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Makwan Amirkhani
Key Stats: 1.62 submissions per 15 minutes (5th), 35.2% takedown accuracy (7th), 3.45 takedowns per 15 minutes
What It Means: “Mr. Finland” has a swarming grappling approach, but he isn’t afraid to stand and swing big because of the confidence he has in his ground game. He likes locking up different choke variations, particularly an anaconda choke, but he is also dangerous off his back. If he doesn’t succeed on his first takedown attempt, he is more than willing to press his opponent against the fence, switch between single- and double-leg attempts until he gets the fight to the ground.
What to Look For in the Fight: It’s a classic striker-vs-grappler matchup featuring an especially hungry Edson Barboza, who is keen on ending his three-fight losing streak. While Barboza had speckled success defending Dan Ige’s wrestling, he might find more success against Amirkhani. That said, Amirkhani is much more aggressive with his submission game and will pounce on Barboza if the Brazilian fatigues later in the fight and on the ground. That said, Barboza’s debilitating leg kicks and superior striking gives him a clear path to victory in every fight.
Other Fights to Watch (Ben Rothwell vs Marcin Tybura)
Ben Rothwell
Key Stats: 30.8% takedown accuracy (7th), 56.5% takedown defense (7th), 3.37 strikes landed per minute
What It Means: Rothwell has really seen it all in his 11 years on the UFC roster and has worked himself into pretty good form of late. He carries fight-ending power and a solid chin to carry him through when he gets into the pocket and in that sense, he feels like a classic heavyweight fighter. He likes to mix in body and leg kicks into his attack, as well, and shows great strength in grappling exchanges, particularly along the fence. He’s also shown off a pretty good guillotine, which always poses a threat against a fighter who favors wrestling in the Octagon.