World Series of Fighting 4 Preview

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Lightweights

Tyson Griffin (16-6, 0-0 WSOF) vs. Gesias Cavalcante (17-7-1, 1-1 WSOF)

The Matchup: Once a rising talent in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight division, Griffin makes his WSOF debut having lost four of his last six fights. The Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts product was victorious in his first foray outside the Octagon, taking a unanimous verdict against fellow UFC veteran Efrain Escudero at a Resurrection Fighting Alliance show in November. Although it seems like Griffin has been around forever, he is still just 29 years old -- plenty young enough to continue his resurgence.

Cavalcante, meanwhile, was stopped for the second time in three fights at WSOF 2, where Justin Gaethje opened a deep cut on the Brazilian’s forehead in the opening frame. Like Griffin, “JZ” was once a highly regarded lightweight, but he has not won consecutive fights since 2007. Once upon a time, Cavalcante could rely on sheer athleticism to overwhelm his adversaries, but time and injuries have robbed him of some of that explosiveness. Still, the Blackzilians member transitions well between striking and submissions, and he has enough knockout ability to threaten Griffin, who has proven vulnerable to power punches in recent losses to Takanori Gomi and Bart Palaszewski.

Griffin remains a well-rounded competitor, good at trading on the feet and battling for position through transitions and scrambles on the canvas. At his best, Griffin is a fundamentally sound boxer who does good work in close quarters. He also possesses heavy leg kicks, though those could leave him open to counters from Cavalcante.

If Griffin blends his striking and takedowns effectively, he should be able to wear down Cavalcante over the second half of the fight. Solid submission defense will allow Griffin to take chances in battles for position on the mat, although he is not especially prolific at landing offense from top position.

The Pick: Despite his recent rough stretch, Cavalcante remains a resilient competitor. However, he will eventually find his gas tank running empty against an aggressive Griffin, who outworks his opponent to earn a unanimous decision.

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