Eklund
Striking : 2.5
Grappling : 3.0
Submissions : 3.0
Experience : 3.5
Total : 3.0
Dunham
Striking : 1.5
Grappling : 2.5
Submissions : 2.5
Experience : 1.5
Total : 2.0
Eklund was originally slated to face David Baron in a rematch of their 2006 battle, but the Frenchman pulled out of the fight three weeks ago with a foot injury. Dunham (7-0), an undefeated Xtreme Couture prospect, replaced Baron on short notice.
Based out of Stockholm, Sweden, Eklund is widely regarded as the number one lightweight fighter in Europe. He holds wins over UFC veterans Baron and Samy Schiavo, as well as the World Extreme Cagefighting vet Rafael Dias. Originally a ground fighter, Eklund (14-3-1) had to learn the hard way that his stand-up game was not up to par when he made his UFC debut against Sam Stout. The 28-year-old Swede improved greatly in that area following a recent training camp in Thailand.
Unlike many other Xtreme Couture fighters, Dunham’s backbone lies in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, not wrestling. The 27-year-old Wellington Diaz purple belt racked up most of his wins by submission in local shows in the Pacific Northwest. He was also a member of Team Shamrock at the Platinum Fighting Productions “Ring of Fire” event in the Philippines in late 2007, when he defeated 2008 no-Gi world champion Cleber Luciano with a guillotine choke.
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Prediction: Eklund should be too experienced and too well-rounded for the newcomer. Expect the Swede to pick up where he left off in his last fight against Schiavo and score a second-round submission victory, most likely one that will result in some kind of twist to Dunham’s arm.