UFC on Fuel TV 1 Preview: The Main Card

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Bantamweights
T.J. Dillashaw (4-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. Walel Watson (9-3, 1-1 UFC)

The Matchup: It would be unfair to dismiss Dillashaw simply on the basis of his Octagon debut, where lost to John Dodson at “The Ultimate Fighter 14” Finale. Dodson, who stopped Dillashaw with strikes inside of a round, will give plenty of future opponents fits with his speed and athleticism.

Dillashaw’s focused ground-and-pound figures to play better against the lanky Watson, who is coming off a split-decision setback to fellow striker Yves Jabouin at UFC 140. Watson dazzled in his first UFC appearance, flooring Joseph Sandoval with a head kick before finishing the contest with a flurry of punches at UFC Live 6. He found the going tougher against Jabouin, who was able to counter his opponent’s reach advantage enough to earn a split verdict. While Jabouin was willing to trade flashy strikes with Watson on the feet, Dillashaw is going to look to ground the Team Hurricane Awesome product early and often.

Like his Team Alpha Male counterparts, Dillashaw has a good gas tank and a high work rate -- it is getting inside the reach of “The Gazelle” that will prove to be his greatest challenge. Once he does that, Dillashaw can press his foe against the fence and look to drive him into the canvas. During earlier bouts on the reality show, Dillashaw was relentless in his pursuit of ground-and-pound, but he will have to be wary of Watson’s long limbs wrapping around him for a submission.

Seven of Watson’s nine career triumphs have come via tapout, and he had Jabouin in a couple of precarious situations during their encounter. However, Team Alpha Male fighters generally defend against submissions fairly well.

The Pick: Watson would like to fight on the outside, where he can fend off Dillashaw’s shots while setting up his own exotic strikes. Dillashaw will pressure, using his punches to set up takedowns. Due to Watson’s active guard, his offense could be limited on the canvas, however. Persistence pays off, and Dillashaw will score enough points with takedowns and dominant positioning to get the nod from the judges.