MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in depth to interrupt down the largest fights within the UFC. Right this moment, he takes a more in-depth take a look at the UFC 302 co-main occasion between former middleweight champion Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa.
Sean Strickland UFC 302 preview
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 08: Sean Strickland of United States poses through the ceremonial weigh in for UFC 293 at Qudos Financial institution Area on September 08, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Picture by Mark Evans/Getty Pictures)
Staple data:
- Top: 6’1″ Age: 33 Weight: 185 lbs. Attain: 76″
- Final combat: Choice loss to Dricus Du Plessis (Jan. 20, 2024)
- Camp: Xtreme Couture MMA (Las Vegas, NV)
- Stance/putting fashion: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Threat administration: Good
Supplemental data:
+ Former UFC middleweight champion
+ King of the Cage middleweight title
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ 11 KO victories
+ 4 submission wins
+ 9 first-round finishes
+ 22-3 within the middleweight division
+ Constant tempo and stress
+ Lengthy and correct jab
^ Coming ahead or off the backfoot
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Strikes effectively off the breaks
+ Underrated wrestling capability
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Good transitional grappler
^ From high or backside
Paulo Costa UFC 302 preview
Paulo Costa UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins
Staple data:
- Top: 6’1″ Age: 33 Weight: 185 lbs. Attain: 72″
- Final combat: Choice loss to Robert Whittaker (February 17, 2024)
- Camp: Crew Borrachinha (Brazil)
- Stance/putting fashion: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Threat administration: Truthful
Supplemental data:
+ “TUF: Brazil 3” alum
+ Jungle Struggle middleweight title
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ A number of grappling accolades
+ 11 KO victories
+ 1 submission win
+ 9 first-round finishes
+ KO energy
+ Imposing stress
^ Feints, stalks, corrals
+ Correct shot choice
^ Variates rhythm, appears to be like and ranges
+ Sturdy inside the clinch
^ Exhibits wrestling fundamentals
+ Works effectively from topside
^ Rides, transitions, strikes
Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa focal point: Middleweight mashup
Sep 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Israel Adesanya (purple gloves) fights Sean Strickland (blue gloves) throughout UFC 293 at Qudos Financial institution Area. Obligatory Credit score: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports activities
The co-main occasion for UFC 302 contains a pairing of middleweights who aren’t afraid to get messy on their ft.
Preventing to his body, Stickland does an honest job of staying lengthy with the occasional entrance teep and a sequence of stinging jabs. Whether or not he’s circling together with his jab off the counter or connecting it to crosses down the middle line, the jab is a shot that Strickland has had a pleasant really feel for since getting into the group.
When feeling in stride, Strickland isn’t afraid to shift stances mid-combination to raised goal fleeing foes. Reverse opponents like Krzysztof Jotko, Strickland was in a position to make the most of stated shifts to gas a gradual dose of low kicks that had been fairly efficient.
Nonetheless, regardless of being a fighter who can do his share of countering, Strickland himself will not be past being countered resulting from his upright posture and a propensity to typically transfer and comply with in straight traces.
Nonetheless, since teaming up with Xtreme Couture’s Eric Nicksick, Strickland has accomplished a significantly better job of controlling the cage, which, in flip, helped him flip in one of many greatest upsets of 2023 when he took the title from Israel Adesanya.
However, Strickland will nonetheless must respect what Paulo Costa is throwing again at him.
An imposing competitor by nature, Costa historically likes to stress his prey towards the fence.
Whether or not Costa is baiting opponents with feints into crushing hooks and physique kicks, or crashing the gap to intercept his opposition with a devastating cross, the Brazilian appears to be genuinely comfy inside exchanges.
Even when caught clear, Costa will no-sell his opponent’s photographs as he returns fireplace proper again of their face, however with an adjusted and diverse rhythm. For me, it’s a formidable feat to see a younger fighter who in any other case looks as if a bully utilizing refined techniques like rhythm and degree modifications to keep away from predictability with strikes.
Costa’s shot choice can also be helpful in the case of corralling his opposition in between the cage and inner-black octagon traces – a spot the place his energy involves life. That stated, Costa did show some strong jabbing techniques in his final outing reverse Robert Whittaker, in addition to a deceptively correct spin kick that would give Strickland flashbacks to his loss to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos down at welterweight.
Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa breakdown: Potential grappling threats
Aug 20, 2022; Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, USA; Paulo Costa (purple gloves) fights Luke Rockhold (blue gloves) throughout UFC 278 at Vivint Area. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports activities
Contemplating that “Borrachinha” initially got here from a base in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, I shall be curious to see if he appears to be like to shock the previous champion by revisiting his roots.
Throughout his transient stint on “The Final Fighter: Brazil 3,” we noticed a really inexperienced model of Costa utilizing cage stress and takedowns to seal the deal on fighters earlier than working out of gasoline and shedding a split-decision (exhibition bout) to Marcio Alexandre on the present. Though the newest iteration of Costa has moved closely towards the putting realm, I’ve to think about that the Mineiro champion of jiu-jitsu’s floor sport remains to be firmly intact.
When competing below the Jungle Struggle banner, Costa demonstrated a capability to transition and journey whereas putting, showing to keep up sense of positional IQ and consciousness. But when the Brazilian does intend on taking Strickland down, then Costa might want to come right together with his setups and executions.
Certain, former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman was in a position to largely dominate Strickland to a choice win; however aside from that, Strickland has made a strong account for himself inside the wrestling realm since stepping onto the UFC scene.
Offensively, Strickland nonetheless reveals the flexibility to hit level-changing doubles when he must, in addition to useful shuck-by’s from the physique lock place that permits him to get an angle on his opponent’s again (that are all good indicators contemplating the harm Strickland sustained in a motorbike accident a couple of years again).
Though we haven’t needed to see a lot shot protection from Strickland since his return to the middleweight division, the 33-year-old American at all times has accomplished an honest job of both separating his opposition’s grips or sprawling and shutting down their takedown makes an attempt outright.
Strickland additionally seems pretty versatile in scrambles, displaying a strong sense of hip consciousness and leg dexterity as well.
Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa odds
The oddsmakers and the general public are favoring the American fighter, itemizing Stickland -265 and Costa +200 by way of FanDuel.
Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa prediction, choose
Regardless of this line beginning to get a bit large for my liking, I don’t disagree with Strickland being favored from a betting perspective.
The outspoken American is undeniably a wildcard outdoors of the octagon, however inside Strickland is among the extra constant fighters that this division has to supply. Whereas Costa, who’s a personality in and out of the cage, could be a lot tougher to foretell.
Stylistically, the fighter who’s transferring ahead ought to have an inherent benefit in exchanges.
Each males aren’t shy about coming ahead, however I’d argue that Strickland is the extra versatile fighter with regard to working off the backfoot when he must. Add in the truth that straight photographs from both stance appear to be Costa’s widespread perpetrator, and I can’t assist however facet with Strickland on this spot.
Except Costa can emphatically convey to mild Strickland’s left-sided strike susceptibilities with a hook or a spin kick, then I believe that the previous champion can draw back from his Brazilian foe down the stretch for a aggressive win on the scorecards.
Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa begin time, the place to look at
Strickland and Costa are anticipated to make their walks to the octagon at roughly 11:45 p.m. ET. The combat streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 302.
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