The UFC returns on Wednesday night in a quick turnaround after the helter and skelter of International Fight Week and the back-to-back-to-back events. The promotion heads to Sioux Falls in South Dakota for the first time in UFC history. The event was originally set to be headlined by a bout at lightweight which would have some serious title implications between Tony ‘El Cucuy’ Ferguson and Michael Chiesa. Chiesa unfortunately had to pull out with a back injury and Ferguson was moved down the card. Now at top of the bill is Michael McDonald vs John Lineker at bantamweight.
Number 5 ranked McDonald, a pro since sixteen years old with his debut in 2007, McDonald went 10-1 on the local circuit with some wins over WEC veterans such as Manny Tapia and Cole Escovedo before gaining a WEC bout with Clint Godfrey. Another win came and the sale of the WEC to the UFC saw McDonald jump to the largest promotion in the game. Four quick wins saw McDonald rushed up the rankings and saw him lose to Renan Barao for the Interim Bantamweight Championship. He bounced back with a win over Brad Pickett before dropping another defeat to Urijah Faber. Victory over Masanori Kanehara saw him bounce back from that defeat last time out.
McDonald loves to let his hands swing. His counter overhand right is arguably his best shot which he then follows with uppers and hooks. Power is the American’s main asset and nine career KO victories solidifies that. McDonald can also use technique to stick and move when in trouble before firing his huge right hand.
Lineker is Brazilian but hailing out of ATT in south Florida. The 26 year old Lineker is one of the most exciting fighters in the world today. After a sluggish start to his pro career where he went 6-5, Lineker then proceeded to win thirteen straight to gain entry to the UFC. Although he scored 4 wins in his first two years inside the Octagon, Lineker’s time was marred by multiple missed weights and a couple of losses. That lead to UFC president Dana White forcing him up to, bantamweight which has, so far, worked out well with two wins out of two.
What a fight this is! Continued great match making, combined with the exciting bantamweight division means that we are in for a treat with this main event. Lineker is a crazed striker that we compare to old mexican boxers. He will bite down on his gumshield and swing for the hills. Lineker throws punches in bunches as if they are going out of style. He also is very accurate for someone of his style and more importantly he possesses ungodly power for someone so small. Combine this with McDonald’s willingness to engage and power and it is a real barn burner.
Both men have similar attributes and strengths, the same could be said of their weaknesses. On the feet, their first form of defence is with their face. The wrestling of both men is neither their forte either but they do possess some decent defensive skills on the ground, but McDonald is probably a little better in these areas. Lineker has had some suspect cardio before, so should it get past the second I see McDonald being able to impose himself over the tiring Lineker and grind out the decision. Should the fight end early then McDonald probably has the little more power being the naturally bigger man, however with both men’s styles this could turn into a fight of windmilling overhands and a slug fest for the fans. In that type of fight then nobody beats John Lineker so he is my pick to win a close split-decision.
Ferguson remains on the card in what appears to be a stay busy fight against Landon Vannata in his promotional debut. This should be a cake walk for El Cucuy as he vyes to become the number one contender at 155lbs.
Elsewhere the ever impressive Louis Smolka returns to action. The Hawaiian who is best known to us for his wins over both Neil Seery and Paddy Hoolihan, returns against Ben Nguyen. I fancy an exciting scrap on the feet before Smolka shows his submission skills on the deck once it hits the floor. This should be a good test for the youngster as he climbs the 125lb ladder in the quest for a shot at the long reigning Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson.
Picks :
Michael McDonald vs. John Lineker – Lineker
Tony Ferguson vs. Landon Vannata – Ferguson
Tim Boetsch vs. Josh Samman – Samman
Daniel Omielańczuk vs. Oleksiy Oliynyk – Oliynyk
Kyle Noke vs. Keita Nakamura – Nakamura
Louis Smolka vs. Ben Nguyen – Smolka
Lauren Murphy vs. Katlyn Chookagian – Murphy
Eric Spicely vs. Sam Alvey – Alvey
Cortney Casey vs. Cristina Stanciu – Casey
Scott Holtzman vs. Cody Pfister – Holtzman
Rani Yahya vs. Matthew Lopez – Lopez
Devin Clark vs. Alex Nicholson – Clark
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