UFC Fight Night 18 Breakdown: The Prelims

Brock Larson vs. Jesse Sanders

The Breakdown: Sanders (20-4) is a solid fighter with heavy hands and underrated wrestling. However, Larson (24-2) also has heavy hands and the kind of hyperactive wrestling that makes him look like a Starbuck’s addict. One thing Sanders does not possess is the jiu-jitsu he needs to get anything done off his back against Larson, who is known for his textbook ground-and-pound. That leaves Sanders hoping for a miracle haymaker when Larson barrels in on him.

The X Factor: Larson has always thrived on shutting down his opponents by overwhelming them with sheer physicality. Sanders, however, is not the type to shy away and will look to hurt Larson every chance he gets. The one unsettling thing about Larson is that he’s at a loss when opponents stand up to him and start getting in their licks. Unless he has gotten over his bully syndrome, it may end up costing him sooner rather than later.

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The Bottom Line: Dominant as Larson can be, it’s hard to trust a guy who turns into Bruce Banner whenever he has to give and take the punishment. Unfortunately for Sanders, he does not have the tools to stop the Minnesotan. It will be a one-sided return to the UFC for Larson, who puts Sanders to bed early.