Preview: UFC 180 ‘Werdum vs. Hunt’

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FEATHERWEIGHTS

Ricardo Lamas (14-3, 5-1 UFC) vs. Dennis Bermudez (14-3, 7-1 UFC)

THE MATCHUP: Former title challenger Lamas looks to put together a winning streak that will carry him back into contention. He faces rising talent Bermudez, a New Yorker who is riding a nearly unthinkable seven-fight winning streak in the stacked featherweight division, with the most recent victory a submission finish over durable veteran Clay Guida in July. This should be an outstanding fight, and the winner will have a strong claim to a high-level opponent in his next outing.

Bermudez, a ridiculously strong and athletic physical specimen, has evolved greatly since coming up short against Diego Brandao and become the prototype of the next-generation wrestle-boxer in the process. He employs a pressure game that focuses on outstanding offensive output in the form of Dutch-style punch-kick combinations at range, complete with lovely angles and big power in his hands and low kicks. He has a gift for infighting and throws vicious knees from the Thai clinch, which he combines with wrestling-style snapdowns and use of the front headlock. He is almost impossible to get to the mat, and his takedowns tend to be powerful, high-amplitude slams.

From top position, he employs potent strikes, passes and sneaky submissions. The only problem is his striking defense, which comes and goes and renders him more hittable than he needs to be; and when Bermudez gets hit, he tends to get absolutely tagged.

Lamas is a hard fighter to peg. He is well-rounded in the sense that he can do a little bit of everything, but his only really plus skill set is his top game, and he lacks the top-notch wrestling acumen necessary to enforce that facet against skilled defensive wrestlers. His striking is adequate, with a nice mixture of single punches and sneaky kicks, but he lacks combination work or much in the way of consistent volume. Lamas does not have a particularly explosive shot and is not the world’s most accomplished defensive wrestler, but he is a solid infighter who can grind away in the clinch and throw sharp knees. His top game is outstanding, as Lamas can do enormous damage even from inside the guard, and he also has a few topside submissions in his arsenal.

THE PICK: This is a brutal matchup for Lamas. He has a hard time winning fights if he does not win the takedown battle, and Bermudez owns the second-best takedown defense in the division after champion Jose Aldo. Moreover, despite Lamas’ obvious skill as a striker, he does not throw nearly enough volume, and output is one of Bermudez’s real strengths. The New Yorker will hit Lamas early and often, stuff his takedowns with shocking ease and knock him out in the second round.

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