Summary:

Kick-starting the main card is potential fireworks as Sam Sicilia is tasked with testing Korean prospect Doo Ho Choi. With almost one year since his last fight it will be interesting to see what form the young Korean prospect returns at. Should Choi have not added any new tools to his game, his pre-existing ones could still prove trouble to the stylings of Sicilia.

Sam will utilize an aggressive pressure style to draw out brawls on his terms. Favoring his right hand in particular, Sicilia wields KO power that makes him dangerous against anyone at Featherweight. However, this aggressive nature comes at a cost as Sam keeps his hands low and head high in exchanges. This leaves him susceptible to counter shots(particularly right hands) that will be costly against a striker like Doo Ho.

Standing offensively squared to oppsition while staying light on his toes, Choi positions himself in a constant state of offensive/counter-offensive readiness. With an ability to reel-off quick kicks, it’s Choi’s punches that should serve him best against Sam. Utilizing feints, Doo Ho will draw out opponents reactions and counter strikes. He’ll use these opprotunities to off-set his opponents timing as he’ll intercept them coming in with beautifully accurate jab-crosses.

I see this in particular being effective in this fight should Sicilia stay at range. Sam’s best shot is making this an ugly & grinding affair by testing the prospect in-close and on the floor. Sicilia is very physically persuasive in the clinch and should he get on top, he shows a solid positional game that could cause Choi problems.

However, entering the clinch space to begin with posses it’s own dangers as Sam tends to lead his entries with his head down and forward. If Sam doesn’t mind this he’ll put himself right in line with Choi’s deadly knees. Owning multiple KO’s via this method, Choi’s excellent timing & feints come to fruition as he masterfully will misdirect and catch opponents here(Not to mention his shown TD defense & good balance against previous legitimate threats).

Should Sam ground the Korean, it may still be an uphill battle given Choi’s transitional grappling where he chains submission attacks into scrambles back to his feet. Though showing a good chin, it’s Choi’s willingness to brawl that could burn him here. Sicilia’s raw power keeps him a live-dog in any fight, and if Choi get’s overconfident it could potentially cost him. With that said, We should be in for a big bang either way, But I suspect Asia’s most promising talent to make a statement here.