UFC 166 ‘Velasquez vs. Dos Santos 3’ Preview

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Heavyweights

Shawn Jordan (15-4, 3-1 UFC) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (15-7, 10-6 UFC)

The Matchup: Jordan has done his best to put a forgettable UFC 149 showing against Cheick Kongo behind him, scoring technical knockout triumphs over Mike Russow and Pat Barry in his last two outings. Blessed with strength and athleticism, Jordan is an intriguing talent in a division that can always use new blood. Gonzaga will serve as a solid measuring stick to see just how much “The Savage” has improved since the Kongo bout.

A former heavyweight title challenger, Gonzaga has experienced a resurgence of late. After a brief hiatus from the promotion, the Rio de Janeiro native has won three of his last four inside the Octagon. The only setback during that time came at the hands of rising star Travis Browne, a loss that Gonzaga claims came as a result of illegal elbows from his opponent.

Nonetheless, the 34-year-old “Napao” has the type of skill set to give Jordan fits. Gonzaga is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with nine submission victories to his credit, and thus far in his career, Jordan has not faced anyone nearly as capable of making him tap. Jordan was also smothered in the clinch by Kongo; if Gonzaga is fighting strategically, he will force tie-ups against the fence before working for takedowns. Like most heavyweights Gonzaga has fight-ending power, but while his head-kick knockout of Mirko Filipovic remains one of the sport’s most memorable moments, striking is not his bread-and-butter.

Gonzaga’s best assets on the feet are his thudding leg kicks, but below average speed and mobility leave him vulnerable if this becomes a full-fledged brawl. Jordan is not the most technical striker, but he has heavy hands and is capable of stringing together combinations.

The Pick: If Jordan can be the aggressor and hurt Gonzaga early, the fight will swing in his favor. If “Napao” survives the initial rush of his opponent, his grappling and submission game will prove to be the difference. Gonzaga wins by submission in round two.

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