UFC 118 Preview: The Prelims

Nick Osipczak vs. Greg Soto

Getting targeted by the UFC has plenty of benefits, not the least of which being the opportunity to pick up easy wins when your record gets scuffed up. Fresh off a contentious split decision loss to Rick Story, Osipczak is now lined up for what many expect to be an easy rebound win over Soto.

Easy because Soto’s lone Octagon appearance consisted of getting stomped on by Matt Riddle before finally executing some offense in the third round -- an illegal upkick that got him disqualified. While Osipczak isn’t an up-and-coming ground-and-pounder like Riddle, he’s a surprisingly solid wrestler, especially in comparison to his British compatriots. More importantly, he’s one of the most versatile prospects in the UFC welterweight division.

A long, lean fighter who can strike at range and in close quarters, “Slick” is also a smooth, fluid grappler who can do work from just about any position. Compare that diversity of skill to Soto, who is a straight-up top position grappler who struggled to finish no-name regional competition. Essentially, Soto has to work an already conservative style against an opponent who can make him pay for even the tiniest of errors.

Trying to construe a scenario in which Soto has any success involves assuming he can stay note-perfect from top position and gain it quickly enough to keep the disparity in striking ability from making itself known. He has yet to show that level of strategic perfection and even if he does craft an on-paper masterwork, Osipczak is simply a different caliber of fighter. This is likely to be the most lopsided of all the prelim bouts, as Soto will end up utterly outclassed and sent on his way in short order.