Preview: UFC London Prelims – Sutherland vs. Pericic
Heavyweights
BETTING ODDS: Pericic (-270); Sutherland (+220) Sutherland (10-4; 0-1 UFC) remains to be seeking his first Octagon win. “The Vanilla Gorilla” received heel-hooked shortly by Walter Walker in his debut at UFC 321 final fall. The excellent news for Sutherland is that actually no one else within the UFC heavyweight division goes to strive that on him; The unhealthy information for us is that as a result of no one else goes to strive that on him, and the entire thing was simply 84 seconds, the Walker struggle is totally ineffective for scouting functions. However, the 32-12 months-previous is just about a recognized amount at this level. On the plus facet, he’s a heavyweight hulking who punches together and delivers good however not overwhelming energy—his excessive ratio of knockout wins is due extra to diligent boxing and collected punishment than single, Derrick Lewis-esque killshots. Its limitations are a matter of file as properly; each of his losses in
Professional Fighters League noticed Sutherland get taken down simply, repeatedly, by good-not-nice wrestlers who gave up 30 kilos or extra within the cage. Worse, Sutherland struggled to do rather more from the underside than survive, and his get-up recreation, comparable to it’s, drained him out shortly.
“The Balkan Bear” (5-1; 1-0 UFC) is lower than a 12 months youthful than Sutherland however has fewer than half as many fights, and that is arguably a step up from any of his former foes. The Australian of Croatian descent combating out of New Zealand is yet one more instance of the towering Balkan kickboxer exemplified by fellow UFC heavyweight Ante Delijato whom Pericic bears greater than a bit resemblance, in look in addition to combating model. On the ft, Pericic makes use of his dimension and attain properly, preferring to maintain his opponents on the skin with low kicks and lengthy one-twos, however he has good knees and quick punches for shorter fighters who handle to shut the gap. Where Pericic diverges from a fighter like Delija is within the wrestling and grappling: Pericic has so far proven little inclination to provoke a floor battle, and his personal takedown protection is suspect. In his lone profession misplaced thus far, Pericic was frankly manhandled by a smaller, older fighter in Randall Raymentwho dragged Pericic down any method he wished to, together with typical takedowns, journeys and standing again-takes, earlier than tapping him out within the second spherical. While that vulnerability is unlikely to have a lot impression on this specific matchup, it bears watching sooner or later.
This is a troublesome model matchup for Sutherland, however most of them can be at this stage; Despite the practically 3-to-1 odds in Pericic’s favor, at the very least that is more likely to play out as a standup battle by mutual assent. Sutherland’s subject is that, as a boxer who must land a sure quantity of strikes to win, his success will all the time be depending on his takedown protection and cardio, and each have proven to be missing at instances. In this case, count on a aggressive—and possibly enjoyable—heavyweight punch-out, however Pericic’s larger variety of weapons and his benefits in attain and footwork, ought to be sufficient to earn him the choice nod.
Wood vs. Keita
Sutherland vs. Pericic
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