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411’s MMA Roundtable Preview – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Masvidal

November 28, 2015 | Posted by Dan Plunkett

WELCOME:
The UFC debuts in South Korea for a card airing live in South Korea! In the main event, Benson Henderson takes on Jorge Masvidal in a welterweight bout. In the co-main event, Dong Hyun Kim looks to get a win in his home country against Dominic Waters. Also, Sexyama returns to the cage to fight Alberto Mina. Plus, Sam Sicilia vs. Doo Ho Choi, and more!

THE STAFF:

  • He’s 411’s Jack of All Trades, Jeffrey Harris!

  • He’ll lock you in the guillotine, Robert Winfree!

  • The new guy, Lorenzo Vasquez III!

    Preliminary Card
    UFC Fight Pass
    Welterweight Bout: Dominique Steele vs. Dong Hyun Kim
    Bantamweight Bout: Ning Guangyou vs. Marco Beltran
    Flyweight Bout: Yao Zhikui vs. Fredy Serrano
    Strawweight Bout: Seo Hee Ham vs. Cortney Casey
    Lightweight Bout: Tae Hyun Bang vs. Leo Kuntz
    Featherweight Bout: Yui Chul Nam vs. Mike de la Torre
    Middleweight Bout: Dongi Yang vs. Jake Collier


    THE MAIN CARD:
    Featherweight Bout: Doo Ho Choi vs. Sam Sicilia

    Jeffrey Harris: Sam Sicilia is a tough opponent who has had some mixed results in the UFC. However, he has won his last two fights and looked very dominant in his wins over Akira Corassani and Yaotzin Meza. He faces the local South korean fighter Doo Ho Choi. Choi is 12-1, and he was victorious in his Octagon debut, defeating Juan Manual Puig by knockout less than 20 seconds in the first round, which was very impressive. A win is crucial here for Sicilia as it gets him on a three-fight winning streak and those four past losses he’s had behind him. Both men actually are quite capable knockout artists. Most of Sicilia’s UFC wins have come by knockout. Nine of Choi’s 12 wins came by way of knockout. I’m favoring Sicilia here. Choi might be tough and powerful, but I think Sicilia has more Octagon experience, plus he’s faced some tougher competition.

    Winner: Sam Sicilia, Decision

    Robert Winfree: Choi is relatively unheralded but the kid is kind of a monster, he’s riding a ten fight winning streak and eight of those are stoppage wins due to strikes. Sam Sicilia is a typical tough grinding style of featherweight, and he’s the type of fighter Choi needs to beat if he wants to get anywhere in the division. I have a hard time picking against the tough wrestler when I’ve not seen the opponent handle that style before, but Sicilia has a bad habit of being sucked into brawls and I think Choi baits him into that type of exchange and finishes him.

    Winner: Doo Ho Choi, TKO, Round 1

    Lorenzo Vasquez III: Choi is a hot prospect with excellent boxing. He has great foot movement, though he lacks head movement, and fluidity in his strikes. His takedown defense is strong and if taken down he immediately looks for the sweep or scrambles to get back to his feet. Sicilia is a heavy puncher who likes to come forward. His game is improving but, overall, it is still lacking. Sicila might get some solid shots in early but Choi is good enough to keep his pace consistent and over come Sicilia’s heavy hands. Look for Choi to get the TKO some time after the first.

    Winner: Doo Ho Choi, TKO, Round 2

    The staff picks Doo Ho Choi, 2-1.


    Welterweight Bout: Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alberto Mina

    Jeffrey Harris: Well here is another blast from the past with Akiyama on this card. In September 2014, Akiyama finally picked up his second win in the UFC over Amir Sadollah. That was after a four-fight losing streak and a two-plus year hiatus. Akiyama is now 40-years old, so his days as a relevant fighter are behind him. He’s really here to help sell this card to the Korean fans. His opponent is the undefeated 11-0 fighter Alberto Mina, who fights out of Brazil. Mina was successful in his UFC debut, beating Shinsho Anzai at UFC Fight Night 48. I could be completely off here, but I’m predicting an upset for Mina. Akiyama has never been an elite competitor and has constantly struggled in his Octagon career. Mina with the upset.

    Winner: Alberto Mina, TKO, Round 1

    Robert Winfree: I’d like to pick Akiyama here, but the reality is he just barely broke a four fight losing streak and did that by beating Amir Sadollah. Alberto Mina is unbeaten as a professional and already has his UFC debut out of the way when he stopped Shinso Anzai a little over a year ago, about the same time Akiyama last fought. This is as close to a gimme fight as Akiyama is going to get after getting a win last time, but I think he’s just too far past his prime to contend with the young hungry and talented fighters coming up in the world.

