Preview: UFC Fight Night 191 Prelims

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Bantamweights

NR | Jack Shore (14-0, 3-0 UFC) vs. NR | Liudvik Sholinian (9-1-1, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Shore (-470), Sholinian (+375)

Shore is being given a slow path up the UFC ladder, but the Welshman remains one of the promotion’s most interesting prospects out of Europe. “Tank” has always been an amusing nickname for Shore, since it both does not fit at all and describes him perfectly. From a stylistic bent, Shore is definitely a tank, building his approach around pressure that leads to his wrestling and then to his grappling. Combined with his seemingly unshakeable belief in his success, Shore handled all comers on the regional scene without much issue. What is interesting—and where Shore might find his ceiling—is that he certainly is not a tank physically. He is clearly above the worst non-athletes on the UFC roster, but he does not offer the type of overwhelming physical force that is usually necessary to find success at the highest levels of the sport. Even in his last win against Hunter Azure, Shore was still clearly the more tireless and determined fighter, but he got slowed down in points against a stronger athlete with a wrestling background. He looks to keep his undefeated record intact against a late replacement in Sholinian, who should make this entertaining if nothing else.

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Sholinian is fresh off the most recent season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” where he showed off his own unshakeable pressuring approach. That got him past Mitch Raposo but just got him picked apart by Ricky Turcios in the semifinals. Prior to the reality show, Sholinian’s 2019 win over Vince Cachero was the only thing that stood out much in what is otherwise a rather sparse record. There is not much nuance to Sholinian’s game and how he marches forward, so this should be fun early when both men figure to crash into each other. Shore should eventually find some success with his superior wrestling game, at which point he should have the fight well in hand. The pick is Shore via second-round submission.

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