David Teymur in a clash of lightweight prospects on Saturday night’s UFC 218 card in Detroit, he expects to have some support there from family and friends in South Haven, Michigan.

How much support?

“Hopefully, my whole town,” he laughs, but in all seriousness, when talking about ticket requests and messages he received about the fight, it wouldn’t be surprising if the 4,000-plus residents of the city make the three-hour trip to see the unbeaten Klose fight. And that would be a welcome sight for the 29-year-old, who takes where he comes from seriously.

“Michigan is a tough, gritty state,” he said. “Michigan molded me into the man I am. Arizona just sharpened me and polished me up. So it means everything to go back there and compete in front of them. I’ve dedicated my whole life in wrestling out there in Michigan, entertaining people then, and now I can do it on a much larger stage in the UFC and give back to the people that gave me so much.”

In Arizona since 2011, Klose discovered mixed martial arts in the southwest and hasn’t looked back since, but he never forgot where he came from. And if you forgot, a tattoo of the state on his chest will remind you. So it was a no brainer to put him on Saturday’s card, especially since he’s a fighter on the rise after back-to-back wins over Devin Powell and Marc Diakiese.

RELATED: UFC 218 Fight By Fight Preview | Order UFC 218 Pay-Per-View 

July’s fight with Diakiese was particularly telling, as it matched up two unbeaten lightweights with a high upside in the division, and after a heated build-up to the bout, it was Klose who upset the Brit via split decision. But as far as it being the most important win of his career, Klose opts to take a wrestling approach to such an idea.

Frankie Edgar, who had come close to championships on the mat but just fell short, only to finally strike gold as a mixed martial artist. It’s the perfect example for Klose to follow, and the MMA Lab standout was looking forward to fighting on the same card as Edgar before “The Answer” was forced from the UFC 218 main event due to injury. But just being on the same show as one of the sport’s greats wasn’t the sole reason why Klose was excited.

“Back in high school we would go do camps at Clarion University, and he (Edgar) was my camp counselor,” he said. “So it would have been great to fight on the same card as him. He was an awesome dude.”

Shows what a small world MMA can be, and also how something that happened years ago can come back in the oddest of ways. Drakkar Klose never knew that this was his destination when he left South Haven, he just wanted to get out of the cold. Now he’s one of the top prospects in the sport and about to show everybody in Michigan that you can go home again.

#1 UFC Heavyweight Alistair Overeem joins Jim and Matt in-studio and talks about his upcoming UFC 218 fight against rising star Francis Ngannou, past fights with Mirko Cro Cop, Badr Hari, and Brock Lesnar, what Jon Jones is up to, and much more. Before that, „The Karate Hottie“, Michelle Waterson, calls in and discusses her bout with Tecia Torres at UFC 218, wanting a rematch with Rose Namajunas, rebounding from losses, and more. Plus, the guys break down the action from Shanghai this past weekend.

Full Episode

Michelle on Rose vs. Joanna

Michelle on Tecia Torres as an opponent

Michelle on rebounding from a loss to become a better fighter

Alistair has been fighting „murderers“ for two decades

Alistair on what keeps him motivated

Alistair on having fun going into the Octagon

Alistair on Francis Ngannou as an opponent

Alistair on Jon Jones

Terrion Ware. But will he still be “Sugar” Sean as the crowd and platform gets even bigger?

“I think the bigger the show and the more people, the better it is for me,” he said. “I thrive on that and I love that. I would rather fight in a bigger show with more people with Dana in front of me. That’s where I want to fight and that’s how I’ve been my whole life. That’s what I want. So I think it’s just gonna benefit me more.”

It’s the answer you expect from the 23-year-old, who took over the MMA world for a minute after his win over Khashakyan, and while the Summer of Sugar may have given way to a more sedate fall season, there is no dip in the confidence level of O’Malley heading into the latest “biggest fight” of his career. In fact, it’s business as usual for a fighter who hasn’t seen life change too much for him since earning his first UFC contract.