    Winner: Alberto Mina, TKO, Round 1

    Lorenzo Vasquez III: Akiyama is a Judo and grappling expert and he is way past his prime. Mina is an up and coming fighter, albeit, he isn’t young at 33-years-old. He is a decent striker and pretty accurate. He is a solid submission artist and has good scrambling abilities and can find submissions in transition. Akiyama’s striking is stiff and lacks movement. Mina can certainly take advantage of it but I feel Akiyama will get this to the ground, however, that will be his undoing as the 40-year-old eventually gets caught in a submission.

    Winner: Alberto Mina, Submission, Round 2

    The staff picks Alberto Mina, 3-0.


    Welterweight Bout: Dong Hyun Kim vs. Dominic Waters

    Jeffrey Harris: Kim’s original opponent here was in fact supposed to be Masvidal, who instead got the nod to replace Thiago Alves in the main event. One could easily ask why the higher-ranked Kim did not get that honor instead. It’s a completely valid question. I imagine from a promotional standpoint, the UFC didn’t want to book the two heavy fan favorites for this card against each other and still wanted them spread out across the main and co-main events. Kim is a great fighter who has been consistently fighting at the top 10 level in the welterweight division for several years. He faces the 9-3 Jackson/Winkeljohn MMA fighter Dominic Waters. Waters has only fought once before in the UFC, losing to George Sullivan at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale. With Masvidal out of this match-up, it looks like nothing more than a gimme win for Kim. He should be able to take care of business here easily against Waters.

    Winner: Dong Hyun Kim, TKO, Round 1

    Robert Winfree: I was picking Dong Hyun Kim to beat Jorge Masvidal, which would have been a much tougher fight than this one will be. Dominic Waters got out wrestled by George Sullivan, how do you think he’ll hold up against a grappler the caliber of Kim?

    Winner: Dong Hyun Kim, Submission, Round 1

    Lorenzo Vasquez III: Waters is taking a dramatic step up in competition and on short notice. He is an unproven prospect and was soundly beat his last fight out. I give Waters credit for stepping up, but Dong Hyun Kim may be a little too much. Kim’s grappling and high level experience will very likely destroy Waters. Anything can happen in this sport but unless Waters is someone we’ve all been sleeping on, I don’t see him winning. Kim grapples his way to a submission victory.

    Winner: Dong Hyun Kim, Submission, Round 1

    The staff picks Dong Hyun Kim, 3-0.


    Welterweight Bout: Benson Henderson vs. Jorge Masvidal

    Jeffrey Harris: This fight isn’t quite as enticing as the original match-up of Ben Henderson vs. Thiago Alves. Jorge Masvidal does have experience fighting at welterweight, and he was successful in his recent move back up to 170 pounds. Masvidal does have a pretty good record in the UFC at 6-2. Plus, he’s fought all over the world in Bellator, Strikeforce and Sengoku. Masvidal has a ton of experience, and a lot of fights under his belt, making him a formidable opponent. Masvidal tends to be a grinder, and he’s very tough and durable. He’s only been finished three times in his career, and those losses were a long time ago. Despite the change, I still favor Henderson here. Bendo looked fantastic in his move up to welterweight, and he managed to beat a much bigger and stronger-looking opponent. I think at welterweight, he probably has even more speed, and Masvidal won’t be able to keep up with his pace or activity. Bendo walks away with a win here.

    Winner: Benson Henderson, Decision

    Robert Winfree: This fight has been attempted before, at lightweight, and now we get it at welterweight after Henderson’s original opponent got injured. Benson Henderson may have just broken a two fight losing streak but he’s still a top ranked lightweight and a legitimate threat at welterweight as he’s incredibly well rounded, has a great top game and a vicious pace. Jorge Masvidal apparently got sick of cutting to lightweight and feels much more comfortable at welterweight, he won his welterweight debut by knocking out Cezar Ferreira. Masvidal is the more polished striker but Henderson is no slouch on the feet and will likely have a grappling advantage. There’s a good chance this fight goes the distance but I think we’re in for a fun fight with Henderson getting his hand raised at the end of it.

    Winner: Benson Henderson, Decision

    Lorenzo Vasquez III: It’s too bad this is a short notice fight because I’d love to see how this fight plays out with both guys having a full training camp for this particular matchup. Henderson is a strong wrestler, offensively and defensively. His clinch game is strong and his work on his feet and at range is as his nickname says “smooth.” Masvidal is a solid wrestler himself offensively and defensively. His clinch game is good, not as good as Henderson’s, but it’s strong. His striking game is solid and he works well at range. I can see Masvidal winning a decision if the fight turns into a pure striking battle. However, Henderson has a way of making fighters fall into his rhythm. I think that happens and Henderson wins a decision. It should be a good fight.

    Winner: Benson Henderson, Decision

    The staff picks Benson Henderson, 3-0.


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