UFC 105 Preview: The Prelims

Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jared Hamman

The Breakdown: The UFC debut for one of these light heavyweight prospects will be spoiled, and odds are it will end with someone laid out, as both Gustafsson and Hamman have earned their fare share of stoppages. The difference? Gustafsson brings an added dimension with his wrestling, while Hamman remains mostly an unknown commodity outside of his well-regarded striking.

That puts Hamman in the difficult position of trying to goad Gustafsson into a kickboxing match since the bout will not swing his way if the big Swede starts shooting double-legs. How exactly Hamman can manage that feat remains unclear since he does not have the takedown defense to ensure Gustafsson will give up on getting him horizontal.

The X-Factor: While neither fighter has faced anything resembling elite competition, Gustafsson, in particular, has feasted on the middling talent of the local European circuit. Stepping up to the bright lights and high stakes of the UFC represents a Scott Bakula-level quantum leap, and he certainly would not be the first prospect to crack under the pressure.

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The Bottom Line: Questions surround Gustafsson, but the talent is there. Considering Hamman’s one-dimensional style, there is no reason why Gustafsson should not walk away with a TKO win.