“My girl and I bought a house, so that’s a big change, but other than that, I’m still training, and life’s pretty much been the same,” he said. And while Ware and the rest of the up and comers on the bantamweight roster will love to get a crack at the kid who got so much attention over the last few months, O’Malley doesn’t feel like there will be too many potential opponents lining up after they see this week’s bout.

RELATED: Watch O’Malley On The Ultimate Fighter Finale December 1st on FS1

“I don’t know if there’s a target on my back,” he said. “I haven’t really felt that or seen it on social media or anything. I think after this fight, I don’t know if there will be a target on my back because I don’t think people are gonna really want to fight me. They’re gonna see how fast I am, how good my eyes are, and my skill level.”

His eyes?

“It’s important, especially for my style,” O’Malley explains. “If I can keep it standing, that’s where I want to keep it, and once I fight a wrestler, they’re gonna be shooting in on me and they’re going to be opening themselves up for getting knocked out. Even strikers too. I feel like I see everyone’s stuff coming, and I feel like I’m gonna be super hard to hit for a lot of these guys. My eyes are just too fast. I see what they’re doing and see where I need to be.”

That kind of vision has nothing to do with the speed and reflexes of youth. That’s a gift you either have or you don’t. O’Malley started realizing he had it when he began training with his MMA Lab teammates in Arizona.

“I came to The Lab and I was doing pretty good against some of the UFC guys in there as an amateur, and I think it was just natural,” he said. “I was seeing a lot of things in there. I still get hit – obviously everyone gets hit – but if I do get hit, it’s barely. And once I turned pro and started realizing that, it felt like I was a step ahead of people and it boosted my confidence and it’s helped my game evolve a lot.”

Now 8-0 as a pro, O’Malley is still young in life and his career, but he’s had no reason to think that things won’t keep going the way they have when he faces Ware.

“I feel like it’s a chess match and I’m a step ahead in the striking department and every time I fight, I think it’s gonna be a good night for me. I feel like I’m gonna go in there, pick this dude apart and end up knocking him out. That’s how I felt every fight, that’s pretty much what happens every fight, and I think no different about this fight.”

Eight wins, six finishes, five knockouts. Yeah, things are right on schedule for the man in charge of “The Sugar Show.” Just like he planned it.

“At a young age I felt like I was gonna do something big,” O’Malley said. “I didn’t know what it was gonna be. I remember being in seventh grade and thinking I was gonna be in the NFL, but at a young age I always thought I was gonna be something great, and I kind of went with that. I feel like I was born to be something special and everything’s happened perfectly.”

For the first time in seven years, the UFC lands in Detroit this weekend with a featherweight title fight pitting champion Max Holloway against the greatest 145-pound fighter in history, as Jose Aldo attempts to take back the title on Saturday.

Holloway defeated Aldo by third-round TKO back in June, but now the Brazilian will attempt to win back the championship. Holloway has looked unstoppable during his current win streak, but can he beat Aldo in back-to-back fights?

Also on the card will be fast rising heavyweight superstar Francis Ngannou, as he takes on by far the toughest test of his career in former title challenger Alistair Overeem. UFC 218 will also feature a battle between former Ultimate Fighter coaches when Eddie Alvarez takes on Justin Gaethje in a matchup that just screams Fight of the Night.

In our fantasy preview today, we’ll examine these fights and several more to see who has the edge going into Saturday night and if someone might be primed for the upset at UFC 218: Holloway vs. Aldo 2.

SPLIT DECISION

These are the fights that are just too close to call, but a few minor differences between favorite and underdog could lead one fighter to victory and the other to defeat.

Max Holloway vs. Jose Aldo

Max Holloway will attempt to make the first successful defense of his title against the man he beat to win it as Jose Aldo tries to become a three-time featherweight champion. In their last fight, Aldo looked good early, using a strong Muay Thai striking attack to keep Holloway guessing, but he couldn’t weather the storm from the Hawaiian over the course of the next two rounds until he was finished by strikes on the ground.

