UFC Fight Night ‘Henderson vs. dos Anjos’ Preview

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Welterweights

Jordan Mein (28-9, 2-1 UFC) vs. Mike Pyle (26-9-1, 9-4 UFC)

The Matchup: Owner of a mullet he calls “The Tennessee Waterfall” and a decent journeyman for most of a career that began in 1999, Pyle has blossomed into a rock-solid gatekeeper to the top 15 in what is arguably MMA’s toughest and deepest division. A veteran himself at the tender age of 25, Mein looks to pass the Pyle test and take his place among the upper echelon. There is every reason to think this will be a crackling scrap between two skilled fighters with great finishing ability.

Pyle has been around the game forever, and he has a deep understanding of every facet of MMA. This picture-perfect grasp of technique -- friend Martin Kampmann has referred to him as “an idiot savant” -- makes up for his relative lack of athleticism and natural power, and it has allowed him to thrash talented whippersnappers for years. While Pyle has a wicked submission arsenal from top position and in transitions, along with a proficient striking game, his best asset is his work in the clinch. Alert for any sign of his opponent ducking his head, Pyle excels at grabbing the double-collar tie and delivering sharp knees to the chin.

He complements that clinch striking arsenal with sneaky, technical inside and outside trips that rarely fail to put his opponent on the mat. It is no exaggeration to say Pyle is one of the two or three best infighters in the division.

If Pyle is vicious in tight spaces, Mein owns the range striking. Although he gets hit cleanly far too often, the youthful Canadian is an offensive powerhouse, unloading hard punching combinations from both stances. Gut-wrenching body shots are Mein’s specialty, and he meets opponents too eager to punch their way into close range with slashing counter elbows. He has enough of a kicking arsenal to put his stamp on long range, as well. Mein is a perfectly capable clinch fighter, and his last outing against Hernani Perpetuo also showed strong flashes of a new offensive wrestling game. In general, however, Mein wants to work at boxing distance, and he is a handful for anybody in the division at his chosen range.

Betting Odds: Mein (-200), Pyle (+170)

The Pick: Pyle is a tough test for anyone and is more than capable of exploiting momentary defensive lapses in any phase of the fight. Unless he can corral Mein against the fence, however, the Canadian’s punishing, high-output striking arsenal should be the key factor. It took Matt Brown two full rounds to force Mein into a close-range fight, and Pyle lacks both Brown’s capacity for absorbing damage and his relentless pressure game. Eventually, Mein will land a big shot on Pyle’s questionable chin and put him down. Mein wins by KO in round two.

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