UFC 143 Fight Card Complete Collection: Dan Stittgen vs. Stephen Thompson

Hello fans and friends, welcome to the beginning of another entry into my on-again, off-again series “Complete Collection.” Every once in a while, to highlight a big upcoming event, I’ll break down a major MMA card, fight by fight, giving you all the details you need to know as well as some preliminary commentary on who I think will win. And it doesn’t get much bigger than UFC 143, which sees the crowning of a UFC Interim Welterweight Champion. But that’s the finale: let’s begin “UFC 143 Complete Collection” by focusing on two tough prospects making their UFC debuts against each other: Dan Stittgen vs. Stephen Thompson.

Daniel “The Anvil” Stittgen just recently celebrated his third year of active competition as a professional Mixed Martial Artist. Stittgen started his MMA career by winning four straight fights, all by stoppage, all within Round 1, and one within the first minute of action. Stittgen would then lose to Justin Edwards, who would go on to find fame as part of the 13th season of “The Ultimate Fighter”.

Since that fight, Stittgen has chained together three straight wins with one decision victory. With an overwhelming majority (five of seven) of his wins by submission, Stittgen should be a tough opponent for Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, who is also making his UFC debut at UFC 143.

Stephen Thompson has spent even less time as a pro MMA fighter than Dan Stittgen: Thompson will celebrate his two-year anniversary sometime in February. Thompson’s pro record stands at 5-0, and he began his MMA career with three straight stoppage victories before fighting to a decision twice.

It’s always interesting when you put two tough prospects in the Octagon against each other for their UFC debuts. I really don’t know that much about either man, but from what I’ve been able to find online they both seem to have a lot of potential. I think there’s a formula to these types of matches, and whoever breaks free from that formula will be the one to win this fight.

The formula is simple: a talented prospect will nevertheless show signs of UFC jitters, and that will affect his performance. His striking may not be as on point as it was back when he was fighting in smaller venues and not full-fledged arenas. His cardio may take a hit because he’s nervous about being watched by tens of thousands of people. His confidence may sag a little when he finds out that a “UFC-caliber” opponent doesn’t buckle under the pressure he’s used to buckle his other opponents, even if that UFC fighter is also making his UFC debut.

A hot prospect coming into the UFC is not a hot UFC prospect, and I think that’s a distinction a lot of hot prospects seem to forget when they come into the UFC. The second you walk into the Octagon, what you did in the past becomes irrelevant and you exist in a world of “what have you done for me lately?” Whoever realizes this and uses it to their advantage should win this fight.

So while I may not know much about either of these fighters, I’m always interested in seeing if my thoughts on “the formula” hold true or not.

Oliver Saenz, also known as PdW2kX, is a freelance journalist, opinion columnist, hardcore MMA fan, and lifelong video game nerd. For more news, views, previews, and reviews on all things Mixed Martial Arts as well as video games, be sure to visit FightGamesBlog.net.