Preview: DWCS Season 3, Episode 10

Sang Hoon Yoo vs. Peter Barrett

The Korean MMA invasion looks like it has staying power for the UFC, and Yoo could soon become the latest addition to the roster. The 29-year-old is unbeaten at 5-0 and is one of the most talented fighters on the Asian market. “The Korean Assassin” is an aggressive high-volume striker, constantly moves forward while throwing combinations and does well at mixing his punches with his kicks. The South Korean fighter’s kicks are his best weapon. He has the ability to attack the calves with kicks and has great dexterity in his legs to throw either one at his opponent’s chin in an instant. The Busan Team MAD representative gives his opponent a large target by keeping his chin in the air but always throws strikes in return whenever his opponent attempts an attack. Yoo will excite the crowd by attempting a flying knee or tossing his opponent to the canvas with a judo throw. He has been taken down by better wrestlers in the past and struggled to get back to his feet. Yoo is unlike many Asian fighters because he will taunt his opponent after landing a strike or being hit with a big shot. While he has looked sensational during his young career, he has feed on some low-level fodder.

At first glance, Barrett being selected for DWCS after dropping three of his last five fights is a head-scratcher. However, when you dig deeper, you discover that Barrett was not in a strong state of mind after the death of his father and brother. The New Englander has spoken about his battle with depression, and after seeking some mental health help, he appears to be ready to get back on track. Despite the recent skid, “Slippery Pete” owns a 10-3 professional record with nine finishes, seven of them in the first round. The 33-year-old cross-trains at Team Sityodtong and Lauzon MMA. He is a bit undersized for lightweight and has already indicated that he plans is to move back to featherweight if he reaches the UFC. The Cage Titans and CES MMA veteran is a southpaw striker who wants a brawl. He likes to slide into the pocket and fire off wild strikes, with his overhand left being his money maker. He throws everything with conviction and is prone to overthrowing his punches at times, leaving himself to be countered by a big shot or a takedown. He gets hit often because he tries to avoid punches by just pulling his head back. Barrett throws a lot of hard kicks to the body. The clinch appears to be his comfort zone, as he fires off hard knees to the body. He will occasionally look for a takedown but is burdened with weak defensive wrestling. He has given up his back in the past while trying to work himself up from the bottom.

The South Korean is the younger fighter and has a lot more momentum on his side. Expect both fighters to land some solid shots during the bout, but Yoo is more technical and should win the majority of their exchanges. Yoo takes a unanimous decision but fails to find employment in the UFC.

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