MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the co-main event for UFC 244.
UFC 244 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN2/ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
Kelvin Gastelum (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC)
Staple info:
Height: 5’9″ Age: 28 Weight: 185 lbs. Reach: 71″
Last fight: Decision loss to Israel Adesanya(April 13, 2019)
Camp: Kings MMA (California)
Stance/striking style: Southpaw/kickboxing
Risk management: Fair
Supplemental info:
+ “TUF 17” winner
+ 10th Planet jiu-jitsu purple belt
+ Wrestling base
+ 8 KO victories
+ 4 submission wins
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ KO power
^ Dropped or stopped 7 of last 9 opponents
+ High-pressure approach
+ Improved boxing
^ Accurate hooks and crosses
+ Hard left body kick
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Solid wrestling and scrambles
+ Strong from front-headlock
^ Always looks for back
+/- 2-0-1 against UFC southpaws
Darren Till (17-2-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC)
Staple info:
Height: 6’0″ Age: 26 Weight: 185 lbs. Reach: 74″
Last fight: Knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal(March 16, 2019)
Camp: Team Kaobon (Liverpool, Eng.)
Stance/striking style: Southpaw/muay Thai
Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ K-1 European title
+ Luta Livre purple belt
+ Thai boxing experience
+ 10 KO victories
+ 2 submission wins
+ 5 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Good feints and footwork
+ Accurate left hand
^ Coming forward or off the counter
+ Hard Thai kicks
^ Works well to the body
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Dangerous elbows and knees
+ Serviceable grappling ability
+/- 1-0 against UFC southpaws
Point of interest: Southpaw savvy
The co-main event for UFC 244 features an interesting matchup of striking-savvy southpaws who aren’t afraid to sling leather.
Darren Till, who embodies an authentic muay Thai spirit, mixes in a unique brand of southpaw swagger that is reined in by head coach Colin Heron. Despite the bravado that the Englishman exudes, Till smartly works behind subtle feints and solid footwork while creating angles that allow him to capitalize and counter on his opponent’s reactions.
Favoring his crafty left cross, Till possesses a pull-counter that is slightly akin to Conor McGregor’s, typically stunning his opposition when landing it cleanly. The 26-year-old also throws left Thai kicks that tend to flow off of his left-handed threats, but he could get more than he bargains for should he throw them nakedly (without setup) against his current counterpart.
That said, I do suspect we may see more weapons than Till has typically brought to the table. Admittedly fighting through injuries during the main stretch of his UFC tenure, Till seemed to limit himself to just a few choice weapons.
In his defense, Till has opened up in more recent efforts, whether it be by showing moves like oblique kicks or staying much more active with his right hand. And given the fact that he’ll have a shorter southpaw foe in front of him on Saturday night, I suspect we’ll see more kicks and lead-sided attacks from Till this time around.
Nevertheless, despite Till’s arsenal opening up on paper, I can’t help but wonder if the left hand that knocked him out in London will be looming in his head – particularly when pitted against another smaller, speedier opponent.
Enter Kelvin Gastelum.
If this was the middleweight division that boxing offered in the early 1980s, then Gastelum may very well be our Roberto Duran.
An inherent pressure-fighter who steps up to the plate no matter the size discrepancy, we have seen Gastelum’s striking skills come to fruition under the tutelage of Rafael Cordeiro at Kings MMA. Having a history of transforming high-level grapplers (especially southpaws) into dangerous strikers, Cordeiro has seemingly imparted the same knowledge onto Gastelum, who now incorporates crushing liver kicks to his already potent punches.
Staying in the Southern California scene, we also have watched Gastelum make measurable improvements to his boxing and footwork. Pivoting more off of his right hand, Gastelum will now take better angles, getting the jump on opponents mid-exchange. And akin to the comparison above, Gastelum’s comfort when it comes to boxing in the pocket or countering on the inside has also improved.
However, as we saw in Gastelum’s last fight with now-undisputed middleweight champ Israel Adesanya, aggression is a two-way street that he is not beyond being caught speeding on. Should the 28-year-old talent allow Till to find his counters and range early, then Gastelum will likely be forced to find another road to victory.
Next point of interest: Potential grappling threats
UFC 244 breakdown: Will Kelvin Gastelum spoil Darren Till's move to middleweight?
