Jason Silva USA TODAY Sports
Despite not being a very big card for the UFC this Saturday in China, Dong Hyun Kim and John Hathaway have a lot to prove. The welterweight division is arguably one of the most competitive in the UFC. It’s a division full of talented wrestlers and grapplers, which is what Kim and Hathaway both excel in. This being so, it’s going to be fun to see whose grappling is superior, and the winner takes a step in the right direction in terms of welterweight rankings.
Prone to grappling his opponents to the ground with ease, Kim is riding high off an all-important knockout win over Erick Silva. Many knew Kim had what it took to take Silva to the ground, but surprisingly, it was Kim’s skills and power on the feet that helped him claim victory, showing he’s still improving with each fight. So much so that he’s actually packed some power to his punch, which serves him well going up against the well-rounded Hathaway this weekend.
Even though Hathaway is probably the crisper striker, Kim has the advantage on the feet. He will avoid any significant shots on the feet, where he will setup his takedowns seamlessly. Kim has only lost to Demian Maia, which was a freak accident, and Carlos Condit. Other than these losses, he’s looked exceptional. The difference in the fight will be the grappling. Kim is always able to lock up his opponent and use his world class, fourth-degree black belt Judo skills. This, in short, will be the difference in the fight, earning Kim one of his biggest victories to date.
Jeremy Green is a MMA and NFL contributor at RantSports. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, or Google Plus.
