UFC 180 matchups
UFC 180 MATCHUPS
A breakdown of the fights on the main card of UFC 180 today at Mexico City:
Fabricio Werdum (18-5-1) vs. Mark Hunt (10-8-1)
■ CLASS: For interim heavyweight title
■ LINE: Werdum minus-450
■ STORYLINE: This should come down to a battle of which of these heavyweights is able to better dictate where the fight takes place. Werdum is one of the most accomplished jiu-jitsu competitors in the heavyweight division. Hunt just swings for the head until he’s worn out and is more than willing to take shots on his iron chin along the way. The only hitch in that analysis might be that Werdum’s standup has been vastly improved in his past four fights, and he has shown an increased willingness to test that part of his game against some of the division’s most well-regarded strikers. He might think his decided edge in height and reach will allow him to do so against Hunt. That would be a bad idea. Hunt’s combination of power and durability makes it a losing proposition to enter into many exchanges. Expect Werdum to find the quickest route to the ground and submit Hunt at some point. That said, Werdum might have to take a shot at some point, and Hunt only needs one to win. He is a live betting underdog.
■ PICK: Werdum by second-round submission
Jake Ellenberger (29-8) vs. Kelvin Gastelum (9-0)
■ CLASS: Welterweight
■ LINE: Gastelum minus-200
■ STORYLINE: There weren’t many believers in Gastelum coming off his season on “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show. He was one of the biggest underdogs of any fighter in the show’s history when he fought Uriah Hall in the season championship bout. Gastelum won the Season 17 title with a split decision and has improved drastically since dropping to welterweight after that fight. Ellenberger should be his toughest test, but Gastelum should be ready. On the reality show, he appeared to be a pure wrestler. He has evolved into a top prospect by dramatically improving his striking. He will need to at least neutralize the onslaught from Ellenberger. His strength is the explosive power he brings right out of the locker room. As long as Gastelum can get through that, he should settle in and wear down Ellenberger over the course of the three rounds.
■ PICK: Gastelum by decision
Ricardo Lamas (14-3) vs. Dennis Bermudez (15-3)
■ CLASS: Featherweight
■ LINE: Bermudez minus-180
■ STORYLINE: This line is a bit puzzling. Bermudez has won seven straight fights and is coming off a convincing victory over perennial contender Clay Guida. That’s certainly impressive. But Lamas has won five of six against top competition, with the loss by decision in a fairly competitive title fight against Jose Aldo. Lamas bounced back from that defeat with a somewhat lackluster performance in a unanimous decision over Hacran Dias in June. Perhaps that explains the number a bit, but Lamas is too good and too experienced in big fights to be getting plus-money like this against Bermudez.
■ PICK: Lamas by decision
Augusto Montano (13-1) vs. Chris Heatherly (8-2, 1 no contest)
■ CLASS: Welterweight
■ LINE: Montano minus-225
■ STORYLINE: Augusto Montano is a veteran of the Mexican mixed martial arts scene who was mostly brought in to the organization to give the fans in Mexico City a rooting interest. He’s a legitimate fighter, though. He is 13-1 largely because of his boxing skills, and he trains in Albuquerque, N.M., with one of the top fight camps in the world. Heatherly is a wrestler who suffered a disappointing loss to Ben Saunders in his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut. Montano will have to mix up his strikes enough to keep Heatherly off balance as he looks for takedowns. Trainer Greg Jackson will have Montano well-drilled in doing that, and the raucous crowd will carry him to the win.
■ PICK: Montano by second-round knockout
Edgar Garcia (14-3) vs. Hector Urbina (16-8)
■ CLASS: Welterweight
■ LINE: Garcia minus-200
■ STORYLINE: Garcia is a veteran who has competed in the UFC, World Extreme Cagefighting and Bellator in his 17-fight pro career. He earned a second shot at the UFC after going 0-2 in the organization in 2009 by winning his past four fights on the regional circuit. It also doesn’t hurt that the Arizona resident was born in Mexico and the organization was looking for fighters with ties to the nation for its first event in the country. He is a far more technical and refined fighter than the ultra-aggressive Urbina, nicknamed “El Toro.” Urbina was a competitor on “The Ultimate Fighter” who was eliminated by Cathal Pendred. This fight taking place at altitude likely won’t help his stamina, which has been an issue. Look for Garcia to wear down Urbina and eventually finish the fight.
■ PICK: Garcia by second-round knockout
ADAM HILL/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
