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Lightweights

Paul Sass (13-0, 3-0 UFC) vs. Matt Wiman (14-6, 8-4 UFC)

The Matchup: Through 13 professional fights, there have been no mysteries regarding Sass’ intentions. At some point, the Englishman is going to find a way to get the action to the ground in hopes of applying his vaunted “Sassangle” or, occasionally, another submission.

Despite showing limited standup and so-so wrestling, that approach has translated into wins over Mark Holst, Michael Johnson and Jacob Volkmann in three UFC appearances. Volkmann, a three-time NCAA All-American wrestler at the University of Minnesota, paid dearly for working in Sass’s guard at UFC 146; despite his credentials, he tapped to a triangle armbar 1:54 into round one.

For his next challenge, the submission specialist gets Wiman, a hard-nosed and experienced opponent with a solid mix of wrestling and standup. Wiman has been out of action since a decision triumph over Mac Danzig in October; a knee injured forced “Handsome” out of a proposed conflict against Mark Bocek at UFC 145. While he has not quite emerged from the middle of the pack at lightweight, Wiman’s toughness and aggression make him an interesting foil for Sass, who has proven that he is more likely to pull guard than take part in any kind of standup exchanges.

In bouts where he is outmatched on the feet, Wiman generally uses a solid one-two combination and leg kicks to allow him to close distance and get the fight to the ground. Against Sass, he might want to alter that strategy and remain standing, especially since the Team Kaobon member seemingly has little to offer as long as the action is upright.

However, Sass has an uncanny ability to get the fight where he wants it, and once on the mat he will constantly shift positions in hopes of finding an opening for a submission. Wiman thwarted Cole Miller, a decent submission specialist in his own right, with heavy ground-and-pound, but he will find that Sass’s guard leaves even less room for error.

The Pick: Wiman has a strong base once he moves into dominant position on the floor, and he will be active with punches, elbows and hammerfists. Because of his willingness to bring the fight, Wiman is a good opponent to test Sass’s toughness and composure. Sass survives some harrowing moments but ultimately uses Wiman’s aggression in his favor to earn a second-round submission.

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