UFC 101 Preview: The Prelims

Jesse Lennox vs. Danillo Villefort

The Breakdown: A clash between Lennox’s ground-and-pound game and Villefort’s quicksilver jiu-jitsu rounds out the undercard in a bout that will likely decide what future these two WEC castaways will have in the UFC. Just how willing Lennox will be to tangle with Villefort on the mat will have a lot to do with how this bout goes, as Lennox has the striking to put Villefort down. Just as important will be Villefort’s willingness to step inside Lennox’s range in search of a takedown; it represents his best and likely only hope.

The X Factor: Looking up and down Lennox’s ledger, his loss to Emyr Bussade via kneebar in the IFL is a major red flag considering Villefort’s love for the leglock. You can bank on Villefort making a few kamikaze dives at Lennox’s legs, and he’s more than capable of turning them into b-grade origami. Lennox can keep his legs safe by staying upright, but he likes to test the water on the mat before resorting to plan B. Testing the waters with Villefort could leave Lennox looking like an extra from “Murderball.”

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The Bottom Line: Solid as Lennox may be, his game isn’t built to handle Villefort, who will press him from the opening bell with submission attempts. Don’t be surprised if Lennox holds his own for a while, but Villefort will keep dragging him to the mat until he snatches hold of a limb and gets Lennox to play the three-tap symphony.