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411’s MMA Roundtable Preview – UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. The Korean Zombie
WELCOME:
The Korean Zombie is back! For the first time in more than three years, Chan Sung Jung steps into the cage when he faces Dennis Bermudez in the main event of UFC Fight Night! In the co-main event, fast-rising Alexa Grasso takes on Felice Herrig. At lightweight, Abel Trujillo battles James Vick. In light heavyweight action, Ovince Saint Preux fights Volkan Oezdemir. Plus, Anthony Hamilton faces Marcel Fortuna, Jessica Andrade vs. Angela Hill, and more!
THE STAFF:
https://youtu.be/39fceGQePiY
Preliminary Card
UFC Fight Pass
Light Heavyweight Bout: Daniel Jolly vs. Khalil Rountree
Welterweight Bout: Alex Morono vs. Niko Price
Fox Sports 1
Catch-weight (117.5 lbs.) Bout: Tecia Torres vs. Bec Rawlings
Bantamweight Bout: Ricardo Ramos vs. Michinori Tanaka
Featherweight Bout: Chas Skelly vs. Chris Gruetzemacher
Heavyweight Bout: Adam Milstead vs. Curtis Blaydes
THE MAIN CARD:
Strawweight Bout: Jessica Andrade vs. Angela Hill
Robert Winfree: Jessica Andrade, TKO, Round 2
Jeffrey Harris: Jessica Andrade, TKO, Round 1
Dan Plunkett: Andrade, Submission, Round 2
The staff picks Jessica Andrade, 3-0.
Heavyweight Bout: Anthony Hamilton vs. Marcel Fortuna
Robert Winfree: Anthony Hamilton, TKO, Round 1
Jeffrey Harris: Anthony Hamilton, TKO, Round 1
Dan Plunkett: Fortuna, Submission, Round 2
The staff picks Anthony Hamilton, 2-1.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Ovince Saint Preux vs. Volkan Oezdemir
Robert Winfree: This is kind of a get well fight for Saint Preux, who fought Jon Jones and Jimi Manuwa back to back and also has a loss to Glover Teixeira. Saint Preux doesn’t seem like he’ll be getting over the hump in the UFC towards the top of the division, but again he’s getting kind of a gimme here. Volkan Oezdemir is making his UFC debut and while he might be a really good light heavyweight who’s just been flying under the radar Saint Preux is the known quantity here.
Winner: Ovince Saint Preux, TKO, Round 1
Jeffrey Harris: The way this fight turned out, it’s basically a get well comeback fight for Ovince Saint Preux. OSP has lost a couple of fights, so this is more of a soft touch to give him a solid win to keep him on the roster. I see OSP dominating this one and ultimately walking away with a win.
Winner: Ovince Saint Preux, TKO, Round 1
Dan Plunkett: Volkan is powerful and his name looks like Volk Han, so he has a chance. However, Ovince Saint Preux should be too much for this late replacement.
Winner: OSP, TKO, Round 1
The staff picks Ovince Saint Preux, 3-0.
Lightweight Bout: Abel Trujillo vs. James Vick
Robert Winfree: This fight isn’t getting a whole lot of attention but it’s a solid fight. James Vick is a really long and tall lightweight who just suffered the first loss of his career. Vick has a pretty good guard and if he fights long he’ll trouble Trujillo here. Trujillo has murderous power but sloppy technique, he excels in brawls or at stopping takedowns and punishing the attempt. The key to this fight is distance, if Trujillo can force this into boxing range he can find Vick’s chin and has a good chance to finish him from there while if Vick keeps this long he can just avoid Trujillo’s offense and pick him apart. I’m leaning towards Trujillo here as Vick hasn’t displayed a great ability to either move his head or keep distance.
Winner: Abel Trujillo, TKO, Round 1
Jeffrey Harris: This is a very good fight. Abel Trujillo is a very violent and dangerous striker. James Vick is more of a grinder and a wrestler. I like Trujillo in this fight. He usually does well against wrestlers, and he rarely loses inside the Octagon. I’m picking him to put Vick away in this one.
Winner: Abel Trujillo, TKO, Round 1
Dan Plunkett: The size difference in this fight will be interesting. Trujillo is really powerful and his explosive bursts will look to counter Vick’s consistent output. Vick will have to work hard and survive to win this one. Ultimately, I see Trujillo as having more ways to win.
Winner: Trujillo, TKO, Round 2
The staff picks Abel Trujillo, 3-0.
Strawweight Bout: Alexa Grasso vs. Felice Herrig
Robert Winfree: This is another pretty solid fight, Alexa Grasso had a pretty good UFC debut and a great run in Invicta. Grasso is a sharp boxer with an under appreciated clinch game, while Herrig is a close fighter who tries to get takedowns from the clinch and exploit top position. If Herrig were a strong wrestler she’d have a better shot at getting Grasso down, but most of her grappling game comes from the clinch and I’m not sure she’ll have a lot of success there, and at distance Grasso’s sharp jab and combination work should give her an edge. This will tell us more about Grasso’s improvement and possible ceiling in the UFC, but I think it’s a test she passes.
Winner: Alexa Grasso, Decision
Jeffrey Harris: Felice Herrig is a solid and experienced veteran of the sport. That being said, I don’t see any tools in her tool belt that will be able to overcome the undefeated fighter Alexa Grasso. Grasso is going to dominate Herrig for every round of this fight in every area. Grasso gets another win and continues to move up the ranks.
Winner: Alexa Grasso, Decision
Dan Plunkett: UFC is looking to make Grasso a star, and she’s off to a good start. Herrig is a good challenge here. She’s a good striker than can challenge the young Grasso on the feet, and she’s a more experienced grappler as well. However, I think Grasso’s speed will give her the edge on the feet and in the fight.
Winner: Grasso, Decision
The staff picks Alexa Grasso, 3-0.
Featherweight Bout: Dennis Bermudez vs. Chan Sung Jung
Robert Winfree: Nice to see The Korean Zombie back. Jung hasn’t fought since he was stopped by Jose Aldo way back in 2013, part of that was injury related by the majority was his mandatory two years of military service. Still, that’s a heck of a lay off and has to be considered. Dennis Bermudez is a solid enough featherweight, he’s got decent power and a good wrestling/top game. I’m rooting for Jung, but given that layoff and the level of opposition he’s facing I’m picking Bermudez.
Winner: Dennis Bermudez, Decision
Jeffrey Harris: The Korean Zombie Chan Sung Jung makes his long-awaited return to the Octagon after completing his military service work. I like this fight. It’s not a huge fight, but you have an underrated featherweight fighter in Dennis Bermudez against a returning fan favorite in the Korean Zombie. Dennis Bermudez isn’t unbeatable, but he’s a pretty solid athlete and fighter. He’s well rounded, with decent striking, good wrestling and grappling. Plus, Jung has just been away from the sport for so long. It’s hard to believe he’s not going to have any type of ring rust for this one. Bermudez takes the win here.
Winner: Dennis Bermudez, Decision
Dan Plunkett: I have a really hard time picking a guy that hasn’t fought in three-and-a-half years. That’s the kind of layoff where if the Korean Zombie has a bad performance, you can’t take it as a serious indicator of where he’s at in his career. Bermudez is a very good and tough fighter, hardly the guy to ease the Zombie back in against.
Winner: Bermudez, TKO, Round 4
The staff picks Dennis Bermduez, 3-0.
Remember to join 411’s coverage of UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. Korean Zombie on Saturday!
