Road to UFC 2: Episode 1 Breakdown and Predictions

By
Shawn Bitter
-

Flyweight, Mark Climaco Vs. Jung Hyun Lee

Tale of the Tape

Mark Climaco
Fremont, California, US
25-years-old
5’4″
8-1
Two-fight win streak
Combined opponents’ record: 25-2
Jung Hyun Lee
Kanagawa, Japan
20-years-old
5’5″
8-0
Thirteen-fight win streak
Combined opponents’ record: 24-38-2

Pros and Cons

Mark Climaco

Pros

  • Excellent wrestling
  • Slick short combinations
  • Wonderful defensive wrestling
  • Well-timed takedown entries
  • Good positional grappler
  • Good ground and pound
  • Chain-wrestles very well
  • High work-rate
  • Good kickboxer
  • High wrestling pace
  • Submission threat
  • Throws a lot of different patterns
  • Good counter striker

Cons

  • Head sits on the centerline at times

Jung Hyun Lee

Pros

  • Heavy leg kicks
  • Explosive
  • Quick hands
  • Good volume
  • Uses feints well
  • Dangerous in the pocket

Cons

  • Flat-footed
  • Too willing to exchange

Prediction: I love this fight and I hate that it’s happening in the first round of the tournament. This is a UFC-level fight so it’s a shame one has to suffer a setback.

Climaco has been knocked out before so he has to be aware of the power from Lee. Climaco would’ve made much more sense to be on the Contender Series but he’s probably my favorite to win the flyweight bracket. At this point, I think Climaco is the more complete fighter and has fought way better competition. Climaco is proven whereas Lee is still growing.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR