Preview: UFC 185 ‘Pettis vs. dos Anjos’

---

FLYWEIGHTS

Chris Cariaso (17-6, 6-4 UFC) vs. Henry Cejudo (7-0, 1-0 UFC)

THE MATCHUP: Olympic gold medalist Cejudo returns to the cage following his exceptional debut against Dustin Kimura and draws former flyweight title challenger Cariaso, who was beaten like a drum by champion Demetrious Johnson in September. This is a huge opportunity for the freestyle wrestler Cejudo -- his dedication has rightly been questioned -- to demonstrate that he belongs at the highest level of the sport.

Cejudo is a freakish talent. His wrestling is obviously off the charts, but his athleticism, power and speed give him a head start as a striker, as well, which his surprising technical competence only serves to enhance. Explosive in-and-out movement is the order of the day, and when he finds his range, Cejudo drops potent combinations that he consistently finishes with low and middle kicks as his opponent circles out. As a wrestler, Cejudo’s style is perfectly suited for MMA, with an impressive arsenal of authoritatively finished singles, doubles, trips and throws in the clinch, and as you would expect, he is nearly impossible to take down. His top game is not particularly advanced, but he has great posture and strength, and he can drop bombs when he creates space.

Cariaso is well-rounded and durable, but he is an average athlete and nothing about his game really stands out relative to the division’s elite. The former title challenger boasts a solid striking repertoire from his southpaw stance, stringing together crisp if not powerful punch-kick combinations. If his opponent wants to engage in the pocket, Cariaso boasts excellent counters, particularly off caught kicks. A solid wrestler, Cariaso defends takedowns well and hits the occasional shot of his own, but he excels in the clinch. From his back, Cariaso is active, if not especially dangerous.

BETTING ODDS: Cejudo (-550), Cariaso (+425)

THE PICK: If Cejudo comes out flat or his head is not in the right place, Cariaso’s veteran poise and deep game could make those betting odds seem absurdly optimistic. That seems unlikely, however, given what we saw in the Olympian’s UFC debut. The difference in speed and athleticism is almost comical here, and I expect Cejudo to land hard shots at range and mix up powerful takedowns. The pick is Cejudo by dominant decision.

Last Fights » The Prelims