To win the rematch, Aldo not only has to look as good as he did in the opening round of their first fight, but he has to be able to pace himself to win all the way through to the final horn. Aldo is obviously one of the most elite strikers the sport has ever known, and he has a variety of combinations on the feet. Aldo can also explode forward with huge kicks and big knee strikes if he finds an opening. In the last fight, Aldo barely threw any leg kicks, so that could be a big weapon for him this time around as he’ll look to chop Holloway down by taking away his foundation early and then head hunting in the later rounds.

What Aldo absolutely cannot do is stand directly in front of Holloway and allow the featherweight champion to pick him apart like last time.

Holloway is a long, rangy striker on the feet with incredible volume and relentless pressure that doesn’t stop from the time the fight starts until the referee signals for the end. He will come after Aldo with a lot of confidence considering the punches he took the last time that didn’t deter him as he kept on moving forward until he got the finish. Holloway isn’t a one-punch knockout striker, but instead he uses volume to punish an opponent round after round and, stylistically, that might be the worst possible matchup for Aldo, who has rarely had to defend that kind of attack during his reign as champion.

Holloway just needs to protect his lead leg in case Aldo begins chopping away at him early. Assuming he can do that, Holloway can begin to punish Aldo on the feet as the second and third rounds start ticking away. The longer this fight goes, the more it favors Holloway and he has to know that. Plus, Aldo has fought in nothing but five-round fights his entire career in the UFC, but he was just preparing for a three-round bout against Ricardo Lamas before he got the call for this main event a few weeks earlier. If Aldo’s conditioning begins to fail him at some point into the third round or beyond, Holloway will take over and won’t stop until the fight is finished.

Prediction: Max Holloway by TKO, Round 4

Alistair Overeem vs. Francis Ngannou

In a clash that could determine the next No. 1 contender in the heavyweight division, Alistair Overeem will look to slow down the hype train speeding at him named Francis Ngannou.

RELATED: UFC 218 Fight By Fight Preview | Order The UFC 218 Pay-Per-View | UFC 218 Tickets

Henry Cejudo vs. Sergio Pettis

Demetrious Johnson. The former Olympic gold medalist in wrestling obviously has the grappling chops to go with anybody on the ground in the UFC, but Cejudo has taken huge strides when it comes to his kickboxing and that will serve him well facing someone as quick and powerful as Pettis on the feet.

Pettis has enjoyed the best run of his UFC career as of late, including a punishing performance over Brandon Moreno in his last fight. Pettis is best known for his world-class striking, but he shows no fear going to the ground with anybody in the UFC and that includes Cejudo. Pettis is fast and elusive on the feet, so he won’t give Cejudo a stationary target to hit. With a five-inch reach advantage, Pettis will be smart to keep Cejudo on the end of his punches and stuff whatever takedowns might be thrown at him.

For Cejudo, the key is getting inside and making Pettis pay with big, powerful shots to the head and body. Cejudo’s boxing has gotten so much better in recent months, and as long as he stays technically sound with good defense as well, he could give Pettis a lot of problems on the feet. While Pettis will be recognized as the higher-level striker on paper, Cejudo’s boxing skills and hand speed have been remarkable in recent fights. Mix in a possible takedown or two to keep Pettis guessing and this could be a showcase performance as Cejudo looks to get another shot at that flyweight title.

Prediction: Henry Cejudo by unanimous decision

Charles Oliveira vs. Paul Felder

Charles Oliveira stepped up on short notice to accept this fight with Paul Felder, and this matchup has all the makings of an instant classic.

While Oliveira has bounced up and down between weight classes a lot during his UFC career, he may still be best suited for lightweight, where he picked up a win over Will Brooks earlier this year. Oliveira is a long, dangerous striker with devastating knees and elbows, as well as a nasty ground game where he’s wrapped up a number of submission wins in the UFC. Oliveira might have one of the best guillotine chokes in the business, so the last thing Felder can afford to do is get caught in that submission during the fight.

