By Dwight Wakabayashi
The second of a two-part series we look at what is at stake at UFC 161 in Winnipeg for Canadian fighters Sean Pierson, Sam Stout, Alexis Davis and Ryan Jimmo.
Sean Pierson
The veteran southpaw out of Toronto will be looking to get back on track after being forced to pull out of a pivotal fight against Rick Story at UFC 158 in March due to injury.
He was expecting a very tough test in TJ Waldburger in Winnipeg, but Waldburger was forced out and now Pierson will face slick veteran Kenny Robertson. Robertson is 1-2 in the UFC, but is coming off of an impressive “Submission of the Night” win over Brock Jardine in February.
Pierson has a two-fight win streak on the line and has only lost to Jake Ellenberger and Dong Hyun Kim in the last five years of his professional career.
If he can keep this fight on the feet and use his boxing to keep Robertson at a nice distance, he should be able to pick him apart for a victory and set up a shot at another big name fight later this year as a possible going out party.
Sam Stout
London, Ont., and Team Tompkins fighter Sam Stout is probably the most popular fighter in Canadian history not named GSP, yet he still has to fight every fight like it could be his last in the UFC.
The competition for real estate in the lightweight division just gets tougher year after year and the bonus machine gets another tough test in UFC newcomer James Krause. Stout was originally set to face Isaac Vallie-Flag but a back injury forced the hot veteran out.
Stout is always dangerous on the feet and his chin is second to none in the division. He will want to dictate this fight with pace and aggression early and use his much improved wrestling game to keep Krause on his feet and in front of him all night long.
The Canadian’s hands and experience will be too much for the newcomer to handle. A win will make it two in a row for the Adrenaline Training Center fighter and move him up and off of the UFC lightweight welcome wagon.
Alexis Davis
Canada’s second best female fighter (behind Sarah Kaufman) and world top-10 Alexis Davis will make her long awaited UFC debut in Winnipeg against grizzled veteran Rosi Sexton. The 28-year-old from Port Colbourne, Ont., has been battling it out for years with the best female fighters in the world under the Strikeforce and Invicta FC banner and has earned this shot at the big show.
Davis is a black belt in Brazilian and Japanese ju jitsu and seven of her thirteen career wins have come via tap out.
Both fighters are very rounded in their skills and similar in their approach and it could come down to youth and conditioning when all is said and done. I like Davis’ chances to come out on top.
Ryan Jimmo
Edmonton’s Ryan Jimmo was brought back down to earth a bit in his last fight, a decision loss to tough contender James Te-Huna. Jimmo burst on the UFC scene last year with a memorable flash knockout over Anthony Perosh and he looked to have Te-Huna hurt early in the last fight as well. After flooring Te-Huna early, Jimmo could not find the finish and Te-Huna survived, came back, and took over the fight.
Jimmo’s karate background trains him to look for that one fatal shot and although he is very good at landing it, he must work on his follow up and sustained pressure to have any chance of putting the best light-heavyweights away.
Jimmo will face desperate veteran Igor Prokrajac in Winnipeg, as Prokrajac looks to save himself from three losses in a row inside the UFC Octagon.
The 34-year-old from Croatia was submitted by Vinny Magalhaes and then lost a close decision to Joey Beltran that was later overturned to a no contest when Beltran tested positive for a banned substance.
If Jimmo can keep this fight standing he should be able to find his mark early and often and point his way to victory. If it goes to the ground or becomes a sloppy brawl, Jimmo could be in trouble.
