UFC Vegas 78 Clash: Swanson vs. Swanson Davud!

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight knockout artists Cub Swanson and Hakeem Dawodu will clash this weekend (Saturday, August 12, 2023) at UFC Vegas 78 inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, United States. Nevada

Swanson has been arguing with the best for years. The 39-year-old has noticeably slowed down in recent years. having only gone 3-3 since 2019. Still, his power and tricky setup remain. Although Swanson has lost quite a bit of speed and durability, if nothing else, at least he’s not trying to cut into the bantamweight division anymore! Dawodu is an incredibly clean Muay Thai fighter. Unfortunately, his activity rate may be low. It was as if he was sparing a slick technique. To irony us! He’s also a tough guy to fall for. and there was a period It looked like he was going into a fight before losing two of his last three.

Let’s take a closer look at the keys to victory for each of them:

Swanson baby

record: 28-13
Major victories: Dustin Poirier (UFC on Fuel TV 7), Kron Gracie (UFC Fight Night 161), Jeremy Stephens (UFC Fight Night 44), Hacran Dias (UFC on FOX 19), Charles Oliveira (UFC 152), Doo Ho Choi (UFC 206), Darren Elkins (UFC Vegas 45).
Key loss: Giga Chikadze (UFC Vegas 25), Frankie Edgar (UFC Fight Night 128, UFC Fight Night 57), Max Holloway (UFC on FOX 15), Brian Ortega (UFC Fight Night 123), Renato Moicano (UFC 227).
Key to Victory: “Killer Cub” is a fan favorite for a few reasons. His ability to put together creative combinations of powerful attacks from all distances is outstanding. And Swanson was never afraid to throw himself into the fire in search of the finish line.

Although Swanson has some tricky calf kicks in his arsenal — he leads the curve at the end with a calf kick before it’s cool — this is a fight that Swanson clearly needs the bag for. He is a better combination fighter with more power in the hand, while Dawodu is good at long range kicks.

So pressure is important. Swanson had to cut the ring off. This can be difficult due to his propensity to chase corners. He’ll need more time in front of Dawodu, a dangerous but necessary opportunity.

Volume will be important here as well. Erosa seems to be Dawodu’s obsession with aggression and numbers. It made him look a lot less polished. Maybe that was Swanson’s path as well?

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Hakeem Davudu

record: 13-3-1
Major victories: Zubaira Tukhugov (UFC 253), Michael Trizano (UFC Vegas 47), Julio Arce (UFC 244), Kyle Bochniak (UFC 231)
Key loss: Movsar Evloev (UFC 263), Julian Erosa (UFC 279), Danny Henry (UFC Fight Night 127)
Key to Victory: Dawodu’s kickboxing is very clean whenever he opens up. It was a short mix of good form punctuated by a punishing kick. when he is aggressive The results are often harsh and in his favor! “Mean” has held nearly 60 Muay Thai bouts at the amateur and professional level.

Dawodu can be frustrating. He didn’t push his advantage. And a physically and technically gifted fighter should not lose to Julian Erosa. That loss, coupled with missing weight, raises many questions about his current abilities in this fight.

Fortunately, the game plan here is surprisingly simple. Swanson’s last two losses have broken him with powerful kicks and Dawodu has been an outstanding player! Swanson’s body couldn’t handle the heavy liver kick. and his stance weakens his leading leg. Dawodu has the tools to punish both channels.

A determined game of kicking and the occasional counter punch should keep Dawodu firmly in control.

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bottom line

This battle must be a lot of fun.

Swanson, 39, fought in the under 170 pound division. He was clearly closer to the end of his career than the beginning. At this point, Swanson’s fight might be his last fight, so really the goal should be appreciated. “Killer Cub” as he continues to perform at a fairly high level. He wasn’t at his peak. But he’s not a reserve fodder in his ideal weight class.

For Dawodu, this fight is crucial if he wants his career to get back on track. He was recently ranked and undefeated in the UFC! Right now he doesn’t have the momentum in a division full of talent. The only way out is to keep winning, but Swanson punching such an aggressive and dominant display would be an argument for him getting a corner kick.

At UFC Vegas 78, Cub Swanson and Hakeem Dawodu will go to war in a co-main event. Which man will win?

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remember MMAmania.com Will offer round-by-round live broadcasts Covers all UFC Vegas 78 fight rights. hereStart with ESPN/ESPN+ The “Prelims,” ​​which are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, then the main card balances remain (also on ESPN/ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET.

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