Preview: UFC 206 ‘Holloway vs. Pettis’

Welterweights

Jordan Mein (29-10) vs. Emil Weber Meek (8-2-1)

THE MATCHUP: Meek is here because he knocked out Rousimar Palhares. It is a time-honored tradition: The UFC releases a fighter just before his career falls apart entirely and then signs the man who bested him. See Damon Jackson, Josh Burkman and now Meek. Mein, on the other hand, is here because he feels like it. A veteran of nearly 40 fights, Mein retired last August. Though just 2-3 in his UFC career, Mein is not the kind of fighter to whom the promotion would say no. So when the 27-year-old changed his mind, the UFC welcomed him right back and matched him with this big Norwegian, who may or may not turn into something valuable.

Meek is not a bad fighter, but my feeling on this one is that his arrival in the UFC has more to do with Palhares’ sudden decline than it does a sudden increase in Meek’s own talent. Though he is an inch shorter than Mein, Meek is freakishly large for the welterweight division. He is one of the few Palhares opponents whose body actually compared favorably with that of the Brazilian. This is not Meek’s first scheduled UFC bout, however, and the fact that he withdrew from his last fight in order to clear up a few unspecified issues with United States Anti-Doping Agency does raise a few questions.

Regardless, Meek is nowhere near Mein’s level in terms of technique and versatility. Meek tends to alternate between covering up and swinging his right hand. He is a puncher first and foremost, but his setups are limited. By contrast, Mein is an excellent offensive technician, with a full complement of kicks, punches, knees and elbows at his disposal. He can flit about with a sort of karate style, but he is at his best when he works behind the jab and unleashes killer punch combinations.

THE ODDS: Mein (-160), Meek (+135)

THE PICK: Some fans are quite hyped about Meek, but he needs to put on a few solid performances against relevant competition before getting any signs of excitement out of me. Beating Mein would not fit that bill exactly, but it would go a long way toward backing up the promise Meek made when he knocked out Palhares. Based on his footage, however, Meek is not yet ready. He has the will, but the skill is still in the mail. The pick is Mein by second-round TKO.

Last Fights » The Prelims