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MMA Junkie Radio co-host and MMA Junkie contributor Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC Ft. Lauderdale.
UFC Ft. Lauderdale takes place Saturday at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. The main card streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN2.
Ronaldo Souza (26-6 MMA, 9-3 UFC)
Staple info:
- Height: 6’1″ Age: 39 Weight: 185 lbs. Reach: 72″
- Last fight: KO win over Chris Weidman (Nov. 3, 2018)
- Camp: Fusion X-cel Performance (Florida)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ Former Strikeforce middleweight champion
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo black belt
+ Multiple grappling accolades
+ 8 KO victories
+ 14 submission wins
+ 18 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Heavy right hand
^ Throws well off feints and shifts
+ Improved wrestling ability
^ Favors takedowns along fence
+ Dangerous in transition
^ Superb scrambles and back-takes
+ Slick submission setups
Jack Hermansson (19-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC)
Staple info:
- Height: 6’1″ Age: 30 Weight: 185 lbs. Reach:77.5″
- Last fight: Submission win over David Branch(March 30, 2019)
- Camp: Frontline Academy (Sweden)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Risk management: Fair
Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Wrestling base
+ 11 KO victories
+ 5 submission wins
+ 9 first-round finishes
+ KO Power
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Long and accurate jab
+ Hard leg and body kicks
+ Strong clinch game
^ Dirty boxing, trips, takedowns
+ Excellent transitional grappler
^ Works well from front-headlock
+ Active and attacking guard
+ Superb ground striker
Point of interest: Aggresive assaults
The main event in Ft. Lauderdale features an impromptu matchup of aggressive middleweights.
Signing up for fights almost as fast as he starts them, Jack Hermansson has a pension for bringing a breakneck pace as of late.
Working behind the bounce in his step, Hermansson will pressure his opponents with fakes and feints, gathering his distance through prodding jabs. Once finding his range, Hermansson has little issue launching his right hand in the form of overhands or uppercuts.
The Swede also wields a solid left hook when coming forward but arguably throws it better as a check, which could come in handy against the aggressive nature that his Brazilian counterpart brings to the table.
A marauding, athletic phenom who has consistently improved his striking since his days on the Strikeforce scene, Ronaldo Souza can truly call himself a multi-dimensional threat.
Steadily stalking his prey with palpable pressure, Souza will use feints to bait opponents into exchanging with him. Once able to get a bite, he will typically unleash his patented counter cross or change his level to shoot for a takedown. Souza also occasionally shifts to southpaw when he needs to, often accompanying this move with a check hook for safety.
When sensing he has someone hurt, the 16-year veteran has no problem letting his hands fly liberally, varying in between uppercuts and hooks along the way. In Souza’s last couple of outings, he appeared to have a bit more volume and variety to his form, incorporating more kicks and body shots than before.
Still, the pressure that Souza brings usually comes with a tangible price tag to go along with the gas that it requires, which means that this battle should get even more intriguing the longer it goes.
Next point of interest: Mission for top position
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