UFC 109 Preview: The Prelims

Joey Beltran vs. Rolles Gracie

The Breakdown: Three years on the local circuit is enough to test anyone’s love for this sport, but Beltran’s perseverance has paid off thanks to an assist from late scratch Mostapha Al-Turk. Unfortunately for Beltran, he’ll be making his UFC debut on a week’s notice against Rolles Gracie, one of the world’s best heavyweight submission wrestlers and a product of the beyond legendary Gracie family.

Making matters worse for the brilliantly nicknamed “Mexicutioner,” he’s a sloppy brawler with poor cardio. Normally, being able to string together a few punches is enough to put a scare in any grappling convert, but the progeny of the dearly departed Rolls Gracie has shown a solid jab and the good sense to use it as a way of closing the pocket and getting in the clinch.

While the Gracie clan is known for being a big guard-pulling buffet, their latest wunderkind has an altogether unexpected arsenal of sweeps and reaps thanks to his legit judo skills. That sort of technique is absent from every facet of Beltran’s game, and he’s not going to make up the difference with windmill punches.

The most promising part of Gracie’s development has been his unwillingness to get into striking exchanges. Having the discipline to fight intelligently is an underrated part of this sport, and Gracie isn’t going to do anything to make this fight easy for Beltran.

The Bottom Line: Head-first brawlers normally don’t do well against Brazilian jiu-jitsu champions. This fight will be no exception. The hardest part for Gracie will be picking what submission to snatch. Whatever he chooses, Gracie won’t let this fight get past the three-minute mark.