Breaking Down UFC 127: George Sotiropoulos vs. Dennis Siver

Added on Feb 23, 2011 by John Petit in

UFC & MMA

George Sotiropoulos vs. Dennis Siver

If you have to place a bet on what fight you think will get an award bonus, I would put my money on this one. Dennis Siver has 4 award bonuses, and George Sotiropoulos has two. This fight is a recipe for violence, and both of these guys are capable of finishing the other one. Sotiropoulos has a mountain of momentum going into this fight as he hasn’t lost a fight since the season finale of The Ultimate Fighter 6. Siver lost last March to Ross Pearson, but thats his only loss since coming back to the UFC at UFC 93.

George Sotiropoulos is getting better each fight. When you see the kind of fight he fought against Joe Lauzon, you have to appreciate how fast his abilities are coming around. He has proven to be hard to finish, and after he finished his first four fights many were questioning his gas tank. He then put together two decision wins against his toughest opponents, Joe Stevenson and Kurt Pellegrino. He is getting better and better on his feet, and when you talk to the people he trains with, they all talk about how slick he is on the floor. Before the gridlock at lightweight happened with the merger of the WEC he was definitely next or second in line to the title. Its hard to argue otherwise with his record.

Denis Siver has been streaky in the UFC, but he has been turning heads lately because of the improvements he has been making to his game. Siver came into the UFC at UFC 70 he lost quickly via knee bar about a minute into the first round, and although he won his next fight, after his fourth fight he was 3-1 in the UFC. After a win outside the Octagon, he came back to fight at UFC 93 and he has been solid ever since. It really seems as though he turned a corner. His striking has become more crisp, and he is has really been landing strikes with power.

Denis Siver hs to keep this fight standing, and the more time the fight spends on feet the better for him. I’m not saying its an easy win for him if he avoids the takedown, but he will have a better showing. I think Sotiropoulos does get this fight to the floor though, and its hard for me to figure out how Siver could survive along time. If Sotiropoulos finds a way to get Siver down quickly I think it could be disastrous for Denis. Sots is not afraid of exchanging with guys on the feet, but if he feels some pressure he will clinch and look for the trip or the takedown against the fence. I think he gets a hold of Siver midway through the first round, and is able to snatch limb before the time runs out.