UFC 143 Preview: The Main Card

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Bantamweights
Renan “Barao” Pegado (27-1, 2-0 UFC) vs. Scott Jorgensen (13-4, 2-0 UFC)

The Matchup: Every part of Pegado looks like a star in the making, from his Nova Uniao pedigree and his 17-fight winning streak to his flair for finishing.

“Barao” officially announced his presence to the mixed martial arts world at UFC 138, where he submitted Brad Pickett with a rear-naked choke inside of a round. It was not just the swiftness with which he pounced for the submission that was impressive, however, as the Brazilian looked fearless in a firefight with the dangerous Brit before connecting with a knee that set up the decisive choke. Dominick Cruz has been doing his best to clean out the bantamweight division, but another dominant victory for Pegado would certify him as a viable challenger.

Jorgensen has firsthand knowledge of the champion, having dropped a five-round decision to Cruz at WEC 53. An All-American wrestler at Boise State University, he should provide a good test for Pegado, who has not faced someone who can consistently plant him on the canvas.

Pegado’s varied striking arsenal -- he can attack with punches, kicks and knees -- will keep Jorgensen guessing and limit the effectiveness of his takedowns. “Young Guns” will need to make judicious use of his quick right hand to aid him in getting the fight to the mat. Jorgensen has good conditioning and works at a high pace, and if he can control Pegado from the top for an extended period of time, things will get interesting.

It is no guarantee that Jorgensen survives on the ground, because “Barao” has shown a wicked submission game. With that in mind, Jorgensen must be conservative if he finds himself inside Pegado’s guard. It is worth noting that the former WEC standout worked timely ground-and-pound against Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Jeff Curran at UFC 137.

The Pick: Jorgensen will put the pressure on “Barao” early, but if he cannot get the Brazilian down, his time will be limited. Jorgensen has demonstrated the ability to recover quickly when hurt, but whether that is quick enough to hold off a submission from Pegado is another story entirely. Pegado stuns Jorgensen on the feet and then pounces to elicit a tapout in the second round.

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