UFC Fight Night 18 Breakdown: The Prelims

Tim Credeur vs. Nick Catone

The Breakdown: What Catone (6-0) lacks in technical savvy, he makes up for in bullish strength and stultifying top control. He will have to lean heavily on both against Credeur (11-2), whose jiu-jitsu has proven to be a cut above in the UFC. Credeur also has the edge in the striking game, and Catone’s elementary top control style lacks the offensive firepower needed to give him much pause. If Credeur has free reign to hunt down the submission, it will not take long for him to find it.

The X Factor: Catone’s style has worked against the division’s lesser knowns, but Credeur’s jiu-jitsu game is the technically superior of the two. However, if Catone can consistently assume top control and corral Credeur’s guard or, ideally, get past it, we will finally see how Credeur reacts to an opponent who does not roll over and play dead at the first sign of trouble.

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The Bottom Line: Many were surprised to see Credeur develop so rapidly under the UFC banner, and while Catone’s UFC debut was solid, it did not suggest he has the game to knock Credeur off course. Expect Catone to wrestle Credeur down to the mat early, but his good fortune will end there, as Credeur ties him in a human knot before cutting him loose via submission.