Who is the true Heavyweight kingpin?

In the world of combat sports the baddest fighters on the planet are those housed in the Heavyweight division. They’re the largest men in the world that pack the most punch and can throw their weight around, which ultimately makes them the most dangerous. Demetrious Johnson may be more skilled in terms of technique, but there’s no way his 125 lbs frame could compete with a 250 lbs combatant with a similar skill set. That being said, the two men involved in the main event of UFC 198 will do battle this Saturday to decide who the baddest man on the planet truly is. Fabricio Werdum opened a lot of eyes when he submitted former champion Cain Velasquez in their title unification bout back at UFC 188 last year. Now he faces Stipe Miocic, a man with a propensity for throwing punches in bunches to devastating effect. Werdum should be able to hold his own on the feet and has the bigger striking arsenal. He utilizes all the eight weapons of muay thai often battering opponents with well placed kicks, punches, elbows, and knees, all to great effect. That being said, the road to victory will acquired far easier if he’s able to get the fight down to the ground and fish for a submission. Even if he’s unable to secure a submission hold, Werdum is masterful on the ground and should be able to control Miocic if it enters the grappling realm. There’s no doubt that Miocic has more polish on his striking than Werdum. His boxing is pretty solid and he lands punches with a great deal of power. He’s not particularly a kicker, which should work in Werdum’s favor, but even so his hand speed is considerably fast for a Heavyweight and could prove to cause the champion some issues while the fight remains on the feet. The real question is can Miocic land anything of significance before Werdum can grab a hold of him? Miocic does have the wrestling capable to keep the fight standing if he chooses, but Werdum isn’t afraid to pull guard if he has to in order to get what he wants. Miocic could certainly land some clean punches in the stand up and knock out the champion, but the more I analyze this fight, the more unlikely that outcome seems. Werdum will be smart on the feet and keep Miocic at bay with a busy jab and a healthy amount of kicks of different ranges and variety. Neither man may finish the other, making the safe bet that Fabricio Werdum defeats Stipe Miocic by unanimous decision. Follow Generation Iron MMA on Facebook and Twitter. Also, be sure to share, like, and comment to show your support.

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.