HOF Southpaw Report
Hello and welcome to the ever-popular southpaw report, which can now be found only here, exclusively at Home of Fight!
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.
With this 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 310 features a slew of dedicated southpaws with decent sample sizes, so let’s get started!
Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders
Summary: Chris Weidman, who faces southpaw Eryk Anders at UFC 310, is officially 7-3 opposite UFC-level lefties (Wins: Anderson Silva x2, Tom Lawlor, Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort, Kelvin Gastelum, Demian Maia; Losses: Dominick Reyes, Luke Rockhold, Yoel Romero).
Like many orthodox fighters facing southpaw opposition, Weidman primarily uses his lead to hand to prod pathways for strikes from his power side.
Chris Weidman’s Southpaw Report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1865105274635457021
The American traditionally does his best work when corralling opposition toward the fence and extending combinations. That said, left crosses off the counter appear to be his common culprit.
Chris Weidman’s Southpaw Report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1865105593121542152
Weidman also fought as stance-switching Bruno Silva in his more relevant career, occasionally matching the Brazilian’s stance whenever he went southpaw.
Since doing these reports, Weidman has the largest sample size of southpaw opposition at 10 total.
Anthony Smith vs. Dominick Reyes
Summary: Anthony Smith, who faces southpaw Dominick Reyes, is officially 1-3 against UFC-level southpaws (Wins: Hector Lombard; Losses: Cezar Ferriera, Magomed Ankalaev, Khalil Rountree Jr.).
Akin to Weidman in the previous sample, Smith also likes to use his lead hand to either grip or prod at opponents in open-stance affairs. Smith will also incorporate Thai march variations where he lifts his knee to draw a reaction, but this style – as seen with other fighters like Smith’s stablemate Dustin Jacoby – does not seem to stack up well with southpaw counterpunchers.
Anthony Smith’s Southpaw Report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1865116364782080033
Smith’s struggles with kick defense still follows him regardless of which stance he is operating from, but southpaw hook-cross counters appear to be his common culprit.
Clay Guida vs. Chase Hooper
Summary: Clay Guida, who faces southpaw Hooper at UFC 310, if officially 4-5 opposite UFC-level lefties (Wins: Nate Diaz, Rafael dos Anjos, Erik Koch, Michael Johnson; Losses: Kenny Florian, Diego Sanchez, Benson Henderson, Jim Miller, Claudio Puelles).
Guida tends to follow the southpaw 101 approach of prioritizing outside-foot awareness to stay away from the power side of an open-stance matchup.
Clay Guida’s Southpaw Report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1865106695615320265
The 21-year veteran does a good job of using his level changes to disguise his striking entries for kicks and crosses from his rear. That said, head kicks and counter appear to be a potent two-way street for Guida when facing southpaws.
Max Griffin vs. Michael Chiesa
Summary: Max Griffin, who faces southpaw Michael Chiesa at UFC 310, is officially 1-1 against UFC-level lefties (Wins: Tim Means; Losses: Colby Covington).
Griffin’s lone loss in this category comes in the form of a short-notice fight that saw him thoroughly out-wrestled by a future interim champion in Covington. But outside of that, Griffin’s vaunted right hand seems to really come to life in this sort of stance pairing.
Max Griffin’s Southpaw Report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1865121342590455902
Where Griffin is nakedly launching his cross down the pike or is smartly going to the body to set up a hook up high, the California native is a dangerous customer (particularly early on). Consistency, regardless of stance, appears to be Griffin’s main issue.
Kron Gracie vs. Bryce Mitchell
Summary: UFC 310 features the ever-rare southpaw vs. southpaw matchup, as Kron Gracie meets Bryce Mitchell on the main card.
Mitchell is officially 0-0 opposite UFC-level lefties, while Gracie stands at 1-0, beating the likes of Alex Caceres.
Kron Gracie’s Southpaw Report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1865126236420477144
The fight didn’t offer much of a sample size since it was basically an exchange or two before Gracie is able to get in on a takedown and submit Caceres.
Lukasz Brzeski vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu
Summary: Lukasz Brzeski, who faces Kennedy Nzechukwu at UFC 310, is officially 0-0 against UFC-level competition.
Lukasz Brzeski’s Southpaw Report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1865127253690191960