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#5 UFC Middleweight Division: Dequan Townsend vs. Dusko Todorovic

Can Dequan Townsend pick up his first UFC win this weekend?

On rare occasions, the UFC will put together fights that sound quite clearly like a showcase for one of the fighters. It’s harsh to say it, but it’s true. This is one of those fights, at least on paper. It pits a journeyman in the 21-11 Townsend against an undefeated 9-0 prospect in Todorovic.

A graduate of Dana White’s Contender Series, Serbia’s Todorovic dominated Teddy Ash on his appearance on the show, but hasn’t fought since – a layoff of over a year – following various injuries. Overall though, he’s a heavy striker with a penchant for plenty of KO’s and TKO’s, with five on his ledger thus far.

Townsend, on the other hand, has struggled in the UFC since debuting there as a late replacement last year. His debut saw him crushed by the uber-athlete Dalcha Lungiambula, and he’s since been comfortably outpointed by both Bevon Lewis and Devin Clark.

A solid athlete who’s a decent jack-of-all-trades, the truth is that despite some talent, ‘The Tarantula’ probably isn’t quite a UFC level fighter. Not that there’s any shame in that, of course. But the question here is whether Todorovic is on that level.

If that’s the case, then the Serbian should find a way to win this one relatively comfortably. If he isn’t, then Townsend could definitely pick up his first UFC win.

It’s honestly hard to say based on the lack of footage and lack of name opponents for Todorovic. But based on the little I have seen, I’m willing to bet that he’s got enough in his arsenal to take out ‘The Tarantula.’ UFC debut jitters may mean the fight goes the distance, but Todorovic simply looks like the better fighter in this one.

The Pick: Todorovic via unanimous decision