Point of interest: Clinching crossroads
Between the style of fight that Budd typically brings to the type of interference that Cyborg usually deals with, it’s hard to deny that the clinch will likely play an important stylistic role in this matchup.
Despite Budd having a background in striking, the Canadian standout quickly put together a serviceable takedown and top game once entering MMA – skills that she’s steadily sharpened over the years. Budd tends to score most of her strikes and takedowns along the fence, but keeps a nice level-changing double in her back pocket that she’s shown the ability to change off from.
Although I could see Budd being able to hold up in a war of body knees in the clinch, I suspect that her level-changing threats may be her best bet in regards to putting Cyborg in a disadvantageous position. That said, grounding the former UFC champ is no easy task.
In fact, I would argue that wrestling – due to the nature of Cyborg’s game and what it forces her opposition to do – has quietly become one of her stronger skill sets over the past decade, showing solid defensive and get-up fundamentals (especially from the fence). And when it comes to offense, the 15-year pro has plenty of firepower she can return with.
From unloading knees of her own in the Thai plum to hitting lateral drops off an over-under, Cyborg commands a diverse ability to manipulate bodies in close quarters. And when able to ground her opponents, the Brazilian’s assault only seems to intensify.
A no-nonsense grappler, Cyborg prioritizes position over submission.
Whether she is attacking or defending submissions, Cyborg does well at killing or creating scrambles on her terms. Typically wasting little time in settling in on top, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt will apply steady doses of forearm or shoulder pressure, securing her target for the strikes that are soon to follow.
When fighting from inside the guard, Cyborg displays intelligent hand-fighting and positional awareness in and out of her opponent’s grasp, making her hard to submit throughout her ground assaults. However, if Cyborg is the one who finds herself on bottom, then she, too, will have to deal with similar threats in regards to Budd’s positionally-based top game.
The Canadian fighter has quietly become a better guard passer over the years, as she’s not afraid to take and work from a mounted position should it become available. Either way, I expect that the clinch exchanges will determine the winner of grappling stanzas – and possibly the fight itself.
Next point of interest: Odds, opinion and prediction