Road to UFC 2: Episode 3 Breakdown and Predictions

By
Shawn Bitter
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Lightweight, Kazuma Maruyama Vs. Kim Sang Uk

Tale of the Tape

Kazuma Maruyama
Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
30-years-old
5’11”
11-6
Combined opponents’ record: 49-60-16
Kim Sang Uk
Seoul, South Korea
29-years-old
6’0″
8-2
Two-fight win streak
Combined opponents’ record: 6-14

Pros and Cons

Kazuma Maruyama

Pros

  • Nothing

Cons

  • TDD needs work
  • Poor striking defense
  • Slows as the fight goes
  • Struggles against forward pressure
Kim Sang Uk

Pros

  • Good wrestling
  • Strikes to wrestle well
  • Good positional grappling
  • Solid grappling
  • Good ground and pound

Cons

  • Questionable chin
  • Flat-footed at times
  • One-dimensional

Prediction: Uk isn’t anything special but I have trouble finding any qualities Maruyama has. He does have a slight advantage on the feet. With that, Uk could very well get caught coming forward.

I see a more likely chance of Uk getting on the inside, getting takedowns however. I would say Uk has the biggest advantage in the fight and that’s in the grappling department. Maruyama has looked poor in previous fights fending off takedowns so I’d imagine Uk shouldn’t have a problem. I don’t expect a lot from this fight but I do have Uk winning.

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