Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Boetsch vs. Henderson’

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BANTAMWEIGHTS

Joe Soto (15-3, 0-1 UFC) vs. Anthony Birchak (11-2, 0-1 UFC)

THE MATCHUP: Former Bellator MMA champion Soto finally returns to the Octagon after making a short-notice debut against T.J. Dillashaw for the title at UFC 177. He draws Birchak, who was originally supposed to be his opponent in both fighters’ promotional debuts in August. Both fighters are polished and experienced, and this should be an excellent matchup.

Soto can operate with some skill in every phase. On the feet, he does his best work countering in the pocket, using his head movement and tight guard to avoid his opponent’s shots and fire back with his own, particularly his straight right-left hook combination. A former junior college competitor at Iowa Central alongside Jon Jones and Colby Covington, Soto has an excellent wrestling game, with a strong offensive preference for the single-leg, good chains and generally solid defensive skills. On the mat, he hunts for the guillotine and back-takes in transition and does good work from the top.

Birchak is big, strong and pathologically aggressive. He is a dangerous striker who loves to sling punch-kick combinations as he moves forward into his preferred wheelhouse, the clinch. A former wrestler, Birchak likes to work his takedowns from the tie-ups and has a yen for inside trips and hip tosses that complement his knees and elbows inside. He really excels at sneaking in powerful punches and elbows, both as he moves into the clinch and as he exits. Birchak controls and drops bombs from top position, and while he is not a submission wizard, he can find positional advancements or the occasional finish in transition.

THE PICK: This is a close matchup -- and an interesting one. I initially leaned toward Birchak in August and would still not be surprised if his greater athleticism and power overwhelmed Soto, but I now think the former Bellator champion’s cleaner, tighter and more defensively sound game should prevail. The pick is Soto by decision.

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