Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Henderson vs. Masvidal’

Featherweights

Doo Ho Choi (12-1) vs Sam Sicilia (15-5)

THE MATCHUP: Kicking off the main card is Choi, one of the very best prospects on the planet. At just 24 years old, his composure in the cage is unbelievable, whether he is defending takedowns or setting up devastating strikes. His boxing is superbly effective for two reasons. He is an excellent feinter, making his opponents respect and even fear his every movement, and he possesses excellent economy of motion. Choi throws through the target with every strike without ever overcommitting himself and abandoning the stability of his stance.

Choi’s grappling is built around the idea of, well, not grappling, and he does it quite well. From the bottom, he looks constantly to sweep or create space to stand up, and he keeps his hips mobile in all positions, making it difficult to get him down fully, even when the opponent has both hands locked around his legs. Choi’s biggest fault is his defense. The young fighter uses his feet and his hands to defend the strikes of his opponent, rarely moving his head, and his willingness to exchange often puts him in circumstances which might be helped by a little evasive movement. Still, he can take a shot and certainly give one in return, and his defense can only improve with time.

Sicilia is no light puncher himself. The Spokane, Wash., fighter has a dangerous overhand right, which he often throws in the form of a cross counter to punish his opponent’s jab. His overall skill on the feet is somewhat limited, however, as demonstrated when he struggled mightily to close the distance against Cole Miller in 2014. Sicilia has difficulty with more mobile opponents who can take advantage of his linear and predictable mode of attack.

Sicilia has made admirable efforts to expand his skills in recent years but still does not seem to have found a ground game that fits into his overall style. He engaged in a bizarre guillotine-fest with Yaotzin Meza in his last fight, and though he won the bout, he did not come away looking like a fighter who had found his grappling identity. Still, Sicilia is a capable wrestler and a steadily improving submission grappler.

THE ODDS: Choi (-220), Sicilia (+185)

THE PICK: Sicilia could do some damage in early exchanges against Choi, but his power alone has not been enough to consistently beat elite opposition, and Choi is absolutely elite in prospect terms. In the end, Choi’s consistency and focus should get him the win over a tough and durable opponent who often seems unsure of his best path to victory. Choi wins by first-round TKO.

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