World Series of Fighting 5 Preview

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WSOF Middleweight Tournament Semifinal

Jesse Taylor (26-9, 0-0 UFC) vs. Elvis Mutapcic (13-2, 0-0 WSOF)

The Matchup: With victories over the likes Sam Alvey, Cezar Ferreira, Joseph Henle and Zak Cummings already under his belt, Mutapcic has a history of taking out veterans from “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series. He will look to make Taylor, a Season 7 alum, yet another victim when they square off in the other half of the WSOF’s 185-pound mini bracket.

The Maximum Fighting Championship middleweight king, Mutapcic is a fearsome striker with the ability to end fights with his hands and feet. Perhaps the most impressive triumph for the Iowa-based Bosnian came at Superior Cage Combat 2 in August 2011, when “The King” floored Ferreira with a counter left hook before finishing his opponent with a brutal follow-up right on the ground just 25 seconds into the fight. He also wields an array of wicked kicks, which he used to attack the legs and body of Alvey in his first MFC title defense in February; that victory came on the heels of a win over Henle in which Mutapcic injured his opponent’s knee with a low kick.

All of Mutapcic’s weapons on the feet mean nothing if he is unable to remain upright against Taylor, who enters the bout riding a six-fight winning streak. The former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship ruler rarely wastes time in shooting for a takedown, and he is at his best when controlling the action with ground-and-pound as he attempts to advance position in hopes of securing a submission. The Team Quest member can be overwhelming with his brute strength, and he will often take his foe’s back after softening him with strikes from above.

The recurring theme of Taylor’s career has been his vulnerability to submissions. While known primarily for his kickboxing abilities, Mutapcic’s six career victories via submission are evidence that he might be capable of exposing Taylor’s Achilles’ heel. Additionally, “JT Money” is single-minded enough that he can sometimes telegraph his takedown attempts, which could give Mutapcic opportunities to sprawl and counter or transition to submissions.

The Pick: Mutapcic can struggle against an opponent with a heavy top game, so he should look to use his kicks to control distance and slow Taylor’s shot. Still, his best chance at victory will be to force Taylor to tap. Mutapcic wins by submission in round two or three.

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