The second fight on UFC 192’s main card is a matchup between fast rising heavyweights Ruslan Magomedov and Shawn “The Savage” Jordan. Both heavyweights enter this contest on lengthy winning streaks and will be looking to move up the shallow ranks of the UFC’s heavyweight division. Ruslan Magomedov (13-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC, -160 favorite) Magomedoov is another fighter from Dagestan that is making waves in the UFC. The 28-year old scored decision wins over former UFC Heavyweight Champions Ricco Rodriguez and Tim Sylvia before getting signed to the promotion in 2014. He has since compiled consecutive unanimous decision victories to start his UFC career. Those wins came against decent but flawed competitors and he faces a step up in competition here. Magomedov is primarily a striker that utilizes efficient footwork and likes to work on the counter. He works sharp punching combinations and a sneaky lead kick with his left leg. In fact, he often leads with a left high kick to get his opponents to open up, which then presents opportunities for him to counter with punches. The Dagestani is one of the quicker and better conditioned heavyweights on the UFC roster and he will look to use that to his advantage on Saturday night. One of the smarter decisions Magomedov has made in the last year was deciding to train at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California, which is home to UFC stars Daniel Cormier, Cain Velasquez, and Luke Rockhold. Getting to work with fighters of that caliber will make any fighter better. Additionally, Magomedov has been one of Cormier’s main sparring partners for this camp. That will likely have a positive impact on his defensive wrestling, as Cormier is one of the very best wrestlers in mixed martial arts. Furthermore, Magomedov has already been defending takedowns at an 89% clip in the UFC, so Jordan will not have an easy time getting him to the mat. However, once on the ground Magomedov has little to offer. He mainly tries to hold onto his opponent and wait for a standup and is not a submission threat. Shawn Jordan (18-6 MMA, 6-3 UFC, +140 underdog) The 30 year old Jordan comes from a strong athletic background, as he excelled in football, basketball, and wrestling at the high school level and was a fullback for the Louisiana State University football team that won two national championships. The Texas native is a strong, powerful athlete that hits hard and features a heavy top game. He is known for his athleticism, firm top pressure, and ground and pound, but is not much of an offensive submission threat. On the feet Jordan fights out of a southpaw stance and likes to mix up his straight left hand with a hard right hook, which he especially likes to use on the counter. However, he is very hittable and his chin is a serious question mark, as he has been brutally knocked out on four different occasions. Jordan benefits from fighting out of the Jackson-Winkeljohn camp, which is likely the top camp in the sport. Thoughts Jordan will likely look to take Magomedov to the ground and work him over from top position. Jordan’s top game and ground and pound is legit; Magomedov does not want to find himself on his back in this fight. However, getting Magomedov down will be no easy task, and this fight will likely play out on the feet. The Dagestan native is much more polished on the feet and utilizes superior footwork and angles. While Jordan is always capable of scoring a knockout, he is also susceptible to getting knocked out himself because of his questionable chin. Magomedov should be able to defend Jordan’s takedown attempts and win the majority of the striking exchanges. As long as he stays upright I believe Magomedov will land a hard shot that will end the fight sometime in the first two rounds. The Prediction Ruslan Magomedov defeats Shawn Jordan by knockout (round 1)
