Bart Palaszewski (right) file photo: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com
Staking out a spot in the WEC lightweight division is a process that tends to run through Palaszewski. Undefeated lightweight prospect Micklewright is about to find just how good he really is, as “Bartimus” can separate the wheat from the chaff in a hurry.
Generally the key to beating Palaszewski is to keep him at arm’s length and avoid the sort of close quarters dust-up he thrives on. Some dull performances of late have obscured the fact that Palaszewski has decent offensive skills and can get after it for 15 hard minutes thanks to his supreme durability.
However, his striking is definitely a weak point, and Micklewright has the skill to emulate the beating Anthony Njokuani laid on Palaszewski at WEC 40. Micklewright also has the range, power and athleticism that Njokuani used to nail the coffin shut on several attempted comebacks.
Still, Micklewright’s defensive wrestling remains, as Donald Rumsfeld would put it, a “known unknown.” Palaszewski will sort out the questions about Micklewright’s takedown defense one way or another, but it’s important to remember that he isn’t some dynamo wrestler himself. Most of Palaszewski’s success can be attributed to his suffocating style and ironclad toughness -- neither of which are particularly helpful when you’re getting bombed on from range.
Should Palaszewski get inside on Micklewright, there is still the threat of getting trapped in the Thai plum and being introduced to the world of facial rearrangement. There are just too many ways for this fight to go wrong for him while Micklewright mostly just has to concern himself with using his movement to keep the fight in his zone.
The differential in striking skill will be too much for Palaszewski to overcome, as his usual meat grinder style will run headfirst into a dizzying array of strikes. Reaching Palaszewski’s breaking point takes an awful lot of work, but Micklewright has the game to pull it off.