As for Felder, he remains one of the most exciting lightweights on the roster, with a punishing style on the feet where he blasts away at his opponents with big, powerful shots from the inside or out. Working with head coach Duke Roufus has really brought Felder’s striking to another level in recent performances, where he’s now won his last two fights, both by knockout. Now Felder has to be careful with his aggressive attacks because Oliveira is very dangerous with his counter strikes and that’s also where he will likely look to wrap up a submission like the guillotine choke. It only takes one mistake from Felder ducking his head down for Oliveira to latch on to him like an octopus until he drains the life out of his opponent.

This fight really comes down to Felder’s ability to stay standing and unleash his powerful striking combinations on the feet. As long as he can keep his distance and then work inside by punishing Oliveira with strikes, Felder has a great chance to put a stop to this fight before the final horn. Felder is bigger and stronger and he only needs one big shot to land to finish Oliveira over the course of three rounds. Oliveira won’t go away easy, however, and Felder can ill afford to make any mistakes or he might wind up with a loss on his record, wondering what just happened.

Prediction: Paul Felder by TKO, Round 3

KNOCKOUT PICKS

These are the fights that appear to be a little more one-sided, but remember that this is MMA, where anything can – and usually does – happen.

Tecia Torres vs. Michelle Waterson

Rose Namajunas last year, Tecia Torres has turned things around with two wins in a row, including a rear naked choke submission to put away Juliana Lima earlier this year. Torres has found new confidence since moving teams as she now trains full-time in Colorado with a training camp built around her needs for the upcoming fight. Torres has definitely benefitted from the change in scenery and she’s looked better than ever lately. Torres is blindingly fast on the feet, with stinging combinations that hit from all angles, and while she’s not the hardest-hitting fighter on the roster, she puts together a volume-based attack that’s hard to defend over three rounds.

Waterson is obviously well versed on the feet as well, coming from a karate background, but she’s actually looked better on the ground in the UFC. That being said, Waterson will show no fear exchanging strikes with Torres, but she might struggle to keep up with the sheer output the former Ultimate Fighter competitor will use over three rounds. Waterson is crafty and creative, but it’s in the fundamentals where Torres seems to be the stronger fighter on the feet in this matchup.

Of course, anything can happen in a fight, but as long as Torres can control the pace in this matchup where she lands two more significant strikes per minute than her opponent while showcasing incredible defense on the feet – 20 percentage points higher than Waterson, to be exact – she should be able to add up a lot of damage over three rounds to earn the victory.

Prediction: Tecia Torres by unanimous decision

Felice Herrig vs. Cortney Casey

Felice Herrig has put together the best winning streak of her career lately in the UFC and she’ll look to add one more win to her resume as she faces Cortney Casey this weekend in Detroit.

Herrig has always been considered a tough out at strawweight, but lately she’s really putting everything together – from her striking to grappling – and it’s resulted in three wins in a row as she’s started to climb up the rankings in recent months. Herrig is always regarded as a striker as she comes from a background in Muay Thai kickboxing, but her ground game is no joke. Herrig is stifling on the mat and she’s very good at catching her opponents in the scramble. Herrig is strong and versatile no matter where this fight goes and that’s going to give her the upper hand against a lot of opponents.

Casey will present some problems for Herrig, especially if she can keep this fight standing. Casey lands with a higher volume striking game, with more than four significant shots landed per minute. Plus, Casey will have a height and reach advantage, so she may give Herrig some trouble if she can keep the former Ultimate Fighter competitor at the end of her punches. That being said, Casey doesn’t typically fight at a distance, but rather looks to punish her opponents from the inside and that could give Herrig some openings in this fight.

