Preview: UFC Fight Night 176 ‘Overeem vs. Sakai’ Prelims

Heavyweights

Alexander Romanov (11-0) vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima (17-6-1)

ODDS: Romanov (-115), Rogerio de Lima (-105)

While the main event lacks the typical heavyweight weirdness, this fight more than makes up for it. Rogerio de Lima’s run as a light heavyweight was most notable for just how fast his fights were usually over, win or lose. Thanks to the Brazilian’s combination of aggression, power and a tendency to completely implode as soon as things turned against him, “Pezao” mostly alternated first-round wins and losses until moving to heavyweight in 2018. Business figured to carry on as usual in Rogerio de Lima’s new division, but he threw everyone a curveball in his fight against Adam Wieczorek, suddenly deciding to reinvent himself as a wrestler and somehow lasting for all 15 minutes to earn a decision win. That trend surprisingly continued against Stefan Struve, as Rogerio de Lima was content to try and pound out “Skyscraper” on the mat until the Dutchman scored a second-round submission. Thankfully, at least in terms of entertainment value, “Pezao” was back to his old self in February, when he scored a quick knockout over Ben Sosoli. The most noticeable trait about Moldova’s Romanov is that he certainly lives up to his “King Kong” nickname as an absolutely massive man who is certainly trying to work his way into shape. Despite his size and frame, there are flashes of some surprising athleticism. Romanov seems to have gone to the Derrick Lewis School of Striking, offering up big flashy kicks that are not particularly effective but are still impressive for a man his size. However, the bread and butter of Romanov’s game is his grappling, as he features an interesting array of flashy suplexes and weird chokes that might just be effective because they are coming from someone of his stature. Wrestling figures to be a losing approach for Rogerio de Lima given Romanov’s size and relative skill, so the other factor involves how the Octagon newcomer responds to getting hit hard. It remains an open question due to the fact that Rogerio de Lima is the first opponent who poses any real threat. Given Rogerio de Lima’s lack of a gas tank, Romanov is worth the flier. The pick is Romanov via second-round stoppage.

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