SPORTSSHERDOG
Sherdog.com Home
News Blog Videos Sherdog Radio Pictures MMA Statistics Sherdog Forums Sherdog Store
Fight Finder

  First Name
  Last Name
  Nick Name
Articles Quicklinks
» Freaks and Geeks
» UFC 109 Analysis: The Main Card
» White Not Amused with Ortiz-Coleman Exchange
» UFC 109 Results and Live Play-by-Play
» Sonnen: 'I Hope Anderson Wins'
» Pros Pick: Couture vs. Coleman
» UFC 109 Preview: The Prelims
» UFC 109 Preview: The Main Card
» Tompkins: Coleman the Tougher Legend
» 10 February Tussles Worth Watching
UFC 104 Preview: The Prelims  
 Options: | Printer Friendly
by Tomas Rios (trios@sherdog.com)

Sherdog.com

Kyle Kingsbury
Razak Al-Hassan vs. Kyle Kingsbury

The Breakdown: No one really knows what these fighters are capable of doing inside the Octagon. Al-Hassan made a name for himself on the regional circuit by racking up submission wins but looked robotic on the feet in his UFC debut against Steve Cantwell. What’s worse, his only display of grappling consisted of him employing the go-ahead-I-dare-you-to-break-it armbar defense. Kingsbury at least showed some solid striking and takedown defense against Tom Lawlor, and he has not spent the last 10 months recovering from a broken arm.

The X-Factor: We keep hearing Al-Hassan described as a talented fighter who was tossed into the deep end of the pool way too early in his career, and that could be true. Prospects are an unpredictable lot, and Al-Hassan has the long frame and grappling background to give jiu-jitsu deficient light heavyweights pause. Whether he can find the holes in Kingsbury’s takedown defense remains the question that will likely decide his UFC future -- or lack thereof.

***

The Bottom Line: While this fight seems far more manageable for Al-Hassan than the one preceding it, Kingsbury still has the style to beat him. That stiff-as-a-board, hands-way-out-in-front stance that Al-Hassan inexplicably uses is like holding up a sign that says, “Please, knock me out!” Kingsbury will eventually oblige that desire with a right cross late in the opening stanza.

More UFC 104 News
Previous Page | Next Page: Struve vs. Gormley   
RELATED NEWS:
The Doggy Bag: Was 'Shogun' Robbed?
Sunday, November 01, 2009
The Weekly Wrap: Oct. 24 - Oct. 30
Saturday, October 31, 2009
‘Shogun’ Unleashes Disappointment at Judges
Friday, October 30, 2009
Brazilian Pros Discuss Machida-Shogun
Thursday, October 29, 2009
'Shogun' Reflects on Controversial Decision
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Big Plans: Velasquez Talks Future Opponents
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
RECENT PATRICK BARRY NEWS:
Barry Banks $120K in UFC 104 Bonuses
Sunday, October 25, 2009
5 Questions: UFC 104
Saturday, October 24, 2009
UFC 104 Closer Look: Hardonk-Barry
Friday, October 23, 2009
UFC 98 Live Weigh-in Results
Friday, May 22, 2009
Search News Archive:   February 2010     January 2010     December 2009    
Sherdog.com, A property of CraveOnline, a division of AtomicOnline, LLC.
© 2009 CraveOnline Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | RSS | Mobile | Advertise
Not in any way associated with Crave Entertainment, Inc.