MMA Preview – Jacob Malkoun vs AJ Dobson at UFC 271
JACOB MALKOUN VS AJ DOBSON FACTS
When is UFC 271? Sunday 13rd February, 2021 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 271? Toyota Center, Houston, Texas (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 271? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 271
What channel is UFC 271 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 271? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
JACOB MALKOUN VS AJ DOBSON LOWDOWN
Jacob Malkoun’s (5-1) UFC debut could not have gone any worse in October 2020 and he has a lot of work to do to prove he can stay afloat in the middleweight division. In two and a half years he went to 4-0 fighting for local promotions in Australia. He then took a giant leap to fight on the same card as his teammate Robert Whittaker at UFC 254 and got absolutely starched by Phil Hawes in just 18 seconds. He was then handed another knockout artist in the shape of Abdul Razak Alhassan but managed to pull off his biggest win by a mile grinding out a unanimous decision.
Now it is his time to welcome a newcomer to the UFC. AJ Dobson (6-0) enters the big stage protecting an unblemished record. He got the call-up after a very successful showing on the Contender Series submitting Hashem Arkhagha in the first round. Now, he enters the UFC to fight decent competition and like Malkoun, prove he can hang with the best middleweight in the world.
JACOB MALKOUN VS AJ DOBSON PREDICTION
It is hard to gage how good a fighter is when they have only crushed cans. However, they showed a lot of talent in their last fights. Malkoun’s wrestling is clearly the real deal and although Dobson was reckless on the feet, his hands looked ferocious and was dominant in top position.
The battle here will be between Malkoun’s wrestling and Dobson’s striking. Dobson has an important three-inch reach advantage which he will utilize, swinging aggressively from the bell. What he lacks in technique, he makes up for in power and only needs one clean connection.
However, we have not seen much of his takedown defence. Unless he lands an early knockout, we feel Malkoun will hang with Dobson with his boxing and take him down as soon as he rushes in, and it will only take one takedown to see Dobson’s gas tank drain.
Prediction: Malkoun via Decision
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