This weekend’s UFC Fight Night 57 event features an interesting lightweight tilt between veterans Isaac Vallie-Flagg and Matt Wiman. Right now at the sport books, Vallie-Flagg sits as a (+166) underdog, with “Handsome” Matt Wiman almost a two to one favorite at (-195).
Vallie-Flagg is (1-2) overall in the UFC and has dropped two fights in a row in 2014. Before that, he was (11-0-1) in his last twelve fights to get into the UFC< and he has been training at the Greg Jackson camp on a professional basis throughout the last year. Towards the end of 2013 he dropped out of a fight and he sustained the personal blow that his father was dying of cancer.
In terms of when the two were at their peak, Wiman and Vallie-Flagg are fighters with similar tools and trajectories. Neither is world title material really (with all dues respect) but both are tough veterans that can usually create a crowd pleasing fight. Both have won as underdogs, and have some good intangibles when they are on there game.
Matt Wiman on the other hand, has not been seen anywhere near the UFC octagon since January of 2013 when he was KO’d by TJ Grant in a bout that saw Wiman outclassed. At 31 years old and with nearly 2 years on the sideline, it is hard to picture Wiman coming in the best we have ever seen him. Even if he looks fit, some ring rust can be expected.
Now as for Valle-Flagg, he seems to be the type that might be able to rise above the tragedy he is going through with his father. While the initial news of the cancer diagnosis led to a flat period and two losses for Vallie-Flagg, time has allowed him to adjust and it may in fact be a very strong motivator for him.
Facing intangibles like that coming back after a long layoff, Wiman is going to have to be at the sharpest he has ever been, and Vallie-Flagg certainly deserves a look as an underdog in this one.
The over/under on the fight is 2.5 rounds, in a 3 round match. The over is at (-230) and the under is at (+195).
Here is an pre-fight interview with the likeable, mild mannered Isaac Vallie-Flagg, prior to his UFC 172 bout with Takanori Gomi:
