UFC 98 Preview: The Prelims

Dave Kaplan vs. George Roop

The Breakdown: It just isn’t a UFC card without a battle of “The Ultimate Fighter” alumni, and this card is no exception with Dave Kaplan taking on former cast-mate George Roop. The fight itself may come down to the considerable size advantage Kaplan will hold over Roop, who has competed as a bantamweight in the past. Considering both fighters have a moderately well-rounded style, don’t be surprised if Kaplan’s gritty determination and sheer strength leads to a big-brother beating for Roop.

The X Factor: While Kaplan can name capitals and wax poetic with the MMA cognoscenti, his wrestling is the least developed part of his game and Roop wrestled at the collegiate level. Granted, Roop wrestled at 112 pounds, but if he can get Kaplan on his back and use that wrestling base to smother whatever offense Kaplan attempts, he’ll find the edge he so desperately needs.

The Bottom Line: When you’ve got two reasonably well-matched fighters, it’s often the little things that tip the scales. In this case, Kaplan quite literally tips the scales on Roop. Expect Roop to try and force a fast tempo, but Kaplan will easily brush him aside and turn this into a war of attrition that Roop cannot win. Don’t expect any high-concept action here but do expect Kaplan to take a solid decision win.