UFC Lightweight bout: Antonio McKee vs. Jacob Volkmann
Odds: ( McKee / Volkmann )
Betting Pick: McKee
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In a bout hardcore MMA fans have been waiting for for years, dominant wrestler and 10 year veteran of the sport Antonio McKee finally makes his UFC debut against another tough wrestler in Jacob “Christmas” Volkmann. McKee has been a dominant force on smaller shows for over a decade and has not lost since a 2003 decision against Karo Parisyan, and now he finally gets a chance to prove that he has been more than a big fish in a small pond.
Jacob Volkmann, the man who will attempt to spoil McKee’s long-awaited UFC debut, is a very tough and very skilled wrestler. His own UFC debut was less than glorious, as he dropped his first two bouts, but he has rebounded nicely with two straight wins over solid opponents. His best attribute is his wrestling, by far, but he also has nice submissions and serviceable boxing.
Whether or not Volkmann will be able to outwrestle McKee, though, is entirely another matter. McKee has lost only three times in the past 11 years and is currently riding a remarkable 14 fight win streak. McKee’s offense is very predictable and he basically never finishes a fight, but no one he fights ever seems capable of preventing him from taking them down and controlling them completely. There is no question that McKee is going to stick to his guns here, so it is up to Volkmann to stop him from doing it.
I don’t think Volkmann is up to this challenge. He does have better submissions than McKee, but McKee is excellent at grinding out wins from top position and not getting submitted. This is going to be a wrestling match, and McKee is the better wrestler, so he should take it. McKee by unanimous decision.
Prediction: Antonio McKee via Unanimous Decision.
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