Editor’s note: This story originally published on July 4.
MMA Junkie Radio co-host and MMA Junkie contributor Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at a featured fight on the main card of UFC 239.
UFC 239 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Jorge Masvidal (33-13 MMA, 10-6 UFC)
Staple info:
- Height: 5’11” Age: 34 Weight: 170 lbs. Reach: 74″
- Last fight: KO win over Darren Till (March 16, 2019)
- Camp: American Top Teap (Florida)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ AFC welterweight title
+ Undefeated in the streets
+ 14 KO victories
+ 2 submission wins
+ 7 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Slick boxing technique
^ Accurate shot selection
+ Improved kicking game
+ Solid balance and footwork
+ Active transition and clinch game
^ Strikes well off of the breaks
+ Excellent wrestling ability
+ Underrated submission acumen
^ Works well from the front-headlock
Ben Askren (19-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Staple info:
- Height: 5’11” Age: 34 Weight: 170 lbs. Reach: 72″
- Last fight: Submission win over Robbie Lawler (March 2, 2019)
- Camp: Roufusport (Milwaukee)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight titles
+ 2x NCAA Div. 1 national champ
+ 4x NCAA Div. 1 All-American wrestler
+ 6 KO victories
+ 6 submission wins
+ 10 first-round finishes
+ Relentless pace and pressure
^ Deceptive athleticism and durability
+/- Developing striking game
^ Primarily uses it to make entries
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Superb from body lock position
+ Chains together takedowns well
+ Excellent transitional grappler
^ Rides and scrambles seamlessly
Point of interest: Avoiding the three-piece combo
UFC 239 may offer two title fights at the top, but many, like myself, are most looking forward to the styles clash between Jorge Masvidal and Ben Askren.
Askren, who made his name in the wrestling world by becoming one of two men to earn the Dan Hodge Trophy twice (amidst many other accolades), is used to having an on-paper disadvantage when striking on the feet. And though the former Mizzou Tiger makes no qualms about using his striking as more of a means to an end, fighters who can offer up something in the counter-wrestling department have seemingly been his tougher tests.
Thankfully for Askren, his confidence seems to translate just fine when having to stalk forward and throw strikes, showing an occasional glimpse of flash when feeling in stride. Askren also appears to have been gifted with a granite chin, something that has kept him in more than a couple contests throughout his career.
Proven toughness aside, Askren cannot afford to make the same mistakes as many by being too confident or solely rely on his durability when facing Masvidal.
The Cuban’s style and available output may have had him arguably too comfortable at times when competing at lightweight, costing him crucial rounds in close fights (fights that many thought he had won). That said, we have seen a different iteration of Masvidal since his ascension up the welterweight division.
Now, pursuing much more aggressively, Masvidal will mix in his improved kicks off of Thai-style marches. Working well off of his patented left hand, the 16-year vet controls the center line with authority, varying between straight shots to the head or hooks to the body.
Seldom extending himself too far out of position, Masvidal can be hard to hit cleanly or counter with a level-changing shot (despite his somewhat tall stance). That said, I will be curious to see if Masvidal avoids the trap of being overly conservative considering the level of wrestler he will be mixing it up with on Saturday night.
Next point of interest: Deterring the funk
Point of interest: Deterring the funk
Given that Askren seemingly gets all of his fights to the mat, Masvidal fans around the world are likely wondering if he can avoid “the funk.”
For those who have not been following Masvidal’s career for the past decade, you may be surprised to find out that the first thing the former street fighter started to sharpen in MMA was his wrestling chops. A longtime member of American Top Team, Masvidal has had all the appropriate guidance and training partners, as his technics have quietly translated to the cage for some time.
Not only has Masvidal maintained consistent standings in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions for takedown defense ratings, but he also applies the fine detail in small spaces that often go unnoticed.
From the savviness of Masvidal’s hips to his intuition of when and how to circle out, you can see why he receives unanimous praise from those in the know. Even when taken down, Masvidal has a persistent pop to his get-up game, cleverly using the cage or defensively circling to avoid getting his back compromised (a habit that could come in handy against the likes of Askren).
Still, fighters who can wrestle have traditionally troubled Masvidal, which is why an accoladed wrestler like Askren makes for such an intriguing matchup.
Although Askren can hit things like level-changing doubles to get things done, the former four-time All-American does his best work when getting in on a body lock. Once able to clasp his hands, Askren hits persuasive trips or tosses that he can chain from one to another if he chooses to. If Masvidal lets his current foe that far in, then he will definitely be in store for some funk.
As the nickname “Funky” would suggest, Askren developed his brand of funk-style out of necessity to stay afloat with what he felt were more athletic wrestlers. He made it to the finals twice as a freshman and sophomore, but lost twice to the same wrestler: Chris Pendleton.
After that, Askren made a switch from folk-style to freestyle wrestling, a category that carried a rule set that was much kinder to his funky stylings. Even then, you could see his natural aptitude for grappling as Askren was already utilizing positions like 50-50 leg entanglements to reverse or steer opposition, sometimes earning pins out of his efforts.
In MMA, Askren has obviously been a bit more judicious with his approach given the strikes and submissions at play. However, this has not necessarily been good news for any of Askren’s opponents considering the relentless wave of strikes from wrist-ride positions that are likely coming their way.
With that in mind, I will be curious to see the approach of Masvidal considering the potential consequences from just one takedown.
Next point of interest: Odds, opinion and prediction
Point of interest: Odds and opinions
Despite the line tightening up a bit, the oddsmakers and public seem to still be high on the undefeated fighter, listing Askren -260 and Masvidal +220 as of this writing.
Though the line seems to be correcting itself in regards to tightness, I can’t say that I disagree with who is favored. I’m an admitted Masvidal fan and picked him to upset Darren Till, but I have a hard time backing him with confidence here.
If this were a five-round fight, then I would roll the dice on Masvidal to survive the early pressure, picking his spots throughout and exploiting a tiring Askren toward the end. But in a three-round affair, it is not too difficult for me to see Askren being able to effectively wrestle and smother for two-out-of-three rounds, frustrating the Cuban to a win on the cards.
Perhaps it’s my fandom toward Masvidal that’s causing me to over-correct the steering wheel, but the pick is Askren to convincingly control the first two rounds before barely surviving the third – earning himself a unanimous-nod on the scorecards.
Prediction: Askren by decision
For more on UFC 239, check out the UFC Schedule.
