The UFC’s first event of 2018 takes place in St. Louis, Missouri this Sunday. The card is buoyed by an exciting main event between hard hitters, as Jeremy Stephens and Doo Ho Choi clash.
The card suffered a casualty at the scale, with Uriah Hall being unable to weigh-in - making the co-main between Hall and Vitor Belfort was canceled.
Jeremy Stephens vs Doo Ho Choi
Jeremy Stephens (+130) is a puncher through and through. “Lil’ Heathen” is not going to overwhelm opponents with volume but has a sharp counter-striking game that is backed by good punching power. There is no doubt that his punching power is overrated in some MMA circles, though, as Stephens has just three knockout victories in his past 18 fights.
The rest of Stephens’ game is competent, for the most part. He is not exactly a great grappler but he has some solid takedown defense that allows him to keep a fight standing.
Doo Ho Choi (-160) might look like he’s 14 but the guy is an animal. Much like his opponent, Choi likes to counter but does it much more aggressively than Stephens, as the Korean will push forward into the pocket. “The Korean Superboy” has power and speed in both hands, which is good because he has a tendency to get into brawls (see his fight vs Cub Swanson).
Choi is a game grappler, though far from excellent. If he does get taken down, Choi is active from the ground in trying to create scrambles to get back to striking.
This should be another war for Choi. He will likely push the pace with Stephens, who has a tendency to be tentative looking for the perfect shot. That gives Choi an advantage but his propensity for brawling also means Stephens has plenty of opportunities to land his heavy hands.
Darren Elkins vs Michael Johnson
The FS1 main event sees Darren Elkins (+135) trying to record yet another upset over power striker Michael Johnson (-165). Elkins is the definition of a grinder. “The Damage” will overwhelm opponents with pressure, pace and an endless gas tank. It’s not always pretty but Elkins has maximized this style, winning five straight fights. Johnson is a sprawl and brawler who has maximized his athleticism into a potent striking attack. “Menace” is at his best when he can mix his strikes and surprise opponents with an explosive flurry but he can – too often – find himself either too close or too far to properly use his tools.