UFC 111 Preview: The Prelims

Ricardo Almeida vs. Matt Brown

The Breakdown: The latest quality fighter to fall for the weight-cutting trend is Brazilian jiu-jitsu demigod Ricardo Almeida. He’s cutting down to 170 pounds to take on the mad-bomber striking of Matt Brown. Somewhat unfairly regarded as a one-note striker, Brown has actually developed solid takedown and submission defense to complement his obscene punching power.

Those skills will make Almeida’s welterweight debut an exercise in evasion, as his wrestling has let him down before and his striking is anemic on a good day. Cutting weight addresses neither issue, leaving Almeida in the same hole he was in as a middleweight. That is, he’s an incredibly talented grappler who lacks the complementary skills to consistently beat quality opponents.

Of course Almeida is capable of winning this fight. Any takedowns he scores will leave “The Immortal” well out of his element. Banking on the possibility of takedowns, however, is a poor strategy in modern MMA. Considering the aggression and accuracy of Brown’s striking, Almeida could lose before he even gets a chance to turn the tables on his quarry.

The Bottom Line: There really is no telling how the drop in weight will affect Almeida, but it certainly won’t turn him into a double-leg machine. A few stuffed takedowns will leave the New York native desperate, and once Brown gets a whiff of worry, he’ll start pouring on the pressure and pain for the win.