Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Hunt vs. Miocic’

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LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS

Anthony Perosh (15-8, 5-5 UFC) vs. Sean O’Connell (16-6, 1-2 UFC)

THE MATCHUP: Perosh, a 42-year-old Australian, seems to be going strong despite his many years in the sport, with first-round finishes over Carlos Augusto Filho, Vinny Magalhaes and Nick Penner balanced by losses to top-15 fighters Ryan Bader and Ryan Jimmo in his most recent stretch. O’Connell knocked out Matt Van Buren in his last outing to get in the win column for the first time in the UFC, with previous losses to Jimmo and Gian Villante. It is hard to call this a terribly meaningful fight, except as a shout-out to the Australian fans, but it should be a competitive contest.

Perosh boasts the stripped-down game of a true veteran. He has surprising pop in his hands and moves forward behind a crisp right hand, which covers his entries into the clinch. Once he gets into close quarters, Perosh looks for a trip or a double-leg to get it to the mat. From top position, he does excellent work. His passes are quick and technical; he maintains good control; and he uses his ground strikes to open up the submission attempts that are the focus of his game. The rear-naked choke is a specialty, and Perosh is quite difficult to shake off once he gets to his wheelhouse. On the downside, Perosh is hittable; his chin can be cracked; he has little in the way of takedown defense, and good top-control artists can hold him down.

O’Connell is a durable pressure fighter with a preference for brawling. He walks forward slinging combinations of hooks in order to push his opponent back to the fence and mixes in the occasional low kick and stinging jab. His timing is good, and he switches regularly between body and head. Against the cage, O’Connell excels at grinding away with short punches and knees, and he controls nicely with an underhook and head pressure. The occasional takedown attempt keeps his opponent on his toes, though he is not an overpowering or especially technical wrestler; he can do decent work from top position.

BETTING ODDS: Perosh (-170), O’Connell (+150)

THE PICK: If the Australian cannot get this to the mat early and finish, the durable and aggressive O’Connell is going to wear him down and badly beat him up. I think that is exactly what will happen. For all of his flaws, O’Connell is a very good clinch fighter, and his volume and aggressiveness should give Perosh fits on the feet. The pick is O’Connell by knockout late in the second round.

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