UFC 98 Preview: The Prelims

Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Andre Gusmao

The Breakdown: Probably the best part of MMA is getting to see a Polish guy who looks like a serial killer take on a Brazilian capoeira master. Beyond the obvious potential, Soszynski’s bruising game makes for an interesting clash with Gusmao’s finesse style. Despite a spotty career, Soszynski is developing into a real mauler with both his punches and top control while Gusmao prefers to stay in the pocket and pick his shots. Whoever controls the tempo and terms of this bout will end up with the tactical advantage, and with that, the win.

The X Factor: One thing Soszynski’s style isn’t built to deal with is movement, and Gusmao is both quick with his strikes and on his feet. Gusmao must use that advantage to frustrate Soszynski whenever he goes on one of his headfirst charges. As long as this doesn’t turn into a close-quarters firefight, Gusmao has all the skills to finally break through in the UFC.

The Bottom Line: Quick as Gusmao may be, he seems unsure of how to put his skills together while Soszynski knows full well what works for him. That one gear Soszynski has is the last thing Gusmao wants to deal with, and it will show as this fight turns into a demolition job with Soszynski turning in a tidy submission win. Just one more reason to love MMA: the Polish serial killer gets to win.