UFC Fight Night 40 Preview

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Lightweights

Ramsey Nijem (8-4, 4-3 UFC) vs. Beneil Dariush (7-0, 1-0 UFC)

The Matchup: Dariush at UFC Fight Night 35 faced an opponent tailor-made for his skill set in Charlie Brenneman, a wrestler whose striking is used primarily to close distance. As a result, Dariush was able to floor Brenneman with an overhand left before softening him with punches to set up the fight-ending rear-naked choke in the first round.

Dariush has a lot of experience on the jiu-jitsu circuit, so when he is able to stun an opponent on the feet, the Kings MMA representative is well-equipped to secure a tapout on the mat. Although Brenneman could not expose it, Dariush’s striking is a work in progress. He relies on leg kicks to control distance and basic punching combinations to move into clinch range, where he can utilize a solid trip takedown to get the action to the floor. However, his striking defense is still poor, as he has been prone to dropping his hands.

Nijem figures to provide Dariush with a different look than Brenneman simply on offensive aggression alone. While The Pit Elevated Fight Team product comes from a wrestling background, he will apply pressure through a high-risk striking attack that includes jumping kicks and flying knees. His desire to push the pace carries over to his ground game, where he is active in passing guard, forcing scrambles and pursuing submissions.

Nijem’s go-for-broke approach also leaves him open to counters on the feet when he attempts to get inside. His tendency to force scrambles on the mat leaves him prone to submissions, as well. At least on the floor, Dariush has the skills to make Nijem pay for any mistakes he might make.

The Pick: Nijem has the more advanced arsenal, and his ability to wrestle should keep him out of trouble against a seasoned grappler like Dariush. Nijem takes this by decision or TKO.

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