UFC Fight Night 37 Preview

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Heavyweights

Shawn Jordan (15-5, 3-2 UFC) vs. Matt Mitrione (6-3, 6-3 UFC)

The Matchup: Both Jordan and Mitrione are athletic heavyweights with high-level backgrounds in football; Jordan logged playing time on a Louisiana State University squad that was consistently in the national title conversation, while Mitrione played at Purdue University before a brief stint in the NFL with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings.

With that said, both men possess skills that have allowed them to achieve a certain level of success in mixed martial arts’ premiere organization. However, both also have shortcomings that will probably prevent them from reaching the sport’s highest levels.

Mitrione’s lack of grappling was exposed in his last outing at UFC 165, where he was submitted by Brendan Schaub inside of a round. “Meathead” prefers to keep fights upright, where he can put his deceptive agility to work to land fast and powerful punching combinations. Mitrione’s 82-inch reach is usually a serious advantage, as well. That will be no different here, as he has a six-and-a-half-inch edge on the stocky Jordan. Mitrione is also effective working in kicks, something Jordan has not utilized often during his UFC tenure.

Jordan, meanwhile, has a freakish skill set that belies his squatty frame. Like most heavyweights, he has knockout power in his hands, but he also has the decent feel for putting his strikes together in combination. Given his stature, Jordan is best in close quarters, where he can land short, powerful strikes and transition to takedowns. Jordan’s wrestling background is not notable at this level, but as a former high school state champion, he is still more well-versed in this aspect than Mitrione. It will probably be in Jordan’s best interest to try and ground his foe rather than engage in prolonged exchanges with a more technical striker. Jordan’s striking defense has already been exposed on a number of occasions, and he is generally easier to hit than Mitrione.

The Pick: As long as he can remain upright, Mitrione’s blend of reach, agility and power should make the difference. He wins by KO or TKO in round one or two.

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