Shane Roller | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Jamie Varner vs. Shane Roller
Varner’s striking is the edge here, and the way he applies it in select spots will be crucial to the outcome. Roller tends to wing punches from outside, as much to close the gap and force clinches as to stun opponents. He has fairly heavy hands, however, and is calm on his back, unlike many top-level wrestlers in MMA. Varner will have to pick his openings carefully, mix in kicks, and keep moving to deny Roller tie-ups and a chest-to-chest clinch battle.
The pick here is Varner in a tough decision battle, one where he displays his conditioning and ability to keep popping back up while landing effective counters. It will be a good fight no matter where it goes, but Varner, while seemingly hot-and-cold at times, can be one heck of a fighter when he’s at his best.