UFC 142: Technical Breakdown of Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim

It's no secret that the UFC's lightweight division has the biggest talent pool in the entire promotion.

With so many seasoned veterans and top contenders in the mix hoping for future title shots, lost in the fray are the up-and-coming prospects who will look to be making waves in 2012.

To kick start the new year, two exciting newcomers will look to continue their winning ways as Edson Barboza and Terry Etim clash in Rio de Janeiro this weekend for UFC 142.

Here is the complete head-to-toe breakdown of this surefire war.

Striking

An avid Muay Thai kickboxer, Barboza is one of the most dangerous strikers in the lightweight division.

Amassing a kickboxing record of 25-3, this hard-hitting Brazilian has 22 knockout victories to his credit.  Within Mixed Martial Arts, Barboza is a perfect 9-0 with six knockouts.

In his Fight of the Night bout against Anthony Njokuani at UFC 128, Barboza put on a striking clinic, landing a spinning hook kick in the final round that landed flush on Njokuani's face.  The strike was so emphatic that UFC commentator Joe Rogan called the kick a "bitchslap with the foot".

Etim is a respectable striker with two knockout wins, but with so many submission victories to his credit, it is clear that he prefers grappling to striking.

Advantage: Barboza

Grappling

A purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Barboza is a solid grappler.  But because he's had so much success striking, little has been seen of his ground game since joining the UFC.

Etim, however, is a skilled grappler who can hold his own on the ground.  Having gone toe-to-toe with the likes of Rafael dos Anjos and Gleison Tibau, both black belts in jiu-jitsu, Etim has much more experience fighting off his back.

Advantage: Etim

Submissions

A four time Submission of the Night winner, Etim is one of the most underrated submission artists in the UFC's lightweight division.

With an astounding 12 career tap out victories out of 15 total wins, this Liverpool born lightweight has an extensive knowledge of chokes that has finished fighters such as Matt Grice, Justin Buchholz, and Edward Faaloloto.

Barboza, a jiu-jitsu purple belt, has submissions in his arsenal but only has one tap out win, an anaconda choke finish of Lee King in 2009.  Because of his penchant for striking, this aspect of his game has yet to be seen inside the Octagon.

Advantage: Etim

Strength/Conditioning

Barboza is a powerful striker which, matched with his pinpoint accuracy, is devastating for his opponents. Against Mike Lullo in his UFC debut, Barboza finished him in the third round with his heavy leg kicks.

Surprisingly, Barboza had never fought into the third round until he joined the UFC and has now gone all three rounds in each of his fights inside the Octagon.  Keeping his undefeated streak intact and knowing that his cardio can hold up in the later rounds, Barboza is a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division.

Etim has experience going into the later rounds, but is only 1-2 in fights going to a decision.  With all but one of his wins coming via finish, this may be a possible indication that Etim may not have the cardio that is on the same level as Barboza.

Advantage: Barboza

Variables

Barboza: For this Brazilian lightweight, the pressure to keep his undefeated record will be amplified by fighting in his native Brazil where the eyes of his country will be upon him.

Also, Barboza has taken and defeated veterans such as Njokuani and Ross Pearson, but Etim is a well-rounded veteran with a ground game unlike any of his previous opponents.

If Barboza can keep things in the striking realm, he will have the best opportunity to pick Etim apart and take the win, especially if the fight goes into the third round.

Etim: For Etim, he won't have a hometown advantage but he will also not feel the pressure of fighting in front of a very rowdy and motivated crowd.  

It's essential that he looks out for Barboza's world class striking and quickly take the fight to the mat.  If he can get him down and obtain a dominant position, a submission will be almost guaranteed for Etim. 

Prediction

This match-up of exciting lightweight prospects will be the archetypal battle between the striker versus the submission artist.

Barboza will almost assuredly try to keep the fight standing where he has a huge advantage over Etim.  His extensive Muay Thai background is on another level and will pose real problems for his English opponent.

Etim's gameplan is to go to the ground, which may be easier said than done.  If the fight goes into the third round, Barboza will have proven he has the cardio to handle the later rounds and will have another leg up over Etim.

In the end, Barboza's explosiveness, conditioning and striking will be the deciding factors in this fight.

Predicition: Barboza via decision.

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