Preview: DWCS Season 3, Episode 3

Antonio Trocoli vs Kenneth Bergh

Trocoli is a long and lengthy light heavyweight, who stands 6-foot-5 with an 82-inch reach. This is an amazing feat considering the Brazilian used to fight as low at welterweight. In the wake of dropping three fights in a row, “Malvadeza” decided to make the move up to light heavyweight, where he has won back to back bouts. Two of his three career loses came at the hands of UFC veterans, Dhiego Lima and Jacob Volkmann. Trocoli also holds a close decision win over UFC veteran, Wendell Oliveira. He enters the DWCS competition with a 11-3 record.

Despite a powerful high kick, the 28-year-old is a one-dimensional fighter. He throws hard wild strikes with the intention to close the distance and turn the bout into a grappling match. He avoids strikes by simply pulling his head straight back.

The Brazilian is a strong wrestler. He has fast entries on his opponent’s hips and solid trips and throws in the clinch. Once he gets the fight to the ground, he dispatches hard ground-and-pound. Despite the great ground striking, his top control and submission attacks remains his bread and butter. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt just needs a slight opening to end the fight in an instant.

Bergh has amassed a 6-0 professional record with a 100-percent finishing rate. The Norwegian had a brief stint on the 23rd season of “The Ultimate Fighter” but was quickly submitted by Eric Spicely in his entry fight to get into the house.

The Cage Warriors Fighting Championship veteran is a good athlete with a well-rounded game. On the feet, he uses his jab as a range finder, while he follows up with his right hand to do damage. He also loves to attack with spinning elbows. He uses good footwork to open up attacks but makes the mistake of avoiding strikes by simply ducking his head straight down which might get him hit with a well-timed uppercut or knee. The 30-year-old also doesn’t check leg kicks.

“Ymir” is a physical specimen, who uses his superior strength by pressing his opponents against the cage and pulling out their legs from under them. The All-Stars Training Center export makes the mistake of defending takedowns by looking for a guillotine. If he doesn’t get the submission, he finds himself in an inferior position. He is a very serious submission threat though, as he has won five bouts by way of submission. The European hasn’t fought past the second round, making his gas tank a huge question mark.

This is a very competitive matchup. Bergh is the more explosive athlete with a more well-rounded game and likely has the higher ceiling, but Trocoli looks like a much improved fighter in his more natural weight class. I am still a little scared of picking Bergh because of how poorly he did against Spicely. Due to failing miserably in his first chance at the big leagues, I can’t pick him again. I expect Trocoli to get some takedowns and use his strong top control to ride out a unanimous decision victory. With him not getting the finish, the Brazilian will not gain employment in the UFC.

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