Look for Herrig to pick her spots and take whatever Casey gives her over three rounds. That could mean Herrig looking to beat Casey to the punch with her speed and versatility on the feet or just out grappling her should this fight hit the mat. Make no mistake, Casey won’t fade away easily in this fight, but Herrig simply has more ways to win and the momentum she’s carrying right now should earn her a top five opponent sooner rather than later.

Prediction: Felice Herrig by unanimous decision

UPSET SPECIAL

Justin Gaethje vs. Eddie Alvarez

Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez. It may not seem likely that Alvarez will try to grind his way to victory against Gaethje, but he absolutely has that ability.

Alvarez is a bruising lightweight with power in his hands and an incredible chin and those will both be necessary weapons in this fight.

Gaethje is a force of nature whenever he steps into a fight because he hits like a truck and doesn’t slow down from the time the referee releases him from the corner until the final horn sounds. Gaethje makes no secret what he likes to do best – come after his opponents with a brutal, high paced offensive onslaught that is just relentless. Of course, Gaethje’s tendency to come forward with somewhat reckless abandon can get him into trouble and that’s where Alvarez’s experience against the best of the best in the UFC’s lightweight division will help him in this fight.

That being said, Gaethje may look like he’s throwing caution to the wind most times because he tends to eat as many shots as he fires back in return, but his ability to take a punch in order to give a punch is a deadly weapon for him. There may be a day when Gaethje can no longer count on his granite chin to save him in those rapid fire exchanges, but for now he’s still got bricks for fists and a head to match. Gaethje might get hit, but when he returns fire, no one has been able to absorb his punches over the course of a fight. That adds up to Gaethje eventually finding a home for a big shot that will put Alvarez away.

Prediction: Justin Gaethje by knockout, Round 2

UFC women’s strawweight contender Michelle Waterson made a surprise appearance on Steve TV, comedian Steve Harvey’s new television show. Harvey and „The Karate Hottie“ discuss her upcoming fight against Tecia Torres at UFC 218 and she even teaches Harvey a new move.

MAX HOLLOWAY VS JOSE ALDO
Give credit to Max Holloway for not blinking when Jose Aldo was brought in as the replacement for the injured Frankie Edgar in this Saturday’s UFC 218 main event. The way he sees it, that’s what champions do – fight everybody, even if it’s for the second time in a calendar year. So does Aldo reverse the result of their first bout, or will Holloway score an even more decisive victory in the rematch? It’s a tough one to call, because while true superstars like Aldo always have one great fight left in them, it’s clear that Holloway is a young man who has plenty of those remaining before he reaches the twilight of his career, and he may just pull one out of his hat in order to put an end to his series with the future Hall of Famer.

ALISTAIR OVEREEM VS FRANCIS NGANNOU
In five UFC fights, Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou has done everything asked of him, and in spectacular fashion to boot. On Saturday, it’s his big step-up bout against number one contender Alistair Overeem, and he could secure a shot at heavyweight boss Stipe Mioic with a victory. But is it too much too soon for Ngannou? Despite being 37 years old, Overeem has won six of his last seven, including two in a row over Mark Hunt and Fabricio Werdum. He’s also been more patient as of late, making the idea of Ngannou catching him asleep at the wheel not too likely. This is a pick ‘em fight and the one that could be a coronation for “The Predator” or the sign that he needs more seasoning.

HENRY CEJUDO VS SERGIO PETTIS
While flyweight boss Demetrious Johnson will be watching this battle between top contenders Henry Cejudo (#2) and Sergio Pettis (#4) closely, so should the UFC fanbase, because the potential is there for a barnburner at 125 pounds. Yes, conventional wisdom says that Ceujdo should use his wrestling attack to ground and control Pettis, but with the crisp boxing “The Messenger” showed in his recent win over Wilson Reis, a standup battle would not only help Cejudo make a case for another shot at DJ, but it would give us all an enjoyable scrap to watch, and why can’t we be selfish sometimes?

