There wasn't any fluke in this department against Travis Browne

There wasn't any fluke in this department against Travis Browne. It had been clean, balanced, confident work against a man who was designed to have an edge over feet.

But even though we have bought in, you will naturally be worried about Werdum if he slugs Paiyouji Plus Tea it with Hunt. Some think of Hunt like a brawler, prepared to just stand casually upright and throw bombs, looking to be the last man standing. And to be fair, Hunt is going to do this every so often (mostly when he's tired), but he is able to also be a clever, technical striker as he really wants to be -- one fully capable of knocking Werdum's include Saturday.

Watch out for Werdum's leg kicks here. They are efficient then one Hunt, although durable as a bomb shelter, has shown vulnerability to. It will be difficult for Hunt to generate power (and accuracy) while Werdum kicks out certainly one of his legs. I expect to see lots of kicks from Werdum, right from the start.

Another Werdum strength is the clinch, which he'll gladly secure on the 5-foot-10 Hunt. Werdum's grip can be tough to break and he'll throw knees at will inside, while he has zero anxiety about being removed. Worst that may happen is he ends up off-balance as well as on his back, where he'd enjoy having opponents fall under his guard anyway.

Hunt, either naturally or due to years of experience, reads opponents' movement very well. He bumped out an iron-chinned Roy Nelson having a short right uppercut that looked no different than in regards to a million other shots Nelson has previously stood up to. The main difference was Nelson moved in to the shot. Hunt lays traps and that he capitalizes.

Werdum needs to stay off the fence and protect himself from the counter left hook, which has been a good punch for Hunt. Is he going to make all of this moot by taking Hunt down? It is possible, but just as we've bought into Werdum's standup, we should also subscribe to Hunt's takedown defense. It's legit and has played a pivotal role in his UFC success.

Prediction: A Hunt upset is tempting. It's. All things equal, Hunt could force a standup fight and set electric power charge into Werdum. Intangibles are drastically in Werdum's favor, though. Hunt enters on three weeks' notice, while Werdum has been around Mexico, acclimating, for over a month. You realize he's in shape and it has survived heavy hitters before. He's also flying on confidence at this time.

Describe Ellenberger in a paragraph. He has all of the makings of the consistent, reliable welterweight: college wrestling credentials, natural power, tight, technical boxing game, head movement, submission defense, etc. Watch his past two fights though, and man, those qualities have not translated into good performances.

Much of that certainly could be attributed to matchups. Rory MacDonald is a huge, rangy welterweight having a phenomenal, neutralizing jab. Robbie Lawler is freakishly athletic, with fluid offense, and he stuffed Ellenberger's takedowns. Back-to-back losses against guys of this caliber isn't end around the globe.

It had been hard to miss, however, Ellenberger's commitment issues in those fights. He had zero tricks up his sleeve as he needed to get inside on MacDonald and he started pulling punches and telegraphing takedowns against Lawler. This really is simplifying it without a doubt, but once opponents took away Ellenberger's left hook and takedowns, he wasn't able to show them other things to think about.

Gastelum, unlike Ellenberger, doesn't have reason to second-guess himself at this time. He's the youngest-ever winner of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series, culminating inside a major upset win against Uriah Hall. He has were built with a handful of bad rounds since that time, but (as they say about undefeated fighters) he hasn't learned how to shed yet and he carries himself just like a winner.

Expect Gastelum to be busy. He'll want to be the aggressor, but he needs to respect Ellenberger's counter left hook. He's at his best continuing to move forward, so it wouldn't be surprising to determine Ellenberger come forward too, in an attempt to put him on his heels. That means early action as both guys come forward. I expect early wrestling effort by Ellenberger, as well.

Advantage in knockout power goes to Ellenberger, although Gastelum's chin has given us no reason to be concerned. When Gastelum lets his offense go, he is able to surprise with his hand speed and it is right to the target by not loading up or winging his punches much. And watch to have an unpredictable elevated left kick from Gastelum, that they has landed cleanly in each of his past two fights.

Prediction: I've gone back and Pai You Guo Tea forth within this one. A great deal. Ellenberger has his back against the wall here. He isn't in danger of being out of work, but dropping three in a row will be a long fall where he was two short years back. Everything may go wrong for Gastelum with one Ellenberger left-hand and he could get outwrestled. His pace could give Ellenberger fits, though. Very difficult to call.