UFC Fight Night 21 Preview: The Prelims

Yushin Okami vs. Lucio Linhares

The Breakdown: Someone in the matchmaking department likes seeing Linhares get outwrestled. After losing his UFC debut to the human siege tank, Rousimar Palhares, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu convert now has to take on Okami’s smothering top control. While Linhares showed surprising fluidity on the mat in his fight with Palhares, Okami’s top control features far more brute physicality.

It’s no secret that it takes top-shelf wrestling to exploit the holes in Okami’s game, and that just is not part of the Linhares attack. That his submission game is nowhere near aggressive or technical enough to force Okami out of his usual comfort zone further complicates his hopes of a UFC victory. What’s worse, Okami can always fall back on his rugged clinch game.

Under ideal circumstances, Linhares would be allowed to develop into a solid mid-tier gatekeeper, but this kind of matchmaking only serves to highlight the holes in his game, namely his lack of high-level offensive skills and takedown defense. Barring an epic meltdown by Okami, Linhares may not have a chance to do anything except get rag-dolled.

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The Bottom Line: Expect a return to form for Okami, as he grinds out a methodical decision win.