UFC 149 ‘Faber vs. Barao’ Preview

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Welterweights

Chris Clements (11-4, 1-0 UFC) vs. Matt Riddle (6-3, 6-3 UFC)

The Matchup: A bout that originally began as Thiago Alves versus Yoshihiro Akiyama has gradually evolved into a showdown between Clements and Riddle, with Siyar Bahadurzada withdrawing along the way. It is a pairing that is typical of the injury-riddled UFC 149 lineup, but what it lacks in star power it makes up for in entertainment potential.

Much of how the bout goes depends on Riddle’s approach. Considering his wrestling background, most of “The Ultimate Fighter 7” alum’s opponents should be exposed to a steady diet of top control and ground-and-pound. Of course, that is not always the case. Riddle faced Henry Martinez, a natural lightweight, in his last outing, but instead of using his size advantage, “Deep Waters” elected to stand and trade with his opponent. He got the worst of the exchanges for the majority of two rounds, but a late flurry at the end of the second frame coupled with some takedowns over the final five minutes carried Riddle to a split-decision victory.

If Riddle avoids any semblance of a game plan and simply throws bombs against Clements, he could be in for a long night. The Team Tompkins representative displayed a versatile striking arsenal against Keith Wisniewski in his Octagon debut. “The Menace” was able to get inside on his taller opponent and connect with strong right hands, and he also displayed a creative side, throwing spinning back fists and flashy kicks when the opportunity presented itself. He also varies the levels of his attacks, mixing strikes to the legs, head and body to keep his foes off balance. In addition, the tae kwon do black belt has nasty elbows in close.

Riddle should note that when Clements was taken down at UFC 145, he surrendered position rather easily on the mat. Someone with Riddle’s credentials and experience should be able to take advantage of that, using his limited standup as a means to close distance.

The Pick: There is always the possibility that we see Riddle winging punches desperately in a slugfest with a more skilled striker. If that happens, this bout becomes Clements’ to lose. However, the guess here is that, in his 10th UFC appearance, Riddle eventually uses his tools and grinds out a decision victory.

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