HOF | Ribas v Dern
Southpaw Report: UFC Dern vs Ribas
Aside from the fact that most statistics you see on major broadcasts are drawn from a faulty well of information full of misinterpretation and human error, the statistical categories discussed generally lack proper sample sizes and contexts.
So, with that in mind, I try to provide unique, applicable and (hopefully) interesting stats in the form of my patent southpaw reports.
Here, I will do my best to provide you with everything from stats to written and visual analysis covering every fighter facing a dedicated southpaw on upcoming UFC cards.
UFC Vegas 101 features a decent clip of dedicated southpaws, so let’s get started!
HOF | Curtis v Kopylov
Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov
Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov serves as one of two southpaw vs. southpaw fights that are on the slate for UFC Vegas 101. As I always say, the most unique thing about southpaw vs. southpaw matchups is the fact that no one hates fighting southpaws more than other southpaws.
On paper, one might think that a southpaw should be celebrating the scenario of a same-stance matchup, as this theoretically means that they can finally use all the tools that they’ve been forced to reverse engineer during training. But with the majority of gyms being filled with orthodox opposition, most southpaws end up predicating their games off of open-stance looks.
For this reason, superior on-paper strikers don’t necessarily swim as well as they usually do in these sorts of matchups.
- Chris Curtis’ southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1877635472874160295
Dan Tom | Twitter
Curtis is officially 1-1 when facing fellow UFC-level southpaws. He knocked out Joaquin Buckley but lost a close and controversial decision to Kelvin Gastelum in a fight where a clash of heads (as well as MMA judges’ blindspots for bodywork and counters) cost “The Action Man” in a fight that he arguably should have won.
Like many lefties when forced to fight a fellow southpaw, Curtis will lean more on lead-side attacks to establish his striking presence. However, aside from the left-handed availabilities that seem to be an extra potent two-way street in this stance pairing, leg kicks also appear to be a shared susceptibility between the two given the weight both men keep on their lead foot.
Kopylov, who officially stands at 1-1 opposite UFC-level lefties (Wins: Punahele Soriano; Losses: Karl Roberson), has some underutilized kicks he can go to if he chooses to.
- Roman Kopylov’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1877638618098921526
Dan Tom | Twitter
Akin to Curtis, Kopylov also leans more on his lead-side attacks to establish his range when fighting fellow southpaws. Kopylov has also been a quietly consistent bodyworker throughout his career, which could serve him well against Curtis.
Still, if the reports above are any indication, then left-sided strikes and leg kicks will be a potent two-way street for both parties this Saturday.
Photo | MMA Junkie
Punahele Soriano vs. Uros Medic
The second southpaw offering of the night goes down between welterweights, Punahele Soriano and Uros Medic.
Soriano is 0-1 against UFC-level lefties (losing to Roman Kopylov), while Medic is split at 1-1 with his southpaw samples.
Even though Soriano’s sample size against fellow southpaws is a small one, the Hawaiian warrior showed some interesting looks.
- Punahele Soriano’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1877638954373013937
Dan Tom | Twitter
Soriano lacked the jabbing presence that I believe is crucial for these kinds of stance pairings, but the 32-year-old did display some solid interplay off his left hand. From inside parries to uppercuts, Soriano’s left hand remains his biggest offensive tool regardless of the stance matchup.
Unfortunately for Soriano, his defensive kryptonite that is bodywork also appears to haunt him in closed-stance affairs.
- Uros Medic’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1877638788647964987
Dan Tom | Twitter
Although Medic lacked a lead hand presence in his first fight against a southpaw in the octagon, the Serbian standout looked much sharper in his second showing. Not only did Medic appear to find his jab, but he also timed a devastating uppercut on the well-respected veteran, Tim Means.
Medic showed a susceptibility to bodywork in previous fights, so I’ll be curious if Soriano can translate his front teeps from past fights into this sort of stance pairing.
I’ve also noticed that Medic has a habit of retreating hard linearly when pressed, which could put him right into the Hawaiian’s kill zone when you consider the space where Soriano does his best work from.
Medic is the more skilled striker, but the stance pairing and smaller octagon will likely muddy the on-paper advantages and perceptions. In my opinion, the underdog Soriano is live in this spot.
Photo | Cageside Press
Preston Parsons vs. Jacobe Smith
- Parson’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1877639827413512209
Dan Tom | Twitter
Aside from the fact that this small sample size has the extended caveat of a short-notice UFC debut, there were still some positive signs that Parsons showed in a loss.
Not only did Parsons not seem reliant on the classic outside-foot awareness and rear-sided power that everyone hyper-focuses on, but the 29-year-old displayed some solid play off of his lead hand when it came to both initiating and punctuating exchanges.
If Parsons can keep things standing against an accoladed wrestler like Smith, then don’t be shocked if you see “Pressure” pull away on the feet. That said, I’d leave some room to be surprised on both sides here given where each fighter is at in their respective careers.
Photo | MMA Junkie
Marco Tulio vs. Ihor Potieria
Even when going through Tulio’s Contender Series and LFA opposition on the regional scene, not a single southpaw could be found in the Brazilian’s sample size.
That said, Marco Tulio does have a victory over someone named Tulio Marcos – which I found suspiciously funny.
This concludes the southpaw report for UFC Vegas 101. Be sure to check back here on UFC fight weeks this report and more.