Josh Neer vs. Gleison Tibau

Josh Neer has put on some entertaining performances in his UFC career. He beat up Mac Danzig before choking him out. He had a really close fight with Nate Diaz. That was one of those matches where even the loser (Neer) gained credibility. Most recently, Josh got held down by a blanket-like Kurt Pellegrino.

Gleison Tibau is known for being one of the largest lightweights the UFC has to offer. He must take his weight-cutting tips from teammate Thiago Alves. Other than that, he’s known for just “sticking around” the company. Well, he’s also been touted as a great submission artist. However it would seem that fans have yet to see the best that Tibau has to offer.

Despite being on the main card, this is a must-win for both fighters. The loser will get lost in the array of mid-level lightweights. Only the elite can hope and pray for a title shot at the elusive (within his own division) BJ Penn.

If Tibau uses his size to his advantage, he should be able to get Neer down to the ground. While there, Tibau should be able to maneuver himself into dominant positions. Neer is the proverbial “no slouch” on the ground, so a finish may never occur. However it’s still the best bet for Tibau to win the fight.

If Tibau doesn’t close the distance, the fight will turn into a brawl. In that scenario, Josh Neer has the advantage. In his previous fights, Tibau has had little success in the stand-up department. Neer on the other hand loves a good scrap. Plus, he should be able to use his length to his advantage.

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