Tim Kennedy vs. Yoel Romero: A Full Head-to-Toe Breakdown

UFC 178 on Saturday plays host to an important Top 10 middleweight matchup.

No. 6-ranked contender Tim Kennedy takes on No. 10-ranked Yoel Romero.

Kennedy is on a four-fight win streak and has won all three of his UFC contests. He is coming off the biggest win of his career over Michael Bisping back in April. Also undefeated in the UFC, Romero is on a four-fight win streak of his own.

As the UFC seeks new challengers for Chris Weidman and the middleweight title, the winner of this fight would put his name in the mix.

An impressive performance from either man could see him as a top contender in the division. This matchup is not getting much play in the buildup to UFC 178, but make no mistake that this is one of the most significant bouts happening on Saturday.

Let's break down the middleweight tilt between two interesting contenders.

Striking

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They say numbers never lie, but oftentimes they can be deceiving. That is the case here.

If one was to just look at the FightMetric stats for this fight on the feet, that person may be more inclined to believe Romero is the better striker.

He has more power than Kennedy, but he is not better. Kennedy is more patient and technically sound.

Stats show Romero lands more strikes and has a 1 percent higher striking defense percentage, which is a bit deceiving. Kennedy's stats dropped a tad when he went against Bisping earlier this year, a fight in which he looked fantastic.

Romero has the power, but his tendency to get wild will not play well against Kennedy.

Edge: Kennedy

Grappling

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This is where the fight will be won or lost for Romero.

Romero is a former Olympic medalist, but his wrestling hasn't been impeccable inside the Octagon. He often gets too aggressive, and that leaves him open to be taken down. Romero only has 60 percent takedown defense and 29 percent takedown accuracy against UFC competition, courtesy of FightMetric.

That won't get it done against Kennedy.

Regardless of the stats, Romero is the better grappler. If he stays true to his roots, he can control Kennedy in key positions.

Romero has the edge, but don't be surprised if Kennedy can put Romero on his back in this fight. It is a big key in who walks out of the cage as a title contender.

Edge: Romero

Submissions

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Romero will often have the better positioning due to his wrestling, but he is not a submission stylist.

Kennedy's submissions are often underrated, and his submission defense is top-tier. He has done well against elite grapplers like Roger Gracie and Jacare Souza.

The former Olympian does not go for submissions, has no submission wins to his credit and won't be able to catch Kennedy. All of that is good news for the American. If Kennedy is able to get top position against Romero, he can take advantage.

Kennedy's skills on the mat are big assets that he may not get to exploit.

Edge: Kennedy

X-Factors

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Kennedy's X-Factor: Tempo

Romero is not a spring chicken. He is 37 years old, and the aging fighter has shown that his cardio can be an issue. He has won all his fights, but he was sucking wind in the latter rounds of his bouts.

Kennedy has had great cardio, and he keeps a good pace. He needs to do the same against Romero. A tired Romero will telegraph his offense. Takedowns will be more easily stopped, and punches will be avoided. Kennedy can take advantage of the situation by making Romero work a fast pace.

A fast-paced fight tilts the bout in Kennedy's favor.

Romero's X-Factor: Overaggressiveness

There may not be a more aggressive fighter in the middleweight division. While that can be exciting for the fans against the upper echelon of the division, it will not be as successful.

Romero gets overaggressive. His strikes begin to get wild, and he becomes off-balance. That will get him stopped inside the cage against the likes of Kennedy and other top-tier 185-pound fighters. It is not a successful strategy.

Romero has to learn when to get aggressive and when to dial it back. This will play a big role in Saturday's contest.

Prediction

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If Romero walks out with a win on Saturday, I would be calling for a title shot. With his background, he is one of the most intriguing contenders in the entire division, and he would be a fresh face against whoever the champion is.

I just don't see it happening.

He is too careless in the cage. Kennedy will be able to counter his attacks.

Expect a fast-paced fight that will wear Romero down over time. Kennedy will eventually be able to take a tired Romero down, most likely off a wild Romero strike attempt, and use his submission savvy to make him tap out.

Kennedy finishes with a choke in the final frame.

Prediction: Kennedy defeats Romero via submission in the third round