Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Poirier vs. Johnson’

Lightweights

Evan Dunham (17-6) vs. Rick Glenn (12-1)

THE MATCHUP: One man’s injury is another man’s introduction. With Abel Trujillo out of commission, Dunham gets the chance to welcome Glenn to the UFC, and the former World Series of Fighting featherweight champion is a welcome addition.

Very tall for featherweight, Glenn will actually enjoy a two-inch height advantage over Dunham and four extra inches of reach. As his career weight might suggest, however, there is not much meat on Glenn’s bones. Expect Dunham, the career lightweight, to look -- and feel -- like the bigger, stronger fighter, especially in grappling exchanges.

Glenn, like Dunham, is a southpaw and something of a slow starter. Taking advantage of his frame, Glenn likes to throw sharp, straight punches, stalking his opponent to keep him just on the edge of his long reach. Though he is not particularly heavy-handed, Glenn does have 10 wins by knockout, thanks to the attritive nature of his style. As the rounds wear on, he tends to throw more frequently and with more aggression, punctuating his one-twos with shifting hooks and kicks. When the distance is closed, Glenn is a dangerous clinch striker who usually prefers to get in, grab the neck, drive home a piercing knee and get out.

In full-on wrestling exchanges, Dunham undoubtedly has the advantage. He closes the distance with surprising speed and deftly misdirects his opponent in order to finish the takedown. His ground game is simple but effective, consisting mostly of quick back takes and chipping strikes from top position.

This is not merely a contest of Dunham’s wrestling and Glenn’s kickboxing, however. In fact, Dunham’s wrestling is somewhat underrated; he is really known for his boxing. Dunham may be a southpaw, but he is far from limited to his left hand. He throws a long, sneaky jab and favors the right uppercut as a complement to the straight and overhand lefts. Glenn relies mostly on a tucked chin and a double-forearm guard for defense, but Dunham has shown some promising improvements in the realm of footwork and head movement. He is not particularly fast on his feet, but his movements are deliberate and more often than not correct.

THE ODDS: Dunham (-310), Glenn (+255)

THE PICK: As is so often the case in matchups like this, it is difficult to pick the short-notice fighter, especially when he is making his UFC debut. With weight, strength and defensive skill also stacked on his side, Dunham deserves to be a heavy favorite. Glenn will have a harder time hitting Dunham than Dunham will have hitting him. Making the jump to lightweight, there is also the possibility that his blows will lack the pop that makes them so effective at 145 pounds; and then there is the ground game, which will allow Dunham to take full advantage of his build, experience and superior skill. Dunham is the smart pick. He takes it by third-round submission.

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