TUF 9 Finale Preview: The Prelims

Nicholas Osipczak vs. Frank Lester

The Breakdown: One of the pleasant surprises of the past season, Osipczak will look to steal one of the few open spots for alumni of season nine by making Frank Lester a knockout victim yet again. Known for his gutsy style and willingness to meet anyone in the middle of the cage, Lester is out of his depth if he plans on using that strategy against Osipczak. A far superior striker who nearly took DeMarques Johnson’s spot in the finals, Osipczak can only hope Lester has taken enough blows to think he can hang on the feet with anyone.

The X Factor: The reason Osipczak isn’t in the finals is his cardio, and Lester’s willingness to enter a war of attrition does not bode well for the youngster. If Osipczak can’t dispatch Lester or even keep him off of him, he’ll eventually punch himself out and run headfirst into a fight-ending mistake. Just how capable Lester is of surviving Osipczak’s assault and having something left in the tank to give back is anyone’s guess, but it’s probably his only chance of notching a win.

The Bottom Line: In a season that produced few quality prospects, Osipczak looks like a keeper and he’ll earn his keep by turning Lester into an animated punching bag. Actually, that’s not true since Osipczak will also be kicking Lester and using any number of elbow or knee strikes as well. Either way, expect Osipczak to produce a Knockout of the Night contender.