The UFC yesterday revealed two new matchups for the upcoming UFC Fight Night 43 card in New Zealand this June, and for today’s MMA Odds and Ends I’ll give my quick thoughts on both of them. Soa Palelei vs. Jared Rosholt, UFC Fight Night 43 The first new matchup announced for UFC Fight Night 43 is a heavyweight bout between two big boys on win streaks as Soa Palelei takes on Jared Rosholt. This is a good fight on paper that makes a lot of sense based on where both men are ranked and I think it’s a solid piece of matchmaking from Joe Silva. Palelei has won 11 in a row by T/KO including three in a row since returning to the UFC last year. In fact, he just fought last weekend, taking out Ruan Potts in the first round with a brutal knockout, and so he’ll be making a quick return to the Octagon for this one as he wasn’t injured at all during that fight. As for Rosholt, he is 2-0 since joining the UFC last year and has looked quite impressive with his wrestling as he’s scored two decisions over two strikers. I understand why Silva booked this fight as Palelei has used ground and pound to take out his opponents while Rosholt has also taken his opposition to the mat and beat them up there. However, Palelei hasn’t fought anyone with any sort of decent takedown defence and Rosholt is a very solid wrestler. So odds are this fight is going to stay standing and we’ll get to see both fighters strike on the feet, which should make for an intriguing matchup. Based on the styles I have to slightly lean towards Rosholt here and I think he will open as the favorite in this one, but Palelei will have the size advantage here and if he can get the fight to the ground he’ll have a shot at pulling off the upset. Sean O’Connell vs. Gian Villante, UFC Fight Night 43 An injury to Anthony Perosh has forced him out of a scheduled bout against Gian Villante, and now Sean O’Connell has stepped in on short notice to take on Villante in New Zealand. Like the Perosh/Villante matchup, the O’Connell/Villante match is a fight between two fighters on the cusp of being released from the UFC. Both fighters are coming off losses in which they looked very poor, with Villante losing a decision to Fabio Maldonado and O’Connell getting knocked out by Ryan Jimmo, and I fully expect the loser of this fight to be released from the organization unless it’s Fight of the Night. As far as how O’Connell and Villante match up, I definitely have to give the edge to Villante in this one as O’Connell just doesn’t seem like a UFC-caliber fighter based on the skills we have seen so far from him while Villante at least has some potential and has at least show some decent wrestling and knockout power. So look for Villante to open as a small betting favorite in this one, and I think he’s probably going to win the fight.
