Preview: UFC 220 ‘Miocic vs. Ngannou’

Jordan BreenJan 18, 2018


Featherweight

Shane Burgos (10-0) vs. Calvin Kattar (17-2)

ODDS: Burgos (-185), Kattar (+160)

ANALYSIS: Burgos enjoys a three-inch reach advantage in this fight, although it is not a surefire bet to benefit him. He is such a natural pressure fighter and throws so often that it is a mortal lock that the Team Tiger Schulmann product is going to eat shots. “The Hurricane” lands an even five significant strikes per minute, while eating 4.87 per minute in return.

Consider the dynamic of this bout being Burgos marching down a circling Kattar, who alternates between hard leg kicks, counterpunches and perhaps opportunistic takedowns. What will win out? Burgos will land and land hard, the kind of action that can seriously sway the judges, especially knowing that Kattar is not a natural finisher on the ground. On top of that, Burgos enjoys an ace up his sleeve, as he is actually potent on the counter, whether with his kicks or left hand, just in case Kattar gets on his front foot.

Both men have the potential to finish the other here, as Kattar is the more well-rounded and inflexible sort, while Burgos enjoys athletic and striking advantages. If neither can muster the finish, look for Burgos to land the more eye-attracting strikes and take a close judges’ decision.

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