UFC 159 ‘Jones vs. Sonnen’ Preview

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Light Heavyweights

Phil Davis (10-1, 6-1 UFC) vs. Vinny Magalhaes (10-5, 1-2 UFC)

The Matchup: The seeds for this matchup were planted back in October, when Magalhaes took to Twitter to call out Davis after UFC 153. According to Davis, the Brazilian had an opportunity to face him at UFC 155 once Forrest Griffin withdrew due to injury, but Magalhaes refused the fight. The back-and-forth between the two fighters has continued since then, adding an entertaining aspect to what is an otherwise curious pairing for Davis, a top 10 light heavyweight who is not far from championship aspirations.

After a rough start to his career that included a stint on “The Ultimate Fighter 8” and losses in four of his first seven pro bouts -- including setbacks to Ryan Bader and Eliot Marshall in the UFC -- Magalhaes has experienced a resurgence since deciding to focus all of his energy on MMA. “Pezao” has won eight of his last nine fights, including a second-round submission of Igor Pokrajac in his return to the Octagon in September.

The 2011 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist might be the best in the division when it comes to grappling acumen, and he lured Pokrajac into his guard before deftly transitioning from a triangle choke to an armbar to secure the tapout at UFC 152. The key for Magalhaes is his ability to use well-placed strikes to bring the fight into his world.

It was business as usual for Davis against Wagner Prado at UFC 153, as he scored multiple takedowns and controlled the action from top position en route to winning via second-round anaconda choke. However, the victory did not showcase anything new from “Mr. Wonderful.” If he is to eventually challenge for the belt, he will have to improve upon his showing against Rashad Evans at UFC on Fox 2. In that contest, Davis was made to look mechanical and tentative on the feet once his wrestling was shut down.

A four-time NCAA All-American wrestler at Penn State University, Davis uses his strength and long frame to control foes on the mat. Although he has excellent submission skills, the Alliance MMA representative might not look to pass guard as frequently as he normally does against a decorated jiu-jitsu practitioner such as Magalhaes. Instead, look for a conservative approach from Davis, as he lands just enough offense to stay out of danger and avoid restarts by the referee.

Magalhaes has improved his striking since his first UFC tenure but not enough to threaten Davis, who can use his four-inch reach advantage to land kicks to the legs and body to keep his man at a safe distance. The standup game is where Davis needs to progress the most; if he shows improved aggression and fluidity here, it bodes well for his future.

The Pick: Expect a measured approach from Davis, as he lands strikes from the outside and is moderate ground-and-pound from above in a decision victory.

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