UFC Fight Night 35 Preview

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Flyweights

John Moraga (13-2, 2-1 UFC) vs. Dustin Ortiz (12-2, 1-0 UFC)

The Matchup: Moraga returns to action for the first time since coming up short in a rushed title shot against 125-pound champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC on Fox 8. Memorable moments were few for Moraga in the bout, but not many people have had any kind of success against “Mighty Mouse.”

Ortiz entered his Octagon as a relatively seasoned competitor, with experience competing for the Strikeforce, Tachi Palace Fights and Resurrection Fighting Alliance promotions under his belt. That experience showed at UFC Fight Night 32, as the Roufusport product outlasted Jose Maria Tome for a third-round TKO victory. While Ortiz is a well-rounded fighter with athleticism, he is not particularly dominant in any one area. He seems to do his best work when he can land takedowns and attack with aggressive ground-and-pound, though his striking is gradually improving under the guidance of Duke Roufus. However, there are other occasions where he is grounded with little resistance. Ortiz’s willingness to take risks can be a plus, but it can also put him into some precarious situations.

This could be something to watch against Moraga, who is a solid wrestler with a crafty submission game. Prior to facing Johnson, who pretty much dominated Moraga on the mat and on the feet, the Arizonan has used his wrestling to keep fights standing. Moraga is a solid boxer with good head movement and countering ability.

Meanwhile, Ortiz sometimes struggles to put combinations together. With that said, Ortiz should look to utilize his kicks against Moraga, who appeareded vulnerable in that area in a win over Chris Cariaso at UFC 155. Moraga is dangerous in close quarters, as well, as he finished Ulysses Gomez with vicious series of elbows in his Octagon debut.

The Pick: Ortiz’s resilience will be tested here, as Moraga can probably outbox him or rely on a top-heavy wrestling game to win. Ortiz will have to be opportunistic in looking for small openings to create momentum swings. Moraga wins by submission in round three.

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