UFC 132 Preview: The Main Card

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Light Heavyweights
Tito Ortiz (15-8-1, 14-8-1 UFC) vs. Ryan Bader (12-1, 5-1 UFC)

The Matchup: Just shy of a decade ago, many wondered what Ortiz would be like if he had viable standup and a knockout punch. He did not really need those tools during his UFC title reign, as the level of competition in the sport was relatively limited compared to today’s athletes. Bader is pretty much the kind of fighter Ortiz would have been, with better wrestling credentials, to boot.

Ortiz’s performances in recent fights have shown the accrued mileage of a long career and intense training, with injuries galore hampering his ability to do what he once did. Bader, coming off February’s one-sided submission loss to current champion Jon Jones, remains a carbon copy of what Ortiz used to be, with a powerful pair of hands and fresher wheels.

Considering Ortiz’s three-fight losing streak and long-running feud with UFC President Dana White, this looks like an obvious piece of don’t-let-the-door-hit-you-in-the-ass matchmaking. Ortiz would love to spoil this exit party with an upset, which is where the appeal is found. Love him or hate him, people will always watch Ortiz fight.

Bader’s thunderous right hand and upper-body strength are his keys here. Ortiz rarely nails the overpowering double-leg takedowns he executed seamlessly in his younger days, and Bader is too strong for that. Ortiz’s best chance will be in clinches, where he was a ton of experience and is excellent working off the cage. Plus, that will negate Bader’s superior boxing.

The Pick: One has to like Bader here. Expect a fight similar to the Ortiz-Matt Hamill fight at UFC 121, except with the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” probably eating a few more punches and Bader unleashing some more ground-and-pound; Bader by clear-cut decision.

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