UFC 101 Preview: The Prelims

Aug 06, 2009
Photo by Sherdog.com

Roop is overmatched on the floor.
George Sotiropoulos vs. George Roop

The Breakdown: Let’s be honest here: Roop got a coin-flip decision over Dave Kaplan in his last bout and beyond some solid striking, doesn’t have much to offer. While Sotiropoulos is coming in on short notice, his strong jiu-jitsu base and Roop’s own shoddy wrestling make for an ideal combination if you’re looking to plunk down your rent money on the Aussie submission ace. Of course, there’s always the chance the laws of reality will bend, creating a probability vortex and allowing Roop to win.

The X Factor: Discounting any scenarios out of an episode of “Lost,” Roop is the better striker. Outside of a solid clinch game, Sotiropoulos is hardly a dynamo on the feet. With the superior striking and footwork to his name, Roop could outpoint Sotiropoulos from afar, but he’ll have to worry about over-working his SUV-level gas tank. It’s a difficult balance to strike, and notching a win one way or another won’t be easy.

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The Bottom Line: A few dicey moments on the feet early on for Sotiropoulos will eventually give way to a clinical dissection of Roop on the mat. This is the part where you do the “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” chant.