Prior to each UFC card, Jay Primetown takes a close look at debuting fighters. In the latest installment, we look at newcomer Jason Novelli as he takes on Swedish lightweight David Teymur at UFC Fight Night 92 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jason Novelli Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska Age: 37 Height: 6’0” Reach: 77” Weight Class: Lightweight Camp: Rose City FC Career Record: 11-1-1 Key Wins: None Key Losses: Ben Fodor Background The Portland, Oregon-based fighter has been fighting regularly since 2013. Outside of MMA, he’s done some training in both boxing and wrestling. Strengths
- Longest reach in the lightweight division
- Tends to fight as a counterstriker
- Decent combination ability
- Solid submission game
Weaknesses
- Over aggressive on the ground
- Can be exposed in scrambles
- Very hittable on the feet
- Near end of his career at 37 years of age
Match-up against David Teymur This is a solid preliminary match-up between two fighters who use a lot of leg kicks. Novelli is certainly long for the weight class and will have a reach advantage in this fight. Both fighters will look to utilize leg kicks to setup the rest of their striking. Teymur is certainly more the fluid striker and lands with more conviction. Novelli certainly has the better grappling game, but I think this fight stays on the feet as neither has the wrestling ability to get the fight to the ground. Novelli is hittable on the feet and I think Teymur will be able to land as the fight moves on. The 10 year age difference is significant as is the wear and tear on a fighter that age. It’s certainly not my most confident pick on the fight card, but do I think Teymur’s technical advantage along with his youth and athleticism will allow him to land the better strikes in this fight and get the win. UFC Ceiling Jason Novelli certainly has a decent arsenal of skills, but is definitely getting a late start into MMA. He only began fighting regularly at 35 years of age. There are fighters who have had a great deal of success with late starts in the sport. Daniel Cormier and Yoel Romero immediately come to mind, but both of those guys were excellent wrestlers which has proven to be the most dominant discipline over the course of MMA history. Novelli certainly doesn’t have the grappling accolades that both of those fighters have. He does have a decent fight IQ which will allow him to compete right away, but he is hittable and at his age he’s unlikely to be able to take that much damage. Novelli will be a tough out for the bottom tier of the lightweight division, but dynamic strikers and those fighters with a solid wrestling base shouldn’t have much issue against him. Fight Film Check out Jason Novelli in some of his most recent fights: Jason Novelli vs. Jason Gray Jason Novelli vs. Cody Rice
