UFC 320 Southpaw Report
Hello and welcome to the ever-popular southpaw report, which can now be found 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.
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 320 offers a large slew of listed southpaws, so let’s get started!
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2
- Wins: Jamahal Hill, Khalil Rountree Jr.
- Losses: Magomed Ankalaev
Alex Pereira’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1974092423560376746
Pereira, despite traditionally doing well against southpaws across combat sports, found himself stuck in the proverbial mud in what ended up being a title-losing effort opposite Ankalaev.
To Ankalaev’s credit, the Russian fighter showed some solid southpaw savvy with the way he conducted traffic off of his lead hand and controlled the centerline with his shot selection. In fact, if you go back and watch their first fight with a focus on the lead-hand interplay, you will see the quiet story of striking initiative being told.
Alex Pereira’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1974094572918808637
As seen in the sample above, Ankalaev was diligent about using hand traps and hand play to stymie Pereira’s attempts to seize the initiative and come forward. In my opinion, the lead hand battle will be a key junction for deciding a winner in this fight.
My prediction: Despite Ankalaev being the deserved favorite for his quiet-but-effective work in the first fight, I find myself slightly siding with the underdog in this spot.
Even though Pereira has a .500 rematch record across combat sports (3-3 in kickboxing and 1-1 in MMA), he typically comes into rematches much better prepared and confident to boot.
I also have a sneaky suspicion that Pereira may have been dealing with an undisclosed hand injury that could also help explain his lack of a jabbing or right-hand presence earlier this year.
Regardless of whether my theory has any real legs or not, Pereira ultimately has more potential adjustments on his side. The pick is Pereira by knockout.
Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Jiri Prochazka, who faces southpaw Khalil Rountree Jr., is 2-2 against dedicated, UFC-level southpaws.
- Wins: Jamahal Hill, Dominick Reyes
- Losses: Bojan Velickovic, Abdul-Kerim Edilov
Velickovic and Edilov met Prochazka early in their careers on the regional scene, where both men were able to take the Czech fighter down and finish him shortly thereafter.
Prochazka had developed his offensive flow by the time he encountered Reyes in the UFC, and looked incredibly sharp in his last fight with Hill.
Jiri Prochazka’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1974251282295570817
Still, despite the head movement he had on display earlier this year, Prochazka has proven to be hittable at all three levels – particularly from left-sided strikes.
Add in that he’s facing a dangerous southpaw who is also a devastating counter-puncher and leg kicker, and Prochazka will likely be playing with fire anytime he engages at range.
My prediction: Although a Prochazka win wouldn’t surprise me, I can’t help but side with Rountree Jr. in this spot.
My stated bias toward Rountree Jr. aside, I believe that he is an extra volatile style for Prochazka to pursue. The pick Rountree by knockout.
Jakub Wiklacz vs. Patchy Mix
Jakub Wiklacz, who makes his promotional debut opposite southpaw Patchy Mix at UFC 320, is officially 0-0 opposite UFC-level southpaws.
Jakub Wiklacz’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1974280367634100432
Wiklacz, who looks like the character Whitey from “Me, Myself and Irene,” has not faced any notable southpaws. That said, he has seen glimpses of this stance when facing stance-switchers like Sebastian Przybysz on the KSW regional scene.
To his credit, Wiklacz showed some good ideas in those instances, but it was clear that the Pole was more comfortable closing in on orthodox opponents.
My prediction: Considering that Wiklacz doesn’t appear to have the striking acumen to provide major problems for Mix, I suspect that the Polish fighter will have to engage with the American in his grappling wheelhouse.
Although Wiklacz is no slouch on the mat, I don’t believe he’s near the level of Mix. The pick is Mix by submission in Round 2.
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Andre Muniz
Edmen Shahbazyan, who faces southpaw Andre Muniz at UFC 320, is officially 0-2 against UFC-level southpaws.
- Wins: Dalcha Lungiambula, Andre Petroski
- Losses: Gerald Meerschaert
Edmen Shahbazyan’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1974252394620821633
Although he doesn’t jab often, Edmen doesn’t completely abandon his lead hand in open-stance affairs and is good about punishing the body with impunity. And since moving shop to train with Eric Nicksick and company at Xtreme Couture, Shahbazyan’s pacing and overall game have seen marked improvements.
My prediction: Despite being a big backer of Muniz when he first stepped onto the scene, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu standout’s durability has fallen off a cliff.
Add in Shahbazyan’s brutal bodywork, and I see this being a relatively short night for Muniz. The pick is Shahbazyan by knockout in Round 2.
Yana Santos vs. Macy Chiasson
Yana Santos, who faces Macy Chiasson at UFC 320, is officially 1-1 opposite UFC-level southpaws.
- Wins: Chelsea Chandler
- Losses: Holly Holm
Yana Santos’ southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1974277592531546428
As seen in the samples above, Santos is kind of a mess in open-stance affairs.
Santos can string together combos, but her sense of timing and range is all over the place with how often she runs herself into the clinch. Chiasson may have struggled on the scales, but rushing into her wheelhouse is probably not the smartest approach.
My Prediction: I know Chiasson can be hard to trust as a favorite, but I just have a hard time seeing Santos succeed in this sort of matchup.
The pick is Chiasson by unanimous decision.
Nikolay Veretennikov vs. Puna Soriano
Nikolay Veretennikov, who faces southpaw Puna Soriano at UFC 320, is officially 1-1 opposite UFC-level southpaws.
- Wins: Charlie Ontiveros
- Losses: Danny Barlow
Nikolay Veretennikov’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1974297705481711807
The fight with Ontiveros was a weird one that ended abruptly (which is no surprise for a Charlie Ontiveros fight), but Veretennikov didn’t look much more comfortable opposite Danny Barlow in the octagon.
Even with southpaw Beneil Dariush barking the correct commands in the corner, Veretennikov appeared one-and-done for the most part, playing all the way in or all the way out.
Prediction: After seeing how uncomfortable Veretennikov looks against southpaws in the samples above, it’s hard not to like Soriano’s chances in this spot.
Not only can Soriano knock Veretennikov out at range, but the Kazakh fighter’s propensity to rush into clinch space could get him taken down by the superior wrestler and grappler.
The pick is Soriano to force a stoppage via strikes in Round 1.
Veronica Hardy vs. Brogan Walker
Veronica Hardy, who faces fellow southpaw Brogan Walker at UFC 320, is officially 1-0 opposite UFC-level southpaws.
- Wins: J.J. Aldrich.
Whereas Walker, who has not fought in two years, officially stands at 1-0 against UFC-level lefties, beating Miranda Maverick on the regional circuit.
Walker’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1974293800203014270
The fight with Maverick, though aging fairly well on paper, was an awful slop fest that saw two incredibly raw products missing way more than they were hitting.
Hardy, on the other hand, has been steadily improving her game under the care of her husband, Dan Hardy.
Hardy’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1974296476382867924
In her fight with J.J. Aldrich, Hardy was basically able to outwork her counterpart with superior dynamism that ranged from more diverse combos to different looks from orthodox.
My prediction: Hardy is still open to some hard counters given her blitzing style, but she’s clearly the more progressed and skilled fighter between the two.
The pick is Hardy by unanimous decision.
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