UFC on FX 1 Preview: The Main Card

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Bantamweights
Mike Easton (11-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Jared Papazian (14-6, 0-0 UFC)

The Matchup: Originally scheduled to face Ken Stone, Easton now gets Papazian, a King of the Cage bantamweight champion who has won eight of his last nine fights. Easton has won six fights in a row, including triumphs over “The Ultimate Fighter 14” competitors John Dodson and Josh Ferguson.

After a two-year absence from the cage, Easton showed no adverse signs of the extended layoff in his UFC debut, where he used a pair of knees to the body to finish Byron Bloodworth at UFC Live 6. A former Ultimate Warrior Challenge 135-pound title holder, Easton is strong and has above-average punching power for a bantamweight. “The Hulk” has a good wrestling base, as well as an active guard. From his back, Easton wields a vicious guillotine, which he is capable of applying quickly when an opponent leaves his neck exposed.

With a background in muay Thai, Papazian will likely want to keep the fight standing. The 23-year-old has solid conditioning, as three five-found fights in his last four appearances would attest. Despite having five consecutive bouts go to the judges, Papazian prides himself on his aggressive style and will look to finish early if possible.

Easton does not mind staying upright, however, as he likes to follow his 1-2 combination with a leg kick in order to close the distance on his foes. Sometimes a slow starter, Easton will remain persistent in punishing his opponent with leg kicks until he finds an opening.

The Pick: Papazian will need to utilize movement and angles to keep Easton guessing. If Papazian starts getting the best of the exchanges, Easton always has the option of taking the fight to the mat. There, his strength becomes even more of a factor, as he will throw strikes from inside Papazian’s guard while relentlessly looking to pass. Papazian will survive the onslaught but will wind up on the wrong end of the decision.