Preview: UFC 209 ‘Woodley vs. Thompson 2’

Lightweights

Lando Vannata (9-1) vs. David Teymur (5-1)

THE MATCHUP: After his barnburner of a debut against Tony Ferguson in which he very nearly knocked out the top contender in the first round on short notice, it should come as no surprise that Vannata has already become a fan favorite after just two fights in the UFC. Teymur does not enjoy nearly the same level of acclaim, but he is not a man to be overlooked. Teymur has also had two fights in the UFC, both knockout victories. Where Vannata is all dynamism and creativity, Teymur is a precise machine, baiting his opponents into laser-guided left straights and vicious Thai-style kicks. In other words, he should be an excellent foil for Vannata, and it should not shock anyone if he manages to win.

Vannata started his mixed martial arts career as a wrestler, but he has discovered both a fondness and talent for striking under the guidance of Brandon Gibson. Training alongside some of the best in the world at Jackson-Wink MMA, Vannata is the first UFC fighter to have spent more or less his entire career under Gibson’s wing, and his trainer’s eclectic approach is evident in everything Vannata does. Where many fighters focus on either maintaining or closing distance, Vannata prefers to play with it. He will dance around on the outside and spring into the pocket with snappy combinations or surprising pot shots. The lead right is a particular specialty, and though Vannata’s lunging style poses some problems, he mitigates the risk well by slipping and rolling after finding the target. At times Vannata’s inexperience shows -- he will float around in the pocket with his guard down while admiring his work -- but this should improve with time.

Whereas Vannata’s style draws heavily from so-called traditional martial arts and flashy boxing, Teymur is classic muay Thai to the core. His preference for shuddering kicks has already been noted, but Teymur also specializes in countering like attacks. He catches kicks with practiced ease, often setting up powerful strikes as a result. Teymur is also a southpaw, which could give him an advantage when it comes to reading the lead rights Vannata loves to throw so much: Orthodox fighters are often told to rely on the right hand against southpaw opponents, and therefore those southpaws get a lot of looks at the same tactics.

Wrestling will likely play some part in this contest, but Vannata may not be able to take down Teymur at will. Though he fights like a Thai boxer, Teymur hails from the Allstars Training Center, known for powerful takedown artists like Reza Madadi and Ilir Latifi. Sweden is also home to some of the world’s best Greco-Roman wrestlers. Alexander Gustafsson has already shocked fans and opponents alike with his surprisingly effective wrestling game, and Teymur is no less shy about shooting for opportunistic takedowns. Though he has yet to face a superb shot wrestler in the UFC, his footwork and clinch fighting suggest he is difficult to bring down.

THE ODDS: Vannata (-375), Teymur (+305)

THE PICK: This is a fantastic matchup between two very different strikers, both of whom display a tantalizing combination of finesse and killer instinct. Teymur may have the technical advantage in many areas, but his textbook style may be his downfall. Even in his two dominant UFC wins, there have been moments of confusion and vulnerability when he is pressed. Though he should be able to survive these and compete with Vannata at range, the Jackson-Wink MMA rep’s willingness to get ugly and throw unpredictable strikes should allow him to gum up the works of Teymur’s muay Thai. The pick is Vannata by unanimous decision.

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