Yoshiyuki Yoshida Looks To Upset Anthony Johnson At UFC 104

NFL News - October 23rd, 2009 - Written by John

The opening bout at UFC 104 Saturday night will feature two up and coming stars in Anthony Johnson and Yoshiyuki Yoshida. This should be a very competitive fight with alot of action as both fighters are looking make their way into a possible title shot. Johnson who has a record of 7-2 comes into the fight as the younger and more aggressive of the two. Yoshida is 35 yards old and has a record of 11-3. This should be a high octane battle between two exciting welterweights.

Johnson technique is still a little rough around the edges, but his athletic ability is one of the best in the division. He is one of the most aggressive fighters and his powerful striking skills have hindered his opponents in the past. Not only is he a good stand up brawler, he has good wrestling skills as well. His only downfall is that he has been vulnerable in his submission defense. This could be due to a lack of experience, but he must keep himself out of this position against Yoshida. He has not posted a win by submission, but that should suit him just fine as five of his seven wins have come by knockout.

Yoshida will face a tough opponent in Johnson, who's fighting style is similar to Josh Koscheck, the fighter who sent Yoshida to the hospital last year. Yoshida is a great fighter on the mat and will need to somehow find a way to force the fight to the ground. He probably will not find much success if he tries to stand up and fight with Johnson, but he has shown the capability to do this if necessary. Selecting the right time to move in and shoot for a take down will be key for Yoshida. He has great control when the fight is on the ground, but could possibly not experience the success he has had against his very athletic opponent.

For those of you who are doing some UFC Betting, Anthony Johnson comes into the fight as -500 favorite according to Bodog sportsbook. Yoshiyuki Yoshida is the underdog and his line is at +325. The strength of Johnson will probably be enough to keep the fight upright to his advantage. Even if he is taken down, his power and athletic ability should overcome the great mat game that Yoshida possesses.

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