Terrance McKinney vs. Sean Woodson
McKinney holds a 7-1 professional record. While his wins are impressive, it is the sole loss that makes the headlines. His only setback was due to an injury, as he snapped the fibula and tibia in one of his legs. Since suffering a gruesome injury that had many believing he would never compete again, the Spokane, Washington, native has rattled off three straight victories. The Sikjitsu team member has a 100 percent stoppage rate, with six wins by way of submission. It is difficult to get a grasp on McKinney’s skills due to there being a limited amount of available footage on his past fights. He is a southpaw with fast hands but lacks technique in the standup department. He likes to slide into the pocket and throw wildly while looking to end the fight with a single blow. The former lightweight also likes to use push kicks. McKinney is a former junior college wrestling champion and has quick entries on his takedowns. He excels at getting on his opponents’ hips and turning the corner before they can defend the attacks. He keeps his opponent’s back on the canvas with strong top control and offers effective striking while advancing to a better position. If his opponent gives up his back, McKinney will likely end the fight, as evidenced by his four rear-naked choke submission wins. The former wrestler’s gas tank remains a huge question mark, as only one of his fights has gotten past the opening round and none have reached the judges’ scorecards.
Woodson got the call to be a short-notice replacement for Adli Edwards on just five days’ notice. It was bit of a surprise that Woodson was chosen due to his last three bouts reaching the judges, but he does sport an undefeated 5-0 record. Woodson is a gigantic featherweight, as he stands 6-foot-2 and wields a 78-inch reach. He is an aggressive striker who loves to stalk his prey. The Wolves Den team member throw a high volume of strikes but controls his shots due to staying loose and composed. The St. Louis fighter uses his reach well, keeping his opponents on the end of his snapping shots. “The Sniper” has an accurate jab and loves to work the body. He makes the mistake of keeping his hands low but is hard to hit because he bounces his head off the centerline. He will switch stances and attack from different angles. When he starts to pick apart his opponents, he will often attempt to get in their heads by taunting them. The only weakness in Woodson’s striking is that he does not appear to possess fight-ending power with a single punch. He will target the calves with his powerful kicks. Woodson will occasionally shoot on a takedown to keep his opponent honest but prefers to keep the fight standing. He has shown solid takedown defense and does well to scramble to his feet if he ends up on bottom.
This is an interesting matchup. McKinney is a good wrestler, but Woodson’s striking really catches the eye. The short-notice nature of the fight is a cause for concern, especially since Woodson is know to make massive weight cuts. He has fought as high as 215 pounds as pro box and kickboxer. He fought as a lightweight in his most recent outing and now must cut to 145 pounds. Expect Woodson to stuff enough of McKinney’s takedown attempts to make difference, all while firing punches at a high rate. As such, he impresses UFC brass and lands a spot on the roster.