Point of interest: Warding off wrestling
Considering that Caldwell is one of the best wrestlers to ever compete in high-level MMA thus far, the crux of his fights is arguably still a clear one.
We all know Caldwell can pretty much take anyone down south of 155 pounds, but can he keep his opposition grounded in meaningful enough ways to produce a victory?
The former bantamweight champion has had prior stumblings from submission losses to pacing issues, but has shown to be a nightmare to deal with on the mats otherwise.
Even in college, the All-American’s funky style befuddled fellow wrestlers en route to his NCAA championship. Add in athleticism to already stellar technique, and what you have is a problem that can be difficult to solve.
Aside from the two times he’s been caught sticking his neck out too far on a shot, Caldwell has shown a formidable takedown ability that we’ll likely get to see on Saturday night. From chaining off of failed attempts to picking ankles that make themselves available, Caldwell can change directions at the drop of a dime.
Given the flying-knee threats that Borics brings to the table, I suspect that Caldwell will be leaning on more funky and unorthodox entries. Still, even if Caldwell is able to get around Borics’ takedown barriers, the American will be far from out of the woods.
A natural submission grappler, Borics conducts himself accordingly in scrambles and will get right to work from his back if taken down to the mat. Cross-training with Henri Hooft at Hard Knocks 365 in South Florida, Borics has also been able to work on his wrestling with Bellator standouts like Logan Storley and Michael Chandler –– work that I would argue shows whenever the Hungarian prospect is forced to scramble.
Whether he’s flat on his back or stuck against the fence, Borics seems very difficult to discourage, as he’s usually only one beat away from fighting grips as he looks to intelligently turtle back to his feet. These skills, of course, will be put the ultimate test when pitted against the wrestling and riding ability of Caldwell – who will snatch up a neck if it becomes available.
Next point of interest: Odds, opinion and prediction