Preview: UFC 191 ‘Johnson vs. Dodson 2’

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Women’s Strawweights

Paige VanZant (5-1, 2-0 UFC) vs Alex Chambers (5-2, 1-1 UFC)

THE MATCHUP: VanZant’s bubbly personality has endeared her to some, including the marketing teams at both Reebok and the UFC, and repulsed others. At just 21 years old, however, it is VanZant’s fighting ability and potential that we should really be focusing on.

VanZant chases the clinch relentlessly on the feet, walking through her opponent’s strikes and slinging barrages of punches, elbows and kicks to close the distance. Once her opponent’s back hits the fence, VanZant uses head position and underhooks to pin her there while she chips away with rapid-fire knees and short punches. Technically speaking, VanZant’s striking leaves a lot to be desired, but she is young and learning and she covers her flaws with plenty of aggression. VanZant is also a solid takedown artist, though her own takedown defense is suspect. On the ground, “12 Gauge” is a natural scrambler with a talent for submissions and sweeps off of her back. Once she achieves top position -- and it rarely takes her long to do so -- she employs a swarming striking attack, utilizing elbows and straight punches while posturing up to break down her grounded adversary.

Chambers does not have much more experience, but she is a full 15 years VanZant’s elder. An out-fighter by trade, Chambers combines an arsenal of flicking kicks and straight punches from long range with some tricky clinch takedowns. Against patient strikers, like Jackson-Wink MMA’s Jodie Esquebel, Chambers exploits openings rather well, but she has struggled with more aggressive fighters in the past. Once on the ground, she is quick to take the back. If Chambers loses position, she has a keen nose for submissions and will threaten opponents relentlessly from her back until they stand up or panic and give up a submission.

THE ODDS: VanZant (-1600), Chambers (+900)

THE PICK: In trying to predict the outcome of this fight through past fights, Chamber’s scrap with Kailin Curran seems most apt. Chambers struggled with the Hawaiian’s constant, crushing pressure, and while VanZant is not always as technical as Curran, she is stronger, more powerful and almost recklessly aggressive. VanZant should have little trouble dispatching Chambers. She wins by TKO in the second round.

Last Fights » The Prelims