UFC 91 Preview: Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga vs Josh Hendricks
Aside from the main event, which features an explosive showdown between UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture and challenger Brock Lesnar, only two other heavyweights will grace the UFC 91 card on November 15th.
In a battle between two fighters possessed of proven striking and ground skills, Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3 MMA) will look to get back into discussions concerning UFC gold when he takes on a very tough and experienced collegiate wrestler in Josh Hendricks (15-4 MMA), who will be making his UFC debut.
Gonzaga, who saw his own title hopes broken—along with his nose—in his 2007 dog fight with reigning champion Randy Couture, seemingly has little to gain from this fight with the fast-rising, albeit unknown Ashland University All-American. Owning what is still probably the most shocking—and brutal—knockout in UFC history in his April, 2007 fight with Mirco “Cro Cop” Filipovic, it is almost surreal to see the Brazilian pitted against a man relatively unknown to casual MMA fans.
Ah, how swift is the fall of a fighter.
Napao now finds himself working his way up the UFC heavyweight ladder once again; however, it would be wise for fans—and Josh Hendricks—to note that only one other man has been able to defeat the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt other than Couture, this being Fabricio Werdum (former contender reportedly leaving the UFC following his knockout loss to Junior dos Santos) who owns two TKO wins over his fellow countrymen.
So, who, you might ask, is the UFC offering up in order for Gonzaga to regain contender status? None other than a two-time All-American wrestler riding an impressive nine-fight winning streak (with one NC), and a man who has gone to a decision only once in his 19-fight professional career. He won that decision.
What this fight really boils down to is damage control. While it is true that Hendricks is a proven wrestler—owning 10 submission victories of his own—unless he is confident in his ability to keep Gonzaga stifled on the ground, something even Randy Couture had difficulty doing, he is going to be at a sore disadvantage in the submission realm, as the Brazilian holds not only an aforementioned black belt under Wander Braga, but also a wealth of Octagon experience. Gonzaga owns two first-round submission victories in the UFC.
That number—and even Gonzaga’s six total career submissions—may seem modest in comparison with Hendricks’s own double-digit submission figure, but mention the fact that Gonzaga’s other UFC wins have all come by knockout, and this discussion will decidedly simmer.
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Regardless of who finishes whom—with only one decision between them in a combined 31 fights—I wouldn’t expect this to be a particularly drawn-out affair. It will be bloody, painful, and aggressive as a hungry up-and-comer seeks to use the always-game, supremely confident former top contender as his own personal stepping stone.
If Hendricks is fast and explosive enough to take Gonzaga down early and often, he can use punches and elbow combinations on the ground to open up Napao’s nose—no pun intended—thereby affecting his breathing (a la Randy Couture), which should allow him to grind his way to a late stoppage or a decision win.
However, with Gonzaga’s crisp and powerful striking arsenal, the Brazilian can pull from a variety of fast, crushing leg kicks, punches, body kicks, and possibly even a thai clinch in order to pick Hendricks apart on the feet, making a takedown more and more unlikely the later the fight goes. If the action does go to the ground—a likely scenario—the BJJ black belt is just as likely as Hendricks to initiate the transition. He will be confident, crisp, and comfortable wherever the fight goes. Hendricks, on the other hand, will be most comfortable if he turns the fight into one of his collegiate wrestling matches.
Look for Napao to hand Hendricks the worst beating of his life as—following a competitive opening stanza with Hendricks possibly even getting a takedown or two—the Brazilian will pepper the wrestler with brutal leg kicks, stiff jabs, and damaging combinations en route to a stoppage victory midway through the fight.
Official Prediction: Gabriel Gonzaga by TKO (Round 2-3)
By Steven T. Kelliher
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer