170 lbs: Anthony “Rumble” Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki “Zenko” Yoshida
Odds: (-365 Johnson / +285 Yoshida) at Sportsbook.com
The opening bout of the evening is a Welterweight showdown pitting physical freak Anthony “Rumble” Johnson against Yoshiyuki “Zenko” Yoshida, a well-rounded judoka who has competed in SHOOTO and Cage Force. Although both are up and comers, a win here would definitely help them both move up a rung on the ladder toward a title shot, so this should be a competitive affair.
Yoshida, a judoka who also has some knockout power, sports a well-rounded skill set and more experience than his 11-3 record would indicate. With wins over Dan Hardy, Akira Kikuchi, and Katsuya Inoue under his belt, Yoshida has already accomplished a lot. In his debut in the Octagon, Yoshida finished Ultimate Fighter alum War Machine with a nice anaconda choke less than a minute into the fight, but his momentum was short-lived. In his next appearance, Yoshida was destroyed and sent to the hospital by Josh Koscheck. Although he bounced back quickly with another first round submission over Brandon Wolff, Johnson’s style is reminiscent of Koscheck’s so Yoshida is going to have to be careful to avoid a repeat performance.
Anthony “Rumble” Johnson is one of the most athletic and physically gifted Welterweights in the UFC. Although his technique is still a work in progress, it is impossible to doubt the potency of Johnson’s offense. He has explosive wrestling and a surplus of punching power, coupled with an aggressive style that can overwhelm his opponents. The biggest weakness in Johnson’s game is probably his jiu-jitsu, especially his submission defense. Yoshida is a slick grappler, and if this fight goes to the ground Johnson is going to have to stay aware and not give him anything to work with.
I think the stylistic edge goes to Johnson in this one. Yoshida has a very good ground game and good takedowns, but Johnson’s wrestling background and superior physical strength should be enough to keep the fight standing. On the feet, “Rumble” is the clear favorite. Neither fighter has stellar standup technique, but Johnson’s punching power and explosiveness are superior.
Fight Prediction: Johnson by KO, round 1.
