WEC 52 ‘Faber vs. Mizugaki’ Preview
Koch vs. Rivera
Jason Probst Nov 8, 2010
Erik Koch (right): Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com
Featherweights
Erik Koch vs. Francisco Rivera
With three WEC bouts under his belt -- a decision loss to Chad Mendes and wins over Jameel Massouh and Bendy Casimir -- Koch has an experience edge here against the debuting Rivera, who takes this one on short notice. Originally scheduled to fight Josh Grispi, Koch instead faces the unbeaten Rivera in his first WEC appearance.
Expect a high-energy start from the two aggressive featherweights, with Koch working to dictate the pace and put Rivera on his back. Rivera has a nasty right hand and uppercut and the willingness to throw them. He will be dangerous as long as the bout remains standing, and Koch will have to close the gap carefully without leaving egregious openings.
Look for some rollicking back-and-forth before Koch takes it to the ground and works effectively, using his experience to grind out a tough decision win.
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