Octagon Report’s Predictions: UFC Fight Island 3
Fighter Info:
- Height: 6’0″
- Age: 29
- Weight: 185 lbs.
- Reach: 73.5″
- Last fight: Loss to Isreal Adesanya via KO (Oct. 5, 2019)
- Camp: Gracie Jiu-jitsu Smeaton Grange (Australia)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ Former UFC middleweight champion
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ Karate black belt
+ Australian National Wrestling Championships gold medal
+ 10 KO victories
+ 5 submission wins
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Keeps consistent pace and pressure
+ Good footwork and distance management
+Quickly blitzes
+ Accurate left hook
+Coming forward or off the counter
+ Unique striking angles
+ Excellent wrestling and scrambling ability
– 3-0 against UFC-level southpaws
Fighter info:
- Height: 6’0″
- Age: 27
- Weight: 185 lbs.
- Reach: 74.5″
- Last fight: Win over Kelvin Gastelum via decision (Nov. 2, 2019)
- Camp: Team Kaobon (Liverpool, Eng.)
- Stance/striking style: Southpaw/muay Thai
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ K-1 European title
+ Thai boxing experience
+ 10 KO victories
+ 2 submission wins
+ 5 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Excellent feints
+ Controls the distance
+ Deadly left hand
+Counters and comes forward
+ Hard Thai kicks
+Punishes the body
+ Strong clinch
+ Dangerous elbows and knees
+ Underrated wrestling and scrambling ability
Analysis:
The UFC main event will mark the last event on Fight Island. The event will be headlined by the top 5 middleweights Robert Whittaker and Darren Till. This fight has big implications as the winner of this fight will most likely get a title fight next.
Both men are skilled strikers and finish most of their fights with their hands. Robert Whittaker comes from a traditional martial arts background and has developed a distinct striking style in the middleweight division.
Robert uses a fighting style that focuses on blitzing his opponent with a combination of speed, unique angles, and constant punches. He can fight from both stances but prefers the orthodox stance. Rob has an excellent takedown defense and keeping him down is a daunting task for anyone.
Darren Till is a counter striker who uses feints, footwork, and angles. Till favors his power left-hand cross and uses small feints and solid footwork to create angles that allow him to capitalize on his opponent’s reactions to land the left-hand KO punch.
Till has a serviceable ground game but can be taken down by top wrestlers.
Prediction:
The oddsmakers and betting odds seem to favor the former champ, Robert Whittaker. Despite being the underdog, Darren Till has the power to end the fight at any moment. Robert Whittaker has the skills and the cardio to avoid the power punches and kicks from Till. Sure, Rob may be able to avoid the punches but his last loss was to a counter striker.
Prediction: Darren Till via TKO
