UFC 116 Preview: The Prelims

Dave Branch vs. Gerald Harris

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For a guy with a world of talent, Harris sure hasn’t been getting any favors from the matchmaking department. Next up in Harris’ personal murderer’s row is undefeated Renzo Gracie disciple Dave Branch, who enters his Octagon debut hyped as the next big thing out of the Northeast MMA scene.

Keeping that rep alive will require he find a way around Harris’ brutally powerful punches and solid wrestling. The first will require caution, but the second will demand a level of wrestling skill that Branch has yet to show. While he’s hardly clueless on the feet, Branch doesn’t have the power or technique to survive Harris’ boxing.

The other issue Branch faces is that should his takedowns fail, pulling guard may be his only option. For most grapplers just getting a fight to the ground is enough, but pulling guard on Harris means exposing yourself to his atom-smashing ground-and-pound. Thus far Branch has clearly preferred working a top-control game, so he’d be taking a serious risk trying to work off his back in this fight.

Although the hype on Branch is justified, Harris is not a showcase opponent. Before much longer he may be a serious contender in the middleweight division, and that will shine through in this fight. Too many stuffed takedowns and clean shots to the dome will take their toll on Branch before he succumbs in the second round to a TKO.