EDDIE ALVAREZ VS JUSTIN GAETHJE
The Fight of the Night candidates are plentiful on Saturday’s card, but if you’re a betting man or woman, the smart money is on Eddie Alvarez and Justin Gaethje leaving Detroit with an extra check. The proof is on the resumes of both lightweights, and an old school attacking attitude is shared as well. Gaethje may have sewn up Fight of the Year honors for his debut win over Michael Johnson, but if any fight can threaten that one, it’s Alvarez-Gaethje.

TECIA TORRES VS MICHELLE WATERSON
Rose Namajunas when she takes on the first person to defeat the new strawweight champion, Tecia Torres. Those storylines run throughout this matchup, and while the win is important to both fighters, if Torres makes it three straight on Saturday, the big storyline for 2018 would be a rubber match with “Thug Rose” for the title.

CHARLES OLIVEIRA VS PAUL FELDER
ALEX OLIVEIRA VS YANCY MEDEIROS
I’m going to put these next two together because, to me, they’re the same great, impossible to pick, fights. Paul Felder has been showing the best form of his career in 2017, and with the Roufusport team behind him, “The Irish Dragon” is more confident than ever. But Charles Oliveira is one of the most dangerous submission artists in the sport, and if he can catch Felder napping, it can be over in a matter of seconds. Alex Oliveira vs Yancy Medeiros is more of a Fight of the Night type bout, but given the ability of both welterweights to end fights on the feet or the mat, it all comes down to who makes the first mistake, because when and if that mistake happens, the other guy will most certainly capitalize.

DAVID TEYMUR VS DRAKKAR KLOSE
Both Drakkar Klose and David Teymur seemingly came out of nowhere to score big wins over high-profile opponents in their recent bouts, and now after defeating Marc Diakiese and Lando Vannata, respectively, they meet each other in a classic grappler vs. striker showdown. Adding to the intrigue between these lightweight prospects is the fact that Klose is fighting at home in Michigan, and as in any clash of styles like this, the fighter who can make the other fight his fight will likely be the winner.

RELATED: On The Rise – UFC 218 Edition | Order UFC 218 | Rising Stars – Francis Ngannou

FELICE HERRIG VS CORTNEY CASEY
One of the most interesting bouts on the card takes place in the strawweight division, as surging veteran Felice Herrig puts her three-fight winning streak on the line against always exciting Cortney Casey. Herrig has looked great since her loss to Paige VanZant in 2015, but Casey is one of the toughest outs in the division, and her May win over Jessica Aguilar may have been the start of a big run for “Cast Iron” Casey.

SABAH HOMASI VS ABDUL RAZAK ALHASSAN
Omari Akhmedov, and while he lost a split decision, he picked up some valuable lessons that he will likely bring to the Octagon against TUF 21 alum. Then again, if Homasi wants to trade with the Ghana native, Alhassan will be more than happy to lower the boom like he did on his first seven foes.

JEREMY KIMBALL VS DOMINICK REYES
A great reason to make sure your UFC FIGHT PASS subscription is up to date is the light heavyweight meeting between hot prospects Jeremy Kimball and Dominick Reyes. Both fighters are coming off Performance of the Night knockouts on the same Oklahoma City card in June, and now it’s time for them to test each other’s chin on a big card in the Motor City. This should be fun for as long as it lasts.

JUSTIN WILLIS VS ALLEN CROWDER
Who would think the heavyweights would be having a clash between two guys with “Pretty” monikers, but that’s the case Saturday when the “Big Pretty,” Justin Willis, faces Allen “Pretty Boy” Crowder. Don’t expect to see those nicknames reflect what’s going to happen in 15 minutes or less, though, as these two specialize in getting into the trenches and picking up a win by any means necessary. So if it gets ugly at times, so be it.

