UFC Fight Night 35 Preview
Future Of The Middleweight Division
Lorenz The Monsoon Larkin vs. Brad Tavares
Just below the headlining match is another pivotal Middleweight fight between the 13th ranked Lorenz Larkin and Xtreme Couture product Brad Tavares. Larkin arrived in the UFC as another Middleweight transplant from Strikeforce, where he held an impressive 4-0 record. The Monsoon brings a 14-1 overall record into Wednesdays fight, but has gone 1-1 in the UFC. Larkin suffered a loss to the aforementioned Franics Carmont, but then followed up with a win over Chris Camozzi.
Tavares is riding a four-fight win streak, dating back to May of 2012. The potential Middleweight contender is also bringing his own 11-1 record to the table, his only loss coming at the hands of Aaron Simpson in 2011 at UFC 132. A win over Larkin would launch Tavares into the top 15. Interestingly, neither of these fighters have a recorded a KO, TKO, or submission victory in almost three years. Look for either fighter to uncork here in a crucial contest.
Soldier of God Yoel Romero vs. Derek Brunson
One Middleweight not having issues with finishing opponents is the heavy-handed Soldier of God Yoel Romero. At 6-1, Romero has leveled opponents with KO or TKO victories in each of his six wins, with only two of the six contests making it out of the first round. Romero clocks in with a 2-0 UFC record to date and goes to battle against an 11-2 Derek Brunson. Like Romero, Brunson is no stranger to finishing opponents, with eight of his 11 victories coming by KO or submission. The most recent victory for the Jackson MMA disciple came in the form of a first round rear naked choke over Brian Houston. It would be a major surprise if both these men make it out of the first round.