Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Teixeira vs. St. Preux’

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Middleweights

Chris Camozzi (21-10, 6-7 UFC) vs. Tom Watson (17-8, 2-4 UFC)

THE MATCHUP: Two middleweight strikers clash, as Colorado’s Camozzi draws the United Kingdom’s Watson in a low-stakes but potentially entertaining encounter. Watson has lost three of his last four, the most recent a decision loss to Rafael Natal, while Camozzi returned to the UFC on short notice to be submitted for a second time by Ronaldo Souza. The Coloradan has lost his last five fights in the promotion, though several of them have been controversial. It is hard to imagine the loser of this matchup will get another shot.

Camozzi is a big, durable southpaw with excellent cardio. He is a pure striker and a reasonably skilled one who pumps a range-finding jab and then follows with the straight left and a steady barrage of left round kicks. His right hook is probably his best punch, and he could stand to throw it more often, particularly as a back-stepping counter. Offensive output is the real strong point of Camozzi’s game -- think poor man’s Michael Bisping -- and once he finds his rhythm, he can bury his opponent in volume, but he is a slow starter and lacks any kind of power. He is also reasonably competent in the clinch and can hit the occasional elbow. Otherwise, Camozzi lacks any skills aside from competent defensive wrestling and grappling.

Like Camozzi, Watson is a pure striker, and he shares the Coloradan’s durability and cardio. He prefers to kick, tossing out a consistent diet of round kicks to the legs and body. Counterpunching is a strength, and he is willing -- perhaps too willing -- to brawl in the pocket. Watson is not powerful, nor is he crafty, but he is solid and competent at range. The clinch is a strong point, with sharp knees and elbows, but he is vulnerable to the takedown and lacks any sort of offensive wrestling or grappling game of his own.

BETTING ODDS: Camozzi (-155), Watson (+135)

THE PICK: Watson and Camozzi are mirror images of each other down to the opposite stances they prefer. Both are durable, work at a quick pace and prefer to operate at striking distance or in the clinch, and neither has any real power. This is a close matchup, but I think Camozzi throws a bit more volume and has a little more depth to his striking game. The pick is Camozzi by decision in a fun fight.

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