Antoni Hardonk vs. Patrick Barry

The Breakdown: Watching Hardonk and Barry try to grapple is akin to watching Shaquille O’Neal try to out-swim Michael Phelps -- good for a few laughs but ultimately depressing. Thankfully, Hardonk and Barry are fighting each other, so this may turn into the best display of heavyweight kickboxing we will see in a cage this year. Hardonk and Barry are merciless with their leg kicks, and they have a kill-shot mentality that shows in every strike they throw. The difference here is that Hardonk belongs in the heavyweight class, while Barry is still waiting for someone to introduce him to the miracle of weight cutting. Physics is one science you do not want working against you in a fight, and Barry has already struggled against the goliaths that populate the UFC.

The X-Factor: Though we have a right to fear the black hole of skill that will manifest itself if these two hit the mat, a ground battle may represent Barry’s best hope of winning. Trying to work around Hardonk’s reach and power does not seem like a wise option for Barry since his movement and boxing skills are no better than the towering Dutchman’s. The only place Barry knows he will not be in danger is on the mat. Bizarre as it may sound, he might be better off matching weaknesses with Hardonk.

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The Bottom Line: Barry was an intriguing prospect up until his fight with Tim Hague revealed his knowledge of jiu-jitsu is roughly equivalent to my knowledge of ancient Sumerian religious ceremonies. The same could be said for Hardonk, but that will not matter much, as Barry joins a long list of fighters who thought they could stay upright against the disciple of Holland’s legendary Vos Gym. In a cruel twist, Barry will learn what it’s like to have his thigh whipped by a leg kick, as Hardonk batters his overmatched lower extremities before eventually sending him to bed with a right cross midway through the first round.