AMANDA COOPER VS ANGELA MAGANA

Fight Night Shanghai Scorecard

By admin -

27. novembra 2017

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Michael Bisping, the topic of him moving from middleweight back to welterweight came up, and he admitted that while he still had some unfinished business at 170 pounds, he knew that the more that he kept winning at 185, odds were that he would stay in his current division. Well, knocking out the former middleweight champ in less than a round is a pretty good indication that Gastelum’s title run will come at 185, and if he has his way, that shot at the belt will take place early next year against interim titleholder Robert Whittaker. It’s impossible not to like that fight, and if “The Reaper” needs a dance partner, why not Gastelum, who looks like he can hang with – and potentially beat – anyone in the weight class.

2 – Li Jingliang
RELATED: Shanghai Fantasy Rewind | Gastelum Calls Out Whittaker

3 – Zabit Magomedsharipov
Mike Santiago and Sheymon Moraes, if Zabit Magomedsharipov isn’t on your short list of favorite new UFC fighters, why the heck not? That’s it. Simple question. Because I can’t see how anyone can watch the dynamic Dagestan native do his thing on the feet and the mat on fight night and not just say, ‘Ah, so that’s what MMA is all about.’ Magomedsharipov is fun to watch, he’s seemingly fearless out there in terms of his willingness to try anything to get the win, and he’s always looking to finish. I’d put him in with anyone in the featherweight division right now, and while he may not beat everybody, I’d give him a damn good shot at doing it, and oh what fights they would be.

4 – Alex Garcia
Ben Wall in 2013, we’ve only seen glimpses of that potential. Saturday’s win over highly regarded newcomer Muslim Salikhov may have been a turning point for “The Dominican Nightmare,” though. Sticking to a rock solid game plan, Garcia dominated Salikhov before finishing the bout via second-round submission, and if he can keep this momentum going, he’s going to be a threat at 170 pounds.

5 – Song Yadong

On the Rise: UFC 218 Edition

By admin -

27. novembra 2017

0

Jeremy Kimball, who rebounded from a loss in his short-notice debut to earn a Performance of the Night bonus in his sophomore stoppage win over Josh Stansbury on the same fight card. With their timelines in sync and their careers on a similar trajectory, pairing the two aspiring light heavyweights was an easy decision.

While a spot on the list of contenders is still a couple victories away, a win for Reyes here could further expedite his rise up the rankings. A two-time all-conference defensive back at Stony Brook University, he has the size and athleticism to potentially be a force in the cage and if he can up his winning streak to eight, Reyes should get a good, long look against some established competition in early 2018.

Justin Willis

After agreeing to face Marcin Tybura on short notice at UFC 208 only to have the bout scratched due to medical issues on the eve of the fight, “Big Pretty” finally made his Octagon debut in July, venturing to Glasgow to collect a unanimous decision win over James Mulheron.

Now the 30-year-old American Kickboxing Academy representative looks to make it two straight in the UFC as he takes on Allen Crowder.

Like Reyes, Willis played college football before transitioning to mixed martial arts, manning the defensive line at San Jose State University. A big man (even for heavyweight) with surprising mobility and quickness, the 5-1 sophomore showed flashes of potential in his win over Mulheron and has the potential to make great strides between appearances given that he’s getting training reps alongside the likes of light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold and former heavyweight kingpin Cain Velasquez in San Jose.

The bottom half of the heavyweight division is in a perpetual state of flux and a couple strong showings is all it takes to climb into the Top 15 and earn a chance to make a significant impact. Willis got started down that path with his victory in Glasgow and if he can follow it up with a second win here, he could be in line for a promotion in the not too distant future.

Curtis Blaydes, Crowder is the more seasoned and experienced fighter in his matchup with Willis and should use that to his advantage.

There is nothing in particular that stands out about Crowder’s game, but I don’t say that as a slight; he’s a high-motor grinder that is going to take his lumps and keep coming forward, never letting off the gas. It has carried him to the biggest stage in the sport and could very well carry him into the Top 15 in the next year or two as well.

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