The three things you need to know about Bec Rawlings trying to right the fight ship against the diminutive but talented Seohee Ham for UFN 85 in Australia.
Women’s strawweight opens up the Hunt vs. Mir main card festivities this March 20, 2016 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia.
The Match Up
Women’s Strawweight Bec Rawlings 6-4 vs. Seohee Ham 16-6
The Odds
Women’s Strawweight Bec Rawlings +105 vs. Seohee Ham -125
3 Things You Should Know
1. Rawlings has the attitude for progress in the strawweight hierarchy but does she have the aptitude?
The last time we saw “Rowdy” Bec Rawlings, she was getting the upper (under) hand against Lisa Ellis.
It’s fight week bitches can’t wait for this feeling again #souleater #rowdybec #ufc #ufcbrisbane #fightweek pic.twitter.com/1wVovlfK46
— ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) March 14, 2016
However, the real question for Rawlings is whether she can match that talk with the proverbial walk. She has the personality to take her far in the UFC, but her skills in the division are a question mark.
2. Ham is a bit better than her brief record indicates, and anything but a “squash match” for Rawlings.
Ham can take a punch. And kicks.
That head kick by @CastIron_Casey!!!! #UFCSeoul https://t.co/GdfaPkBrlG
— UFC (@ufc) November 28, 2015
Her last win was debated given Cortney Casey’s ability to land the bulk of the meaner shots, but Ham stood tall in the end, and displayed the same durability she’s shown throughout her career. Will it be enough against Rawlings?
3. Ham’s toughness can hold up to Rawling’s offense. However, durability is a fickle beast.
Seohee Ham has had a fairly impressive run. Her performance against Joanne Calderwood was somewhat mixed; good technique lost out to modest technique, reach, and a few too brutal front kicks too many. But at her best, the pugilist southpaw from South Korea is a potent blend of thread the needle boxing, and pressure warfare. Her straight left is efficient, and she does a good job of sustaining a diverse attack. On the ground, despite her diminutive frame, she’s adept at maintaining her balance through her sprawl, or within scrambles. She’ll virtually never not be at a size disadvantage in the division, so this will take her a long way.
Against Rawlings, she’ll be dealing with an improving kickboxer who is adept at stringing a mid-range attack into dirty boxing. Rinse. Repeat. And Beat. Rawlings has traditionally confined herself to proximity boxing, but as she’s improved, she’s been able to explore the rest of her arsenal.
Prediction
On the feet, Ham will display her pedigree. She’ll be the first on the draw early. But as I said, durability is a fickle fruit. Rawlings’ ability to close the distance and take over with knees, and clinchwork will be the deciding factor. Ham is good at using tactics to undercut her size disadvantage ,but she concedes too much room to her opponent at times. One of the issues non North American MMA generally has is that the lack of a significant network of coaching influences a fighter’s inability to phase shift. Thankfully, that’s changing. Ham is the better technical fighter by a comfortable margin. But she tries too hard to fight a big woman’s game at times, and I think that’ll be the difference in controversy. Bec Rawlings by Split Decision.