UFC on FX 7: January 19, 2013 Ibirapuera Arena in São Paulo, Brazil UFC Middleweight Contender Daniel Sarafian (-170) Profile: Defining the fighting style of Daniel Sarafian (7-2) as MMA is the most accurate way to describe him, although he has a strong background in Judo and Karate as well. It wasn’t until his teens, when he took up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and began training in MMA full-time, that he says he fell in love with the sport. His training took him to American Kickboxing Academy, one of the most prestigious MMA gyms in the world. The 30-year-old then ended up becoming a finalist on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, only to have to withdraw from UFC 147 due to injury. Sarafian was replaced in the event by a fighter he defeated in the semifinals, and now he is finally ready to make his UFC debut against another former TUF finalist in CB Dollaway. UFC Middleweight Contender CB Dollaway (+140) Profile: The runner-up in Season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter, CB Dolloway (12-4) was considered to be the better fighter than winner Amir Sadollah even after losing to him twice. Dollaway was considered a blue chip prospect, and he still could be with his extremely high level of wrestling and willingness to finish opponents. He The 29-year-old Ohio native has the perfect base for success in the UFC, yet he is somehow only 6-4 in the organization. Dolloway is still a work in progress in the stand-up department, and his chin is suspect, but if he can get you to the ground, he can make it nearly impossible for most to get back to their feet. Opening UFC on FX 7 Odds Analysis: MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas made Sarafian a small -170 favorite (bet $170 to win $100) while Dollaway opened as a +140 underdog (bet $100 to win $140) according to the MMA odds. Even though he is relatively inexperienced in MMA with just nine pro fights, Sarafian is viewed as an up-and-coming prospect and ready to show he belongs in the UFC. Meanwhile, Dollaway has nearly twice as many fights despite being a year younger and will need to battle a tough Brazilian crowd in addition to his opponent, much like Michael Bisping in the main event against Vitor Belfort. Dollaway is coming off a fairly easy win against Jason Miller after getting knocked out in each of his previous two fights, but Sarafian presents him with a much different challenge. Sarafian may be a bit of an unknown besides his stint on TUF. However, that also makes him dangerous, especially on the ground, where he is definitely capable of pulling off a submission.
