Tim Elliot really has turned the tables around since his re-introduction into the UFC by way of The Ultimate Fighter. Elliot has really proved his mettle and it is visibly evident that he has been getting better and better with every fight. His confidence is growing and so is his sheer ability and skills in the octagon. Elliot has not really had a long time to prepare for Ben Nguyen specifically, because he took up the opportunity on such short notice, but he is still the favorite to win this fight by a rather substantial margin. Furthermore, neither has Ben Nguyen been able to train particularly knowing that he will be fighting Elliot.
Elliot really does not mess about in the ring, from the moment the bell rings till the fight ends, he is always going in for the attack relentlessly, one after the other. Nguyen has powerful striking force and does have the capacity to take Elliot out with one good blow. However, getting that one good blow is not going to be a cake walk by any extent of the imagination. If the fight goes to the floor, Elliot is still well equipped to deal with it because his scrambling and grappling abilities are really second to none in his weight division. Elliot only has his sights set on climbing up the ladder and into one of the top five rankings in the weight division and a win against Nguyen will really get the ball rolling on that ambition.
Nguyen really has to be on point if he wants to cause an upset here. His best strategy going in will be to stay sharp, dodge attacks. stay on the back foot, defend take downs and strike with one of his deadly blows the moment Elliot lets his guard down.
Prediction – Elliot to win by submission