UFC Vegas 22 is happening this Saturday, with the octagon once again installed at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV. The card is headlined by middleweight action featuring Derek Brunson taking on the red hot Kevin Holland. Also on the card is Gregor Gillespie vs. Brad Riddell in the co-main event. In a heavyweight bout, Tai Tuivasa (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) was supposed to fight Don’Tale Mayes. Mayes wasn’t medically cleared and in comes Contender Series veteran Harry Hunsucker.
Harry Hunsucker
6’1″
Heavyweight
32-years-old
Mount Vernon, Kentucky, US
Elite Martial Arts
7-3
3 KO/TKOs
4 Submissions’
How will Hunsucker fare in the UFC:
If you look at his build, being 32, and training out of Kentucky Harry Hunsucker is actually better than he looks on paper. What Hunsucker does well from the start of the fight is that he brings the heat, throwing nothing but bombs. He throws big powerful hooks and heavy leg kicks. He has decent wrestling and has three submission wins. As a pro, he’s never been out of the first round win or lose.
Hunsucker is wild in his approach but you can’t knock him due to his pressure, volume, and ability to mix in a bit of everything. It is a good sign that his two losses are to UFC fighters, although Don’Tale Mayes and Jared Vanderaa are newer to the promotion themselves. When you look at the guys Hunsucker has defeated, it’s against lesser competition for sure. The combined record of the opponents he has beat is 32-48, with just two fighters sporting a winning record — barely. The thing is, once he’s fought someone at the same level as him Hunsucker has fallen short. He’s exciting and will bring it every time but he’s not going find the same guys he’s beat in Kentucky in the UFC.
- Striking: C+
- Kickboxing: C+
- Clinch: C+
- Wrestling: C
- Grappling: C-
- Striking Defense: C-
- Takedown Defense: C-
- Cardio: ?
- Biggest Strength: Volume
- Biggest Weakness: Striking/Takedown defense
How he matches up with Tuivasa:
The blueprint to beat Tuivasa is to take him to deep waters and impose the wrestling. That style isn’t Hunsucker’s and although he has scored takedowns in his career, his wrestling likely won’t fare too well against better fighters. You may actually see Tuivasa being the one to initiate takedowns in this one. I do see Tuivasa giving the fight Hunsucker wants in just standing toe-to-toe and throwing bombs, however. Tuivasa is a more proven fighter and does have a solid chin, and more times than not I like Tuivasa to win that brawl. The pick is Tuivasa and I’m confident in saying that.
