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

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WELTERWEIGHTS

Warlley Alves (7-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Alan Jouban (10-2, 1-0 UFC)

THE MATCHUP: “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3” winner Alves continues his quest to seize the baton from the promotion’s aging Brazilian stars, as he takes on sometime-model and pretty good fighter Jouban in an exciting welterweight clash. Alves defeated Marcio Alexandre Jr. in May to take the reality show’s middleweight tournament, while Jouban knocked out journeyman Seth Baczynski in his promotional debut in August.

Jouban, the former Resurrection Fighting Alliance welterweight champion, is a striker by trade and preference. He has great cardio and pushes a quick pace. At his best, the southpaw throws a wicked straight left and left kick, especially to the body, while taking clean angles. At his worst, he plants his feet in front of his opponent and wings heavy punches with his chin in the air.

Jouban’s wrestling has improved over his time in RFA, and he is now a fairly competent defensive wrestler, although he still struggles against better takedown artists. His guard is active if not terribly dangerous, and from top position, he can do substantial damage. While Jouban is not really a threat to reach the welterweight top 10, he is a durable, exciting action fighter with fun fights in his future.

On the other hand, Alves is a bona fide blue-chipper -- a product of Ronaldo Souza’s X-Gym. He has exceptional athletic gifts married to an aggressive game that focuses on powerful single strikes, smooth clinch entries, powerful takedowns and outstanding submissions in transition. His fantastic explosiveness allows him to cover distance quickly, and his preference for stance-switching as he strikes accentuates that ability, allowing him to push his opponents toward the fence where he can more effectively work well-finished power doubles and slick trips. From top position, “Jacare’s” influence on his protégé’s game is obvious. Alves maintains a heavy base and has excellent posture, which allows him to really torque his body into his ground strikes. Although he is a strong positional grappler, the Brazilian’s real gift is for submissions in transition, particularly his beyond-wicked guillotine. Alves is one of the most promising young fighters in the division and probably the best prospect the UFC has found in Brazil to date.

BETTING ODDS: Alves (-250), Jouban (+210)

THE PICK: Jouban is a tough test for anyone with his power, durability and pace, but this is a test Alves should pass with relative ease. Unless the Brazilian stands in front of Jouban and trades punches, he should be a lock to work over the American with his slick clinch entries, takedowns, striking from the top and eventually a submission. Alves by tapout in the second round is the pick.

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