout’s fist is going to find Stephens’ liver, and we’ll all have to hope that the sonic boom created by Bas Rutten screaming “LIVER PUNCH!” doesn’t level the eastern hemisphere.