UFC Fight Night 39 Preview

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Lightweights

Norman Parke (19-2, 3-0 UFC) vs. Leonardo Santos (12-3, 1-0 UFC)

The Matchup: The lightweight winner of “The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes,” Parke has compiled a modest resume inside the Octagon, posting victories over Colin Fletcher, Kazuki Tokudome and Jon Tuck. In addition to his strong judo and grappling base, the Irishman proved he can land punches in combination against Tuck. His left hand, whether it be straight punches or overhands, is his weapon of choice. Still, Parke is unlikely to finish a bout via strikes unless it comes via ground-and-pound from top position.

Twelve of Parke’s 19 career victories have come via submission, and he excels imposing his will through constant pressure and takedowns. This approach could prove dangerous against Santos, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and brother of former International Fight League champion Wagnney Fabiano. Santos has been a highly regarded grappler for some time and also has some decent MMA experience, having fought for Sengoku, the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts and Shooto during his 15-fight professional career. He achieved mount and advanced position for a fight-ending arm-triangle choke rather easily in his promotional debut against William Macario at UFC on Fuel TV 10. This will be his first time competing since then, and it will be interesting to see if he has made any improvements.

Santos will have a five-inch reach advantage over Parke, but he does not always fare well against opponents who push the pace. The Brazilian’s standup is basic, as he relies primarily on leg kicks and straight punches. However, his wrestling is below average and he is not adept at disguising his intentions with his striking. Santos’ ability to land takedowns from the clinch could also be neutralized by Parke’s judo skill.

The Pick: Look for Parke to set a rapid pace that Santos will struggle to match. The Irish fighter lands solid punches on the feet, forces clinches and maybe even mixes in a few takedowns to win a decision.

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