UFC 111 Preview: The Prelims

Rodney Wallace vs. Jared Hamman

The Breakdown: With disappointing debuts thankfully in the rearview mirror, both Rodney Wallace and Jared Hamman now have to worry about staying in the UFC. Someone is likely being served a pink slip after this bout, and the outcome depends on who can overcome the glaring flaws that led to both men losing in the Octagon the first time around.

Wallace is a decent grappler from top control. Hamman is your prototypical slugger, and neither fighter has much in the way of complementary skills. While Hamman is certainly far more capable of ending the fight at a moment’s notice, his lanky frame and sub-par wrestling make him a Texas-sized target for Wallace’s takedowns.

In his fight with Brian Stann at “The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale,” Wallace ran into a brick wall because of Stann’s movement and jab, neither of which are a big part of Hamman’s game. Having some power is no longer the great equalizer in MMA, and while Wallace is certainly a flawed fighter, he’s got a decent chin and more than enough wrestling to remind Hamman why one-note fighters are having a hard time making a living in the Octagon.

The Bottom Line: Every undercard now seems to have a fight designed to help the UFC shed a contract, and this is definitely it. Wallace isn’t going to willingly slug it out, and his takedowns are plenty good enough to get Hamman way outside his comfort zone. Plenty of positional dominance will eventually pave the way for Wallace to notch a late submission at the expense of Hamman’s right arm.