MMA Junkie Radio co-host and MMA Junkie contributor Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC on ESPN+ 12.
UFC on ESPN+ 12 takes place Saturday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. The event streams on ESPN+.
Renato Moicano (13-2-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC)
Staple info:
- Height: 5’11” Age: 30 Weight: 145 lbs. Reach: 72″
- Last fight: TKO loss to Jose Aldo (Feb. 2, 2019)
- Camp: American Top Team (Florida)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/muay Thai
- Risk management: Excellent
Supplemental info:
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ Regional MMA titles
+ 6 submission wins
+ 1 first-round finish
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Solid muay Thai technique
^ Hard leg kicks
+ Accurate hooks and crosses
^ Coming forward and off the counter
+ Competent inside the clinch
+ Developing wrestling game
^ Good reactive shot
+ Solid transitional grappler
+ Always looks for back
^ 6 wins by rear-naked-choke
Chan Sung Jung (14-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC)
Staple info:
- Height: 5’7″ Age: 32 Weight: 145 lbs. Reach: 72″
- Last fight: Knockout loss to Yair Rodriguez (Nov. 10, 2018)
- Camp: Korean Zombie MMA (South Korea)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Risk management: Fair
Supplemental info:
+ Kickboxing experience
^ Pro record of 15-6 with 11 KO’s
+ 4 KO victories
+ 8 submission wins
+ 8 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Relentless pace and pressure
+ Effective combination striker
^ Often shifts stances on attack
+ Catches kicks and counters well
+ Underrated wrestling ability
+ Superb transitional grappler
^ Works well from front-headlock
– Inconsistent fight schedule
^ 2 fights in the last 6 years
Point of interest: Feeding the flame
The main event in Greenville features a fun featherweight matchup that carries a deceptively short fuse in regards to its potential for fireworks on the feet.
Despite stepping onto the UFC scene with submissions being his forte, Renato Moicano quickly demonstrated that he was paying proper attention to all parts of his game – including his striking.
Steadily developing a muay Thai arsenal, Moicano can either stalk or stick and move, using hard kicks from both sides. Striking in combination when feeling in stride, the 30-year-old does increasingly better at punching his way in and out of the pocket.
Whether Moicano is coming forward or countering, his left hook-right cross triggers appear to be deeply rooted, committing to a response each time. That said, when Moicano does decide to plant and return, he is not beyond being touched himself.
Both Jose Aldo and Calvin Kattar were able to find moments of success in timing right hands over the top of Moicano’s jabs, which makes me curious as to how the young Brazilian’s style will stack up with a savvy veteran who is familiar with the jab and its associated counters.
Enter Chan Sung Jung.
Earning his moniker of “The Korean Zombie,” Jung is a relentless pressure-fighter who embodies the fighting spirit of his nation. Coming from a kickboxing base, Jung confidently presses through space, almost inviting his opposition in. And once he can corral his target between the cage and inner-black octagon lines, Jung morphs into a non-disseminating offensive marauder, going to work on any piece of flesh that becomes available.
Whether he is slipping and returning slick uppercut-hook variations or unleashing flying knees up the center, Jung offers plenty of offense inside the pocket that Moicano will need to respect. But if Jung cannot force this fight into his preferred terms, then he could find himself chasing the fleet-of-foot Brazilian, something that could lead his low-handed approaches right into a high-powered kick (as seen in Jung’s knockout loss to George Roop).
But with Moicano not technically owning a knockout to his name, I will be curious to see the path the young prospect takes when the pressure comes knocking at his door.
Next point of interest: Don’t give your head to the dead
Point of interest: Don’t give your head to the dead
With pressure likely being the game plan for Jung on the feet, will Moicano fall into the similar traps from his past?
Against Brian Ortega, Moicano allowed for the fighter from Southern California to somewhat overwhelm him on the feet, which in turn forced a shot right into a front-choke trap. Moicano may have a decent level-changing takedown that he’s not afraid to dust off in close rounds, but he’ll need to maintain his respect for his opponent’s submission skills in this fight.
Although he also carries no official rank in a grappling art, Jung is arguably one of the more treacherous transitional threats at 145 pounds (which says a lot).
Predicating most of his offense from the front-headlock position, Jung has a plethora of front-choke threats that he can chain to back-takes, which is ultimately another position where the Korean fighter comes to life from. Furthermore, Jung has underrated wrestling (especially from the clinch) that could come into play if he can corral his opponent toward the fence.
That said, Moicano – a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt – is not exactly a slouch in close. Moicano has also spent a good portion of his childhood practicing judo, which means that he is likely stronger in certain positions than his gangly frame leads on. And if Moicano finds himself on top, then Jung will be the one who has to be careful, especially when getting back to his base given his counterparts proclivity for taking the back.
Either way, I suspect that ground exchanges will be exciting for as long as they last.
Next point of interest: Odds, opinion and prediction
Point of interest: Odds and opinions
The oddsmakers and public seem to be siding with the more youthful party, listing Moicano -200 and Jung +170 as of this writing.
Considering that I was also leaning toward Moicano heading into this matchup, I can’t hate on the betting line above. Moicano is a well-trained fighter who typically makes improvements from fight to fight, while Jung offers a sample size that makes it difficult to tell where exactly he’s at as of late.
Nevertheless, even though I believe Moicano (at least at this point) has a higher ceiling than Jung, I’m still not confident he can sit down on his power and take back the control of a fight when he needs to. Sure, Moicano is big for the division and packs enough pop on his kicks to probably spark out a battle-worn Zombie. But if he can’t, I’m not sure that the young gun can keep composed and maintain the control he needs to for 25 minutes.
For that reason, I’ll reluctantly pick Jung to find the flint lighter for his fire to get the finish within the allotted five rounds.
Prediction: Jung inside the distance
For more on UFC on ESPN+ 12, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
