UFC 178 ‘Johnson vs. Cariaso’ Preview

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WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHTS

Cat Zingano (8-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Amanda Nunes (9-3, 2-0 UFC)

THE MATCHUP: This is an interesting fight with the potential for serious violence. Undefeated “Alpha” Zingano lost her top contender spot due to injury, but a convincing win here would put her right back in line to face divisional queenpin Ronda Rousey. For Nunes, who enters on a two-fight winning streak, victory would make her a potential challenger, as well.

Nunes is a crisp and powerful striker with plus athleticism. A longtime karate practitioner, she shows great ability to cover distance as she leaps in with cracking single punches and kicks. Like many karate stylists, Nunes suffers from bouts of passivity and can lose fights out of sheer inactivity. When “Lioness” lands, however, she can do serious damage. Although she has made some improvements lately, Nunes is no more than a mediocre offensive and defensive wrestler. If Nunes can find her way to top position, she shows good passes and puts her brutal power to good use in her ground striking. Cardio has been another problem, as Nunes tires quickly and has progressively less to offer as the fight goes on.

Zingano reminds me a great deal of another fighter on this card: Poirier. A very good athlete, she covers a lot of distance moving forward as she whirls left and right hands in sequence hoping to push her opponent toward the fence. Once Zingano has her opponent pressed up against the cage, she goes to work with barrages of knees and elbows. Those clinch strikes open up Zingano’s arsenal of trips and throws and allow her to do vicious work from top position. She is hittable at striking range and her takedown defense could be better, but Zingano is well-rounded and dangerous, and she does a fantastic job of delivering offense in transition.

BETTING ODDS: Zingano (-260), Nunes (+220)

THE PICK: Nunes’ power can put anybody in the division to sleep, but she is only really dangerous early in the fight. Zingano, on the other hand, does an excellent job of grinding down her opponents with her pace and supremely technical clinch work to finish in the second half of the fight. I think that is exactly what will happen here, as “Alpha” will wear down her opponent early and finish late in the second round with strikes from the top.

Last Fights » The Prelims