‘TUF 13’ Finale Preview: The Prelims

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Bantamweights
Scott Jorgensen vs. Ken Stone

The Matchup: Talk about coming from opposite directions off the same card. Jorgensen and Stone fought at the final WEC event on Dec. 16 and had respectively rough nights.

Jorgensen returns from a one-sided, five-round walloping at the hands of champion Dominick Cruz, while Stone looks to recover from his nightmarish big-show debut -- a crushing slam knockout defeat to Eddie Wineland.

Much-hyped coming into the bout, Stone, an American Top Team product, has solid physical tools. Jorgenson remains one of the mid- to upper-level pluggers in the relatively thin UFC bantamweight ranks. Jorgensen is neither flashy nor dramatic; he just looks to wear down opponents with a fast pace and strong wrestling.

If there is a rule of thumb for UFC debuts, it is that guys who score huge wins are not necessarily as good as they look over the long haul; the opposite holds true when one loses memorably in highlight-reel fashion. Stone’s definitely in a must-win situation here, and he will have to show adequate standup to get the win.

Jorgensen has a quick, powerful right hand that he will fire down the pipe, mixing it in nicely to force takedowns and scrambles. Stone is a talented prospect with a lot of ability, but this is a big jump for him. Jorgensen has competed against much stiffer competition, and that experience should show.

The Pick: Jorgensen will soften up Stone on the feet and keep a clear head if he is taken down or finds his way into trouble. That should be enough for him to grind out a decision win or late stoppage.

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