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#8 Hard-hitting Welterweight prospects set to do battle
The "Nigerian Nightmare", Kamaru Usman has proven to be borderline unstoppable in his run with the UFC so far and he hopes to get one step closer to a title shot by taking out Emil "Valhalla" Meek at UFC 219.
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Meek, who really put himself on all fans radars when defeating Rousimar Palhares in just forty-five seconds, hasn't fought since UFC 206 when he defeated Jordan Mein in his UFC debut. Meek was supposed to fight Nordine Taleb at UFC Fight Night 109 but was forced out due to injury. He now finds himself running into the red-hot, Usman who is 11-1 and has not lost since his second professional bout.
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Now that UFC Sao Paulo has come and gone, it appears directions may be shifting already. Usman posted this on Sunday:
So for one reason or another, Meek may not be able to make it to fight night. Or perhaps the UFC just wants to scrap the match-up altogether as Usman vs Colby Covington is a more sensical fight.
We will just have to wait and see what does or doesn't happen in regards to this fight as time goes on.
Author's take
The fact that the UFC gave Meek this matchup really shows what they think of Meek. Especially so soon. Usman is deserving of a top 10 opponent next as I believe he's already established himself as a top 10er in his own right.
Both men are heavy hitters but Usman is just a strong wrestler. No one has really had success avoiding him taking them down and I think Meek will need to knock him out before he can get the chance. Which is indeed possible. Meek hits very hard and the weakest part Usman's game is his striking defence. But Usman is also improving fight by fight so the window for opponent's to capitalize on his weakness gets smaller and smaller as time goes on.
