Now is a particularly interesting time in the world of mixed martial arts. In multiple weight classes there are individuals making their way up the ranks who are worth watching. As the UFC continues to expand its roster and give the fans more fighters, that creates more opportunities for these athletes to gain notoriety. This weekend at UFC Fight Night 55, Clint “Headbussa” Hester will attempt to set himself apart by taking his fifth straight win.
Heading into the 17th season of The Ultimate Fighter, Hester was considered one of the best prospects of that group. Jon Jones made him his first selection, but that draft position could not keep Hester from being upset in the first round of the tournament. However, the UFC would recognize Hester’s potential and allow him to compete on the season’s finale card, which is where he would begin his current streak. Two knockouts and two decisions later, Hester enters into what should be considered his most important fight to date.
At UFC Fight Night 55 Hester will be in one of the feature bouts and square off against TUF: Smashes winner Robert Whittaker. Whittaker came into the Octagon with a lot of hype, but has struggled at points in his career. This pairing against Clint Hester is a captivating matchup for both men, but Hester certainly has a lot more to lose.
With a victory, Hester may establish himself on the UFC Top 15 rankings list for the middleweight division. These spots, while not always respected by the mainstream media and fans, are still considered prestigious within the organization. Hester will still be very far from from any title consideration, but closing out 2014 with this win will give him some matchmaking leverage heading into the new year. Looking at the lower portion of the rankings, Hester could pull out wins over men such as Brad Tavares, Tim Boetsch, Costas Philippou, and others. But he has to pull out a win in this matchup first.
The Fight Metric comparison of these men tell a story that supports Hester as the -185 favorite. Whittaker is well-known for his technical striking attack, but he seems to have become stagnant with his growth in that area since the start of his Octagon run. While he is landing more strikes per minute, 4.53 compared to Hester’s 3.8, he is taking a lot more damage at the same time. Whittaker absorbs 4.39 strikes per minute, which is much lower than Hester’s 2.21. He also is not as accurate a striker as Hester is. It will be interesting to watch these numbers come into play.
27-year-old Clint Hester has shown the flashes of someone who can make noise in the UFC’s middleweight division. He’s flying under the radar at this point in time, but a win against Robert Whittaker at UFC Fight Night 55 will quickly change that situation.
• Clint Hester vs. Robert Whittaker
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UFC Fight Night 55: Rockhold vs. Bisping is due to take place on November 8, 2014 at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. (Due to the time differences, the event will air on November 7, 2014 in the United States.)
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