Drew McFedries vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam
In a fairly inexplicable Light Heavyweight bout, journeyman Drew McFedries will square off against late replacement Xavier Foupa-Pokam. Both men are primarily known for their standup fighting, with McFedries having good punching power and Foupa-Pokam possessing solid Muay Thai.
Why this fight is even on the main card is beyond me. McFedries has dropped four of his last six fights, and suffers from Crohn’s Disease, an intestinal disorder that by his own admission hampers his athletic ability greatly. He has mediocre boxing but can punch fairly hard. All told, McFedries’ best attribute is his toughness. Fighting despite having Crohn’s Disease is certainly commendable, but it doesn’t usually make for the best fights, especially considering that, on top of his physical issues, McFedries’ skills are severely underdeveloped.
As for his opponent, Foupa-Pokum’s record of 20-10 is especially underwhelming when you consider that every decent fighter he has ever faced beat him badly. All 20 of his wins are against, at best, middling opposition. He was pretty much brought in to UFC so that he could lose to the slumping Denis Kang, but managed to secure himself another check from Zuffa by taking this fight on short notice. Both fighters should be commended for their bravery and toughness, but neither guy should be commended for their fighting ability.
McFedries by TKO in round 2? Sure.
