UFC Fight Night 35: Rockhold vs Philippou Preview

Kingdom MMA Previews UFC Fight Night 35

by Sam Heard @SamHeard_

Wednesday night will see the UFC’s first event on home shores of the year with UFC Fight Night 35: Rockhold vs Philippou, live from Duluth, Georgia. Though this card may not on the surface look as stacked as some of the oncoming events in terms of title fights or superstar fighters, there are several matches whose outcomes will have a great effect on the divisions in question. Here is Kingdom MMA’s take on the main card’s match-ups, what to look out for and what a win will mean for the fighters involved:

Sam Sicilia (12-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) vs Cole Miller (20-8 MMA, 9-6 UFC)

It took just 1:42 for Sam Sicilia to put an end to his two fight skid by getting the TKO win over Godofredo Castro in Brazil, in a fight he probably needed to win to avoid being cut from the UFC. Now he will meet Cole Miller whose stock has also risen after putting a bold full-stop on a losing streak.

After Cole Miller’s win over Andy Ogle in Manchester he tried calling out huge-prospect Conor McGregor; instead he has been pitted against Sicilia, though a win here will definitely bring the towering Featherweight a step closer to the fight he asked for.

John Moraga (13-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) vs Dustin Ortiz (12-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC)

Until a few days ago former flyweight title-contender John Moraga had been demoted to the Prelims on what is a fairly mediocre card. This seemed a little harsh on a fighter who survived 4 rounds with Demetrious Johnson who is now considered to be a top five p4p fighter – indeed Joseph Benavidez survived for only a minute in the cage with Mighty Mouse and it would be inconceivable to see him on the undercard. Thankfully now the well rounded lightweight has been moved up to the main card. In a division which is becoming increasingly stacked with talent Moraga needs a win to keep himself in top 10 contention.

Dustin Ortiz showed none of the Octagon jitters often shown by UFC newcomers as he displayed the knockout power which got him his place in the sport’s premier promotion with a third round TKO win over Jose Maria Tome. A bout against a man coming straight off a title-fight represents a huge step up in competition for him – if Ortiz is able to pick up a win he will doubtless be considered in the top ten 10 flyweight mix.

Yoel Romero Palacio (6-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) vs Derek Brunson (11-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC)

Yoel Romero has been impressive in the UFC, picking up both his wins in the distance via TKO. In his last fight he showed some creative striking to compliment his Olympic-wrestling pedigree. However, question marks were raised over his cardio, as well as some dangerous disregard for his opponent. For the first time in his career Romero found himself in the third round and had certainly slowed down a great deal – it is hardly surprising given his huge muscular frame. If Romero picks up another win he should be given a stab at fighting a top middleweight.

Derek Brunson last fought on the Early Prelims of the same card as Romero and was able to quickly submit athletic youngster Brian Houston after rocking him on the feet. Brunson has clear power in his striking which could be pivotal if Romero continues to showboat and drop his hands as he did in his last outing. Though Romero isn’t the biggest challenge Brunson has faced as he fought (and lost to) Jacare in Strikeforce, a win here would really put him on the map.

T.J. Dillashaw (8-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) vs Mike Easton (13-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC)

Team Alpha Male’s T.J. Dillashaw looks to get his career back on track after picking up his second career loss after a narrow split-decision went to Brazilian veteran Raphael Assuncao. If Dillashaw wishes to keep his #9 Bantamweight ranking on Sherdog he really needs the win; he will seek to do this by mixing up the heavy hands and explosive wrestling skills which have come to define Team Alpha Male fighters.

Dillashaw and Mike Easton share the dubious record of having been on the wrong side of the judges’ scorecard when fighting Raphael Assuncao, though Easton’s loss was deemed a unanimous one. His last fight was a split-decision loss to the immeasurably tough Brad Pickett. Easton, whose fight career started way back in 2003, needs a win here to avoid the dreaded 3 fight skid and probable expulsion from the UFC.

Lorenz Larkin (14-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) vs Brad Tavares (11-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC)

Hugely talented striker Lorenz Larkin will be looking to get his first UFC stoppage in this next Octagon outing. In his UFC debut Francis Carmont was able to out wrestle Larkin and ‘lay-and-pray’ on his way to an unexciting decision while in his most recent fight Larkin got a decision victory over Chris Camozzi in a fight many people believed he would be able to win in the distance. Larkin will hope to step-up his game in this co-main event context to finally pick up a KO in the UFC.

Brad Tavares will doubtless have studied Carmont’s victory over Larkin with the hope of implementing a similar game plan against the dangerous striker. Since 2012, Tavares has built up a great deal of momentum winning four out of four fights and will seek to make it five against a more difficult opponent.

Luke Rockhold (10-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) vs Costas Philippou (12-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC)

We all remember Luke Rockhold’s disappointing UFC debut where he suffered a first round highlight-reel worthy knockout to Vitor Belfort in a fight were bookies believed him to be the favourite. Rockhold is at a weird junction in his career; he is very much the forgotten man in the middleweight division as people are more excited about the likes of Jacare Souza and Tim Kennedy even though Rockhold has beaten both these Strikeforce vets. A win in this main event, particularly in impressive fashion, will have people talking about Rockhold again for the right reasons and should secure him a top-level opponent in his next fight.

Much like Lorenz Larkin, Costas Philippou is another dangerous striker to have found himself laid upon by Francis Carmont en route to a decision loss. Philippou will have to be wary as Rockhold is arguably a more versatile wrestler than Carmont and has a slick submission game to accompany it. Philippou will be looking to defend Rockhold’s takedown attempts and try to test the chin which looked so vulnerable against Belfort. Philippou, who was once an amateur boxer, is heavy handed and could certainly pull off the upset against the former Strikeforce champion.