Preview: UFC 264 Prelims

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Featherweights

NR | Ilia Topuria (10-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. NR | Ryan Hall (8-1, 4-0 UFC)

ODDS: Topuria (-230), Hall (+190)

It is a rare treat to watch Hall fight, since there is nothing quite like the unique style that he has crafted for himself. One of the most decorated grapplers on the UFC roster, Hall has built his unorthodox style around his natural strengths, mainly his ability to roll for leglocks and heel hooks. That typically turns his fights into a bizarre display of gamesmanship, with Hall using a kicking game to keep his opponents at a distance, then either rolling for submissions or dropping to his back once his they get into close range. Both tactics essentially force his opponents to decide whether to grapple with Hall or get frustrated by his lack of engagement on the feet. Hall’s willingness to focus on his other ventures has limited him to only four fights since his 2015 UFC debut, the last three of which came against aging wrestlers and grapplers. Wins over Gray Maynard, B.J. Penn and Darren Elkins saw Hall’s approach work almost perfectly, including a quick submission over Penn. Now it is time to see if Hall’s style works against something completely different, as he faces one of the top young prospects in the sport in Topuria.

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Spain’s Topuria has impressed greatly in his two UFC fights to date, coming into the promotion as a pressure-oriented fighter at his best when wrestling and grappling with his opponents. That approach got by Youssef Zalal in his UFC debut, but his sophomore effort against Damon Jackson in December saw Topuria show a much more impressive striking game than in the past, quickly putting away the Fortis MMA rep with some impressive boxing work. Topuria is going to force the issue, but it remains unclear who that favors, given that this is each man’s strongest test to date. “The Wizard” is obviously the most dangerous submission threat Topuria has faced, but there is a chance that the Spaniard’s youth and speed blow apart Hall’s game before he has a chance to react. The dynamic should play out quickly but could go either way. Even though Topuria is a talented grappler in his own right, the bet is that Hall can quickly find something unorthodox and take advantage of his youthful confidence before the undefeated prospect can find a finish. The pick is Hall via first-round submission.

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