Injuries to next week’s pay-per-view card, UFC 234, have led to Callan Potter making his promotional debut. Here’s what’s to know about the Australian lightweight.
UFC 234 is hitting Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on February 9. Over the past few days, the event has had a bit of a shake-up, with a couple of fights falling through. In a lightweight bout, Jalin Turner was supposed to fight Alex Gorgees, but Gorgees pulled out of the bout. The UFC went on to sign Australian veteran Callan Potter to fight Turner.
Callan “The Rockstar” Potter
6’1″
Lightweight
34-years-old
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Renegade MMA
17-7
6 KO/TKO
10 Submissions (5 Rear-Naked Chokes, 2 Guillotines, Arm-Triangle, Armbar, Triangle)
Get to Know Callan Potter:
Before MMA, Potter played one year in the Victorian Football League for the Werribee Tigers and was a two-time state representative for the Victorian Amateur Football Association. Potter began BJJ at the age of 22 to maintain fitness, and became a black belt down the line during the offseason of the VFL. BJJ would later get him into MMA at the age of 26. His pro MMA career started on May of 2011 after a 3-1 amateur career.
His career got off to a rocky start, going 3-3, but two of those losses came to former UFC fighter Richard Walsh and current UFC fighter, Jake Matthews. Potter would find his stride and go on an eight-fight win streak, winning the Eternal MMA and HEX Fight Series championship. Now in his last 10 bouts, he’s 9-1 with that sole loss coming to former Bellator and UFC veteran Marcin Held. The Aussie has two defenses of his Valor Fights welterweight title, and one defense of both his HEX Fight Series and Eternal MMA lightweight titles, never losing any of his belts.
How Callan Potter Will Fare in the UFC:
Potter is 34-years-old with 24 combined pro fights, so he’s not the fighter he once was. In his last bout, it wasn’t a good showing as his cardio wore quick, was much slower, and defense really lacked. Maybe that last fight was just due to some type of other issues, because other than that, Potter is a good talent.
On the mat is where Potter is most dangerous, mainly with his chokes in the midst of scrambles. On the feet, he’s always had trouble with defense, taking too many shots. Potter does have some power in his hands and has three head kick knockouts. He’s not too skilled as a wrestler, but once on top, he’s solid when it comes to position and transitions. Overall, I like Potter. He brings it every time, but I think he struggles at this point in his career.
How Callan Potter Matches Up with Jalin Turner:
Turner is an excellent prospect and still very young at only 23-years old. He lost in his promotional debut via KO, but to the very talented Vincente Luque. Turner easily wins this on the feet as he has the jab, technique, explosiveness, and kicks to fall back on. Turner has struggled off his back, and if Potter gets the takedown I can see him finding a submission. Considering Potter’s lack of wrestling chops against the taller 6’3″ Turner, I see him struggling to close the distance.
