Uriah Hall vs. Derek Brunson: A Head-to-Toe Breakdown
Don't blink. No. 9-ranked middleweight contender Uriah Hall is back. This time he is taking on No. 10-ranked Derek Brunson.
Hall is coming off a loss to Robert Whittaker last November whereas Brunson is riding a five-fight win streak into the bout. As the middleweight division continues to be red-hot, the winner of this fight will throw his name into the mix as a legitimate title contender.
Who will make the leap up the middleweight ranks at UFC Fight Night 94?
Striking
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It can be easy to jump right to Hall in this category due to his past performances and stylish finishes, but Brunson is criminally underrated.
Brunson has finished his last three fights by way of TKO. He is continually improving under the tutelage of Jackson-Winkeljohn in New Mexico.
Still, the edge will go to Hall. The potential of a startling technical finish is too much to ignore. Spinning back kicks can come quickly and accurately. Flying knees and many more spectacular options are at his disposal. If he weren't accurate with them, then maybe they could be ignored.
Hall's biggest detriment in the stand-up is that he can sometimes be gun-shy. He has let lesser fighters dictate the pace of the fight and shut down his striking. It'll be interesting to see if the same occurs against a well-rounded fighter in Brunson on Saturday.
Edge: Hall
Grappling
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Brunson has a decisive edge in the grappling department. Hall has struggled against other grapplers in the UFC. It would seem to be a clear path to victory for the budding middleweight contender.
Brunson's takedown stats on FightMetric show 3.67 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Hall has some decent grappling in his own right, but it's not his primary course of action. Brunson also sports 100 percent takedown defense, per FightMetric. That's especially impressive considering he has fought the likes of Yoel Romero inside the Octagon.
Offensively, defensively, Brunson is simply better in this category.
Edge: Brunson
Submissions
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Not surprisingly given the prior slide, Brunson also gets the nod here. However, it's a bit closer.
Hall has some offensive submission skills and solid defense as well. He survived some tough spots against Gegard Mousasi in their 2015 meeting.
Brunson is more basic in his offensive submissions. Tipping the scale in his direction will be the opportunities he has to attack a submission. He can stifle Hall from the top position while looking for his openings.
Hall's chances to secure a submission will be few and far between. Add to that he has only attempted two in his UFC career, and you can see why it's easy to lean toward Brunson.
Edge: Brunson
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X-Factors
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Brunson's X-Factor: Getting Inside
Hall will have a 2-inch reach advantage, and with his technical striking Brunson will need to find ways to get inside for success.
Being stuck at the end of Hall's punches would be the worst place for Brunson. He cannot be successful without fighting forward. Look for Brunson to force the action and push Hall against the cage in an effort to make life easier on the inside.
Hall's X-Factor: Unpredictability
It is Hall's calling card—both positively and negatively. You just don't know which Hall will show up.
He has such a spectacular skill set on the feet. He's incredibly quick and devastating, but sometimes he hesitates to throw. The unpredictability of Hall's game will be something to watch right away. If he holds back, Brunson will crowd him and take the fight.
Prediction
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Hall has every tool available to win this fight, but it is the stylistic matchup he has struggled with the most in the Octagon. And that's why I am going with Brunson.
Brunson's ability to strike his way inside before going for takedowns will make Hall hesitant to throw strikes. He'll be concerned with throwing leg kicks and be on his heels throwing punches. Brunson can avoid all of Hall's fancy techniques.
I don't foresee a fourth straight finish from Brunson. Hall is a tough out.
Brunson's takedowns and top game will push his win streak to six. It'll be a less exciting fight than we are hoping for, but it will be a key win to finally bring Brunson to the forefront of the division—a long overdue promotion for the middleweight contender.
Prediction: Brunson defeats Hall by unanimous decision
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