Jacob Volkmann (top) | Jason Broaddus/Sherdog.com
Lightweights
Antonio McKee vs. Jacob Volkmann
In fact, my favorite memory of McKee’s career is not in MMA but rather the 2002 Abu Dhabi North American trials, where he took on Mark Bocek in one of the elimination rounds. Submission matches tend to be somewhat tedious affairs for the uninitiated, and this one was terrible even by those standards. McKee took down Bocek and then camped out in his guard for what seemed like years. The highlight was Bocek’s coach, the irrepressible Marc Laimon, yelling instructions to Bocek for the whole match. Everyone else sat there listening to Laimon, because it was more interesting than the match itself.
I think McKee got the decision but only after a couple judges were revived in time to turn in their cards. To his credit, Laimon also coached Roy Nelson that day, in addition to engaging in an epic match with Dean Lister, losing a decision in a grueling affair. McKee’s MMA style is pretty much the same, and it is effective for him. Volkmann is 2-2 in the UFC, and that experience is probably his biggest edge.
The Pick: Neither guy is a stand-up artist, so it’s going to come down to wrestling, a close contest almost assured. I like McKee by a narrow decision. Brace yourselves, Divas.
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