By Michael Owens
The UFC is back in London for what should be a far more regular schedule of shows in years to come.
However, with greater regularity expect greater dilution as UK fight fans get served weaker and weaker cards. We’rea long way away from the UFC and PRIDE champions fighting each other here folks. Still, tomorrow night’s pugilistic proceedings are a bit better than the standard international card. The undercard is full of treasures and the world’s second best light heavyweight will headline the event. That’s where we’ll start.
Light Heavyweight – Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jimi Manuwa
Britain’s ‘Poster Boy’ has an unquantifiable ability that no other fighter possesses. He seems to have the ability to just look at fighters and injure them. Each of his three UFC opponents have been stopped indirectly courtesy of what could be some kind of freaky Voodoo fighting from Manuwa.
OK, maybe that’s not entirely fair. He hits hard and was winning each of those fights before they were stopped and he delivered a hell of a lot of punishment against Kyle Kingsbury in particular.
Unfortunately for him, he is facing a fighter who is superior in every single way. Gustafsson can box, wrestle and grapple with the best of them. Literally. He did all of that with the best light heavyweight of all time and got the better of him for most of the first 20 minutes until ‘Bones’s’ lethal spinning elbow came into play.
Not only does the Swede excel in every aspect of the game he can negate his opponent’s strengths thanks to an excessive reach, iron chin and bottomless gas tank. Manuwa is going to have to come out and take ‘The Mauler’s’ head off, but failure to do so will expose him to a striking and grappling clinic as he tires and Gustafsson keeps going. The fourth and fifth rounds are uncharted water for the Brit and this is not the ideal situation for him to get his feet wet for the first time.
The pick – Gustafsson has the tools to avoid danger in the opening 10 minutes or so before taking control of the fight. He’ll get the stoppage in the third or fourth round.
Lightweight – Melvin Guillard vs. Michael Johnson
It was a shame we have not got to see Ross Pearson face ‘The Young Assassin’ after their fight in Manchester was cut short last year, but we’ve been left with an equally exciting fight. One that actually might be more palatable for Pearson fans because that no-contest stoppage helped to mask the real possibility he was about to get taken to the woodshed. as it happens, there was a very capable replacement waiting in the wings for this one.
We know Guillard is 155 pounds of fast-twitch fury, ready to uncork a knockout blow at any moment. We also know he’s just as capable of throwing a fight away in an instant. Up against a similarly good striker it might be in his best interests to fight smart and go for the takedown.
Michael Johnson has just notched the two best wins of his UFC career as he neutralised the ever-dangerous Joe Lauzon and smashed the ordinarily durable Gleison Tibau. His boxing is enough to give Guillard fits if he is not entirely focused, but he is definitely weak off his back.
The pick – Johnson is not easily hurt and his southpaw boxing could give Guillard a ton of trouble – if he can stay on his feet. I’ll go for a Johnson decision, but with little confidence.
Flyweight – Brad Pickett vs. Neil Seery
‘One Punch’ makes his 125 pound debut tomorrow with a test that is considerably less tough than scheduled. Ian McCall would have given the popular, bonus-hungry Brit a lot of problems that former Cage Warriors champ Seery will not.
To be fair to Seery he is a fighter capable of winning fights in the UFc thanks to his quick and powerful combinations. Just not tomorrow night. Pickett attacks with ferocity from the word go and has the ability to transition from striking to grappling in a way that his Irish counterpart does not.
The pick – Pickett overwhelms Seery with strikes and submits him in the second round.
Welterweight – Gunnar Nelson vs. Omari Akhmedov
After more than a knee on the sidelines, one if the great European MMA hopes will return to the Octagon. Although it’s a shame we never got to see Gunnar Nelson square off against Mike pyle, it’s good to finally see him back and on British soil.
The Icelander has it all, from Renzo-Gracie-black-belt BJJ to unorthodox striking more comparable to Lyoto Machida than anyone else. He’s far from the perfect fighter though. His takedowns still leave a lot to be desired and he is nowhere near as advanced a striker as a fighter like Machida, but he can mix his disciplines together, keep opponents on their toes and capitalise.
Another one of the Dagestani additions to the UFC roster, Akhmedov does not have the accomplished grappling skills of many of his contemporaries but he sure packs a hell of a punch. One direct hit from one of those corkers and Nelson could be dreaming of the peaceful life back on the recovery table.
The pick – While Akhmedov does have fight ending power, he is also vulnerable to… well just about everything from such a well rounded fighter as his opponent on Saturday, particularly submissions. Count on Nelson taking his time, but securing a choke before the final bell.
The prelims
There’s some interesting stuff going on here, but focus your attention on that first fight at 125 pounds between Phil Harris and Louis Gaudinot. That should be your fight of the night right there. If there’s one overmatched fight, it’s ‘The Snake’ Cyrille Diabaté and UFC Sweden late-replacement special, Ilir Latifi. The Frenchman is a classy sticker and should take this one easily if he’s fully recovered from injury.
Light Heavyweight – Cyrille Diabaté vs. Ilir Latifi
Middleweight – Luke Barnatt vs. Mats Nilsson
Middleweight – Brad Scott vs. Cláudio Henrique da Silva
Bantamweight – Davey Grant vs. Roland Delorme
Welterweight – Igor Araújo vs. Danny Mitchell
Flyweight – Phil Harris vs. Louis Gaudinot
Photo: Jorden Curran | MMA Plus
