Preview: UFC on Fox 27 ‘Jacare vs. Brunson 2’
Bermudez vs. Fili
Featherweight
Dennis Bermudez (16-7) vs. Andre Fili (17-5)Advertisement
ANALYSIS: What a perfect pairing we have here. This is a fight designed for network television consumption, an all-action clash predicated on the fact that both Bermudez and Fili emphasize offense at the expense of defense.
Fili has alternated wins and losses over his nine-fight UFC tenure, and that lack of consistency is evident in his individual bouts. In his last outing against Artem Lobov in October, the Russian made it easy on Fili by endlessly marching forward with his hands down and giving up takedowns, allowing the Team Alpha Male product to keep his eye on the ball. Fili, who will enjoy an eight-inch reach advantage, has a great jab and a lancing right cross, as well as a powerful kicking game. He is a strong wrestler and a great scrambler. However, on the feet, he is primed to be countered and often gets overaggressive and walks into strikes and takedowns. He invites frenetic exchanges and scrambles and gets himself rocked or caught in submissions.
Bermudez is a different style of fighter, a much more classic wrestle-boxer, albeit a hyperactive one. In a typical 15-minute Bermudez fight, he will launch 150 strikes and shoot eight to 10 takedowns. He is squatty, compact and does much more mauling in close clinch quarters than Fili does, as he does great work with knees and uppercuts. However, he shares a similar problem to Fili: Once he gets into wild and woolly moments in the cage, his defensive discipline goes out the window. In Bermudez’s seven career losses, he has been finished six times; in Fili’s five career defeats, he has been finished four times.
Fili’s height and reach could be formative here, especially if it impacts Bermudez’s ability to get offense going in the clinch or takes away his ability to rely on his powerful, steady low kicking game. However, “The Menace” should still enjoy a wrestling advantage that will allow him to dictate where the fight takes place. He is unlikely to hold down Fili for whole rounds, as the “Touchy” one is proficient at generating scrambles and standing up off the mat. However, Bermudez is fit enough to rinse and repeat while feeding Fili punches.
A disciplined Fili working from range, behind his jab and looking for opportunities to land his right cross on the counter or set up his head kicks, has an excellent chance to get a statement win. However, even with the difference in size, Bermudez should be able to dirty box and wrestle effectively enough to win a decision in a fight that surprisingly goes the full 15 minutes.
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