Preview: UFC Perth

Featherweights

Jack Jenkins (13-4) vs. Ramon Taveras (10-3)

Odds: Jenkins (-280); Taveras (+240)

The co-main event is low on name value but should be a fun scrap and, if the oddsmakers are to be believed, a nice moment for the Aussie crowd, as Melbourne’s Jenkins is nearly a three-to-one favorite over the American.

Jenkins has proven to be a very solid addition to the featherweight division. He is a composed, accurate kickboxer with underrated power; he doesn’t overswing but delivers everything with good extension while staying planted. He is a capable wrestler and grappler, though he played with fire by spending too long in Gabriel Santos’ dangerous guard and paid the price. At 32, he should be in his prime right now and is fighting like it, even if he tends to let overmatched foes hang around too long and have too many moments.

Taveras appears to be exactly what the UFC thought it was getting after he appeared on the Contender Series: a reliable featherweight action fighter. His bout with Serhiy Sidey was a wild scrap that ended prematurely due to a referee error. Forced to try again on DWCS, he won his way to the UFC with a 29-second lamping of Cortavious Romious, then beat Sidey in a rematch before coming up short against Davey Grant last December.

Taveras’ approach is effective, but he is not nearly as technical as Jenkins. The aptly nicknamed “Savage” thrives in fast-paced brawls, and does his best to drag his foes into that kind of fight. He has very good power on the feet, partly by swinging really hard, and is a capable offensive grappler but lacks the wrestling ability—or the inclination—to get fights to the ground consistently.

Again, this should be a fun scrap—for as long as it lasts. Taveras’ loss to Davey Grant showed how he struggles when fighting a more composed fighter who refuses to be drawn into a slugfest. Jenkins has a similar mindset, but is a harder hitter and more accurate counterstriker than Grant. He should style on Taveras, who will run into the woodchipper until his durability gives out on him. Jenkins by second-round knockout.



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Ulberg vs. Reyes
Jenkins vs. Taveras
Crute vs. Erslan
Matthews vs. Magny
Nolan vs. Campbell
Tafa vs. Sutherland
The Prelims