Point of interest: Potential grappling threats
From elbows off the break to knees in the Thai clinch, both fighters demonstrate a high competency for close-quarter-combat, seldom looking lost when it comes time to tangle and trade. And though the potential strikes in this space will keep me in bated breath, I will also be looking to see if either man has intentions to grapple.
Each fighter has upgraded his wrestling abilities in recent years, but I suspect that the more traditional wrestling shots may come from Felder, who has shown that he’s not beyond mixing the looks that he offers his opposition.
When able to establish himself on top, Felder tends to blanket the poor soul below him with hellacious elbows from a multitude of angles, which, of course, makes for a solid incentive to grapple. That said, Hooker has proven to put his long arms to good use, offering up a slew of front-choke threats that Felder will need to be mindful of.
Hooker’s wrestling and scrambling ability has also improved in recent years, showing excellent awareness of his hips, as well as the ability to snatch backs in transit. I’m not sure if Hooker can submit a sober Felder, but he may be able to fluster his foe if he can secure any sort of meaningful back mount in order to steal close rounds.
Taming Felder, however, can be a tall task no matter the grappler.
Even Charles Oliveira, who had Felder is some of his favored, front-headlock holds, was not able to fully secure submissions or positions on the American. And when Felder does find himself in negative spots like being on his back, he offers up everything from a serviceable butterfly guard to slicing elbows that help him both score and scramble to safety.
Regardless of who is initiating the offense, I suspect that the grappling stanzas between these two will be entertaining for as long as they last.
Next point of interest: Odds, opinion and prediction