Be sure to check out these two bouts on Fight Pass!
This Saturday, as some pre-Super Bowl entertainment, there will be a fantastic fight card on Fox Sports 1. This card is headlined by a pivotal welterweight clash of styles. Former champion, Johny Hendricks, will bring his power wrestling and cannonball left hook into the Octagon against the flashy, fluid, karate striker in Stephen Thompson. The winner of this bout may just be next in line for Robbie Lawler’s welterweight title, but we’ll see! Before we can get to that awesome fight though, the action starts early on Fight Pass as Artem Lobov and Mickey Gall start the night off.
Artem Lobov vs. Alex White
What better way to start a fight card off than with “The Russian Hammer”? This guy is very entertaining to watch because all he wants to do is get in your face and trade shots. He brings a very unique style and approach in the fact that he keeps his hands at his waste, almost begging you to hit him, but then throws his lunchbox punches up from awkward angles. He has devastating KO power, and his time training and sparring with Conor McGregor means his accuracy and movement is on point. While he doesn’t have much depth as a martial artist, he is very dangerous for any man.
Standing across from him is Alex White, a 10-2 fighter with 9 finishes. White had a mesmerizing debut when he scored a blistering first round knockout, but then faulted against Lucas Martins and Clay Collard. White is a guy who is willing to stand in the fire and bang it out, but that will be his detriment here. White is a great submission grappler, and if he chooses to use his athleticism and ground technique – he may be able to win. However, his willingness to trade shots and make the fight entertaining will lose him the bout. White has shown to have a good chin, so a unanimous decision for Lobov is likely, but Lobov doesn’t seem to hit like most guys – I think he’ll stop White in the second round.
Mickey Gall vs. Mike Jackson
With total of 1 professional MMA bout between them, many may scoff at why the UFC will be entering the amateur hour to cap off the Fight Pass prelims. It’s a fair concern, but one has to understand the behind-the-scenes workings here in this bout. Mickey Gall is the one the UFC has selected to be CM Punk’s debut – so long as Gall beats Jackson in this bout. While there is virtually nothing to go off of, Gall appears to be your typical grinder. He moves forward behind fundamental striking, looks for the takedown, tries to advance position, and then searches for the rear-naked choke.
Jackson looks to be more of a stand up fighter as he has some boxing and kickboxing experience, but typically the guy who can control where the fight takes place will win. It’s rudimental, out-dated logic in the MMA game, but I feel it’s appropriate to use in this situation. Look for Gall to take Jackson down, grind him out, make it ugly, and ultimately pick up the submission win. It won’t look pretty, and it definitely won’t represent the pinnacle of mixed martial arts, but expect Gall to take on CM Punk at UFC 200, or some other PPV event.
