Breakdown: UFC: Overeem v Sakai
Breakdown: UFC: Overeem v Sakai
Overeem v Sakai:
Overeem(-180), MMA Record:46-18-1, UFC Record: 11-7, Current Streak: 1 Win: Overeem was another fighter that I grew up being a big fan of. When he was in Strikeforce and DREAM, to me he was the scariest heavyweight on the planet at that time. He is one of the best striker not only in the division but in all of MMA. Very few people have better kickboxing credentials than Overeem. Being a K-1 champ speaks for itself. He has the highest significant strike accuracy in UFC history at 74%. He is also tied for second in the heavyweight division in most knockdowns with ten. Don't sleep on his ground game either. He has 17 wins by submission, granted a lot of those came when he was at 205lbs and fighting in Japan. One area Overeem will have a big advantage in this fight is experience. He has more losses than his opponent has total fights. You're not going to throw anything at him that he has not already seen.
IMPORTANT STATS: 63% Striking Accuracy, 59% Striking Defense, 1.4 Takedown per 15 Minutes, 73% Takedown Defense
NOTABLE WINS: Harris(TKO), Oleninik(TKO), Werdum(MD,UD), Hunt(TKO,SUB), Arlovski(TKO), Dos Santos(KO), Nelson(UD), Struve(TKO), Mir(UD), Lesner(TKO), Belfort(UD,SUB), Vovchanchyn(SUB)
Sakai(+180), MMA Record:15-1-1, UFC Record: 4-0, Current Streak: 6 Wins: This fight is a huge step up in competition for Sakai. That being said, he is one of the hottest fighter at heavyweight and undefeated in the UFC. He looks slower than he actually is and that deception has helped him get 11 KOs in his career. The heavyweight division needs new fresh meat and if Sakai can get a big win in this fight, he will only be one or two fights away from a title shot.
IMPORTANT STATS: 83% Takedown Defense, 5.45 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute, 46% Striking Accuracy, 3.89 Sig. Strikes Absorbed per Minute
NOTABLE WINS: Ivanov(SD), Tybura(TKO), Arlovski(SD), Sherman(TKO)
OSP v Menifield:
OSP(-105) MMA Record: 24-14, UFC Record: 12-9, Current Streak: 1 Loss: I remember when OSP was thought to be the future of the sport. He played football at Tennessee and when he first broke on to the MMA scene, there were not a lot of D1 football players coming to MMA. Times have changed and OSP's UFC career has been one of ups and downs. He was the most Von Flue Choke wins in UFC history with 4 of the 6 that have ever been done. He has the third most fights in the Light heavyweight division and the sixth most wins. He also is tied for second with ten finishes with five of them coming from a submission which ties him with five other fighters for most in the LH division. He will need to rely on his experience if he wants to get his hand raised Saturday night.
IMPORTANT STATS: 2.6 Strikes Landed per Minute, 46% Striking Accuracy, 45% Striking Defense, 1.27 Takedowns per 15 Minutes
NOTABLE WINS: Pedro(SUB), Anderson(KO), Okami(SUB), Rua(KO), Cummins(TKO), Cavalcante(UD)
Menifield(-130) MMA Record: 9-1, UFC Record: 2-1, Current Streak: 1 Loss: Menifield is at a point in his career that is very similar to where OSP was at one time. A former football player with a ton of potential. He has dynamite in both hands and can shut the lights off at any second. The big question with Alonzo is his gas tank. In his last fight he had a great first round where he almost put his opponent away but in the later rounds, Alonzo was clearly tired and lost by decision. This would be a big step forward in his career if Menifield can get the win this weekend.
IMPORTANT STATS: 85% Takedown Defense, 3.75 Strikes Landed per Minute, 47% Striking Accuracy, 40% Striking Defense
NOTABLE WINS: Craig(TKO), Moreria(TKO), Boatwright(KO)
Pereria v Imadaev:
Pereria(-120), MMA Record: 23-11 2 NC, UFC Record:1-2, Current Streak: Two Losses: The term "Most Exciting Fighter" gets thrown around way to often in the MMA world. I'm not saying that there are not a lot of exciting fighters out there. What I am saying is that Michel Pereria makes them all look like Jake Shields is fighting. You like spinning shit? Pereria is your guy. You like flying knees and striking attempts off the cage Showtime kick style? Pereria is your guy. You like backflips to break opponents guard Sakuaba style. Pereria is your guy again. Has he had a problem with gassing after the first round? Yes, but if you watched his last fight against Diego Sanchez, he seems to have fixed that problem. He just has to not throw any illegal shots like he did in that fight. Grab your nuts and a coffee anytime Pereria is fighting because he is without a doubt the most exciting fighter in the UFC today.
IMPORTANT STATS: 100% Takedown Defense, 2 Takedowns per 15 Minutes, 51% Striking Accuracy, 52% Striking Defense
NOTABLE WINS: Roberts(KO),
Imadaev(-110), MMA Record: 8-2, UFC Record: 0-2, Current Streak: Two Losses: Imadaev is another Russian fighter that is very well rounded. Good at everything but also not great at anything, Zelim has been going through a rough patch since coming to the UFC. He clearly has power in his hands with all eight of his wins coming by way of KO/TKO, but he has not put on that signature performance in the octagon yet. He could very well be fighting for his job in this one.
IMPORTANT STATS: 50% Takedown Accuracy, 41% Striking Accuracy, 45% Striking Defense, 3.69 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute
NOTABLE WINS: NONE
Follow me on Twitter @biketysonmma! Weigh-In Wrap up tomorrow and picks the next day. I will leave you today with the highlight reel of the Michel Pereria.
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