Preview: UFC on Fox 13
Dos Anjos vs. Diaz
Rafael dos Anjos has climbed the lightweight ladder with
persistence. | Photo: D. Mandel/Sherdog.com
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Rafael dos Anjos (22-7, 11-5 UFC) vs. Nate Diaz (17-9, 12-7 UFC)THE MATCHUP: The priceless, needle-moving Diaz returns from a long contract dispute and gets a tough draw in his comeback fight. Dos Anjos vaulted into position for potential stardom with a flying knee and subsequent knockout finish against Benson Henderson in August, although he has been performing like a top-10 lightweight for several years now. Diaz knocked out Gray Maynard in November 2013, which broke a two-fight losing streak. This should be a fun, action-packed matchup between two of 155’s best.
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At this point, we should know exactly what to expect from Diaz: volume boxing on the feet with an emphasis on pressure and better power than we might expect; underrated throws, control and strikes in the clinch; and a treacherous submission game both in transition and off his back. He does not move well laterally and is intensely vulnerable to low kicks -- all kicks, really -- while a strong grappler can neutralize him in wrestling control positions and even inside his guard if he maintains a heavy base and is conscious of his posture. He does his best work with his opponent’s back to the cage but lacks the clean footwork necessary to consistently push polished strikers into that compromising position. Despite those flaws, Diaz is a dangerous fighter and a tough matchup for anybody outside the division’s elite.
THE PICK: This seems fairly straightforward to me. Dos Anjos has good movement, takes clean angles, kicks like a horse, has good cardio and always brings a strategic, measured approach with him into the cage. Those are the basic components of the tried-and-tested game plan to beat a Diaz; barring some drastic improvements in Diaz’s game, the outcome -- dos Anjos kicking the heck out of Diaz’s legs and working the occasional takedown -- should be predictable. The pick is dos Anjos by clear decision.
Next Fight » Alistair Overeem vs. Stefan Struve
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