UFC 174 ‘Johnson vs. Bagautinov’ Preview

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Light Heavyweights

Ryan Jimmo (19-3, 3-2 UFC) vs. Ovince St. Preux (15-5, 3-0 UFC)

The Matchup: Strikers meet in this matchup. A former Maximum Fighting Championship titleholder Jimmo is more of an upright karate stylist, while St. Preux utilizes more orthodox methods.

Look for Jimmo to try to use the wrestling skills he has been honing with Ryan Bader, C.B. Dollaway and Aaron Simpson at the Power MMA Team camp in Arizona. Although he is a striker at heart, he wants to win and the safest route to victory against St. Preux is through grappling.

St. Preux played college football at the University of Tennessee and will want to keep the fight standing. The Miami native is on a four-fight winning streak and has looked quite impressive in his last few outings. The improving St. Preux has won 12 of his last 13 fights -- the only loss in that run came to former Strikeforce and Dream champion Gegard Mousasi -- and needed less than 90 seconds to choke an overmatched Nikita Krylov unconscious at UFC 171 in March.

The Pick: Jimmo uses his experience, improved grappling and standup advantages to nullify St. Preux and win a decision.

Last Fights » The Prelims