UFC 112: Terry Etim vs. Rafael dos Anjos
The most exciting fight of UFC 112 could very well be the lightweight bout between Terry Etim and Rafael dos Anjos. The match features two closely matched fighters with similar strengths. The winner of the fight will likely have their name added to the short list of fighters seen as contenders to B.J. Penn’s Lightweight title.
After losing his first two UFC fights, dos Anjos won his next two and heads into UFC 112 lines with a 2-2 UFC record. His two UFC wins were by unanimous decision. His overall professional record is 12-4 with 6 wins coming by way of submission. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and also has a strong Muay Thai background.
At 6’1”, Etim is very tall for a lightweight and his length is one of his biggest advantages. He enters the fight on a four fight winning streak and an overall professional record of 14-2. As mentioned earlier, the British fighter is a dynamic force because of his length, but perhaps his greatest strength is his submission skills. Etim’s current four-fight win streak includes back-to-back submission wins over Shannon Gugerty and Justin Buchholz.
Both fighters have several similarities. Both are young, durable, and good on the ground. Both have backgrounds in Muay Thai so they both have strong kicks. The biggest difference is Etim’s superior reach and height.
Etim’s stronger overall record (14-2 vs. 12-4) and UFC record (5-2 vs. 2-2) have led to him being perceived as the slight favorite. Odds makers have him at -165, with dos Anjos checking in at +135.
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