UFC 174 ‘Johnson vs. Bagautinov’ Preview

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Bantamweights

Yves Jabouin (19-9, 4-3 UFC) vs. Mike Easton (13-4, 3-3 UFC): Well-traveled veterans Jabouin and Easton must feel like they have done something wrong to find themselves right in the middle of a sea of undercard unknowns. Both men have had moderate success inside the Octagon, so it is somewhat surprising to see them occupy space so low on the card. Jabouin is the flashier striker, but he enters the cage on the heels of a TKO loss to former World Extreme Cagefighting champion Eddie Wineland. Easton is more of an in-your-face pressure fighter who tends to live and die by the decision. He has lost three in a row and likely needs a victory to keep his spot on the UFC roster. Easton wins a three-round decision and avoids the Zuffa chopping block.

Welterweights

Kiichi Kunimoto (16-5, 1-0 UFC) vs. Daniel Sarafian (8-4, 1-2 UFC): Kunimoto will try to forge his first legitimate win in the UFC, as he won his debut against Luiz Jorge Dutra Jr. by disqualification after being struck by illegal elbows. The victory gave the Japanese standout a five-fight winning streak. The powerfully built Sarafian will look to rebound from a split decision loss to fellow Brazilian Cezar Ferreira. Watch for Sarafian to engage in a grappling-heavy affair against the Pancrase veteran, winning via submission in round one.

Lightweights

Kajan Johnson (19-10-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Tae Hyun Bang (16-8, 0-1 UFC): “The Ultimate Fighter Nations” alum Johnson takes on Korean Top Team’s Bang in this one. Johnson has hit his stride as a mixed martial artist, having gone 13-2-1 in his past 16 bouts, with wins over Richie Whitson, Douglas Evans, Zach Light and Ryan Healy; and one of those two losses was the result of a third-round stoppage by top UFC welterweight contender Rory MacDonald. Bang was part of the UFC’s Asian roster expansion, but the 31-year-old Deep, Sengoku and Road Fighting Championship veteran is looking at a 0-2 start inside the Octagon. Johnson wins a unanimous decision.

Women’s Bantamweights

Elizabeth Phillips (4-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Valerie Letourneau (5-3, 0-0 UFC): Phillips and Letourneau join the UFC women’s bantamweight division here. Letourneau has faced the superior competition; the three women to whom she has lost -- Claudia Gadelha, Alexis Davis and Sarah Kaufman -- own a cumulative 44-7 record. That experience gives her a decided edge in a battle of relatively unknown first-timers. Letourneau takes it by decision.

Bantamweights

Roland Delorme (9-2, 3-1 UFC) vs. Michinori Tanaka (9-0, 0-0 UFC): Delorme has proven to be a deft grappler, with six of his nine wins resulting in submissions. The 30-year-old Canadian finds himself on the rebound following a split decision loss to Alex Caceres at UFC 165 in September. Tanaka, meanwhile, carries a perfect professional record into his UFC debut. The 23-year-old captured and defended the Pacific Xtreme Combat bantamweight champion before leaving the regional circuit for greener pastures. Expect a battle that is heavy on grappling, with Delorme earning a decision in his home country.

Lightweights

Josh Shockley (11-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Jason Saggo (9-1, 0-0 UFC): Octagon rookies are featured in the opening bout at UFC 174. Shockley is tall for his weight class and has faced the stiffer competition, with wins over Shamar Bailey and Micah Miller. Saggo, who trains under Royler Gracie, will enter his UFC debut on the strength of a four-fight winning streak. The fight goes to Shockley, so long as he does not get caught with an armbar from the guard.