The UFC just can’t seem to stop collecting lightweights. After an injury forced Bocek off the card, the London Free Press reports that Jesse Ronson has been signed as his replacement. Ronson is a 27 year old lightweight sporting a 13-2 record with 10 of those victories coming via stoppage. He’s faced a little stiff competition in the form of a loss to current UFC fighter MIke Ricci and wins over vetrens Tony Hervey and Ryan Healy, both coming under his successful stint with the Score Fighting Series.
Ronson enters the octagon on an 8 fight win streak. He’s a former Shawn Tompkins student and is still training out of the Adrenaline Training Center in London, Ontario, Canada with Sam Stout and Mark Hominick. His background shows in his fighting style where he displays a smooth, powerful kickboxing/Muay Thai game reminiscent of both Hominick and Stout. His wrestling and grappling certainly appear to be the least polished parts of his game although I wouldn’t say he looks uncomfortable in the scramble. On the feet he has some tendency to get drawn into wild exchanges, but has steadily improved over his professional career. His fight with Ryan Healy showed a reasonably poised striker who was selective and powerful in his shots.
Unfortunately Ronson’s biggest weaknesses play into Michel Prazeres’ biggest strengths. At only 5’9 and without an exceptionally large frame Ronson is not huge at lightweight. And while he’s shown himself to be an opportunistic grappler, much like Mark Hominick, his wrestling and grappling still appear to be a weaknesses. On the other hand, Prazeres is built in the mold of other hulking Brazilians. The UFC has him listed at only 5’6″, which seems short, but he’s all limbs and muscle. His takedown and top control jiu jitsu games are hyper aggressive and powerful. He lost his UFC debut in a very close fight against Paulo Thiago at welterweight. At lightweight I expect him to be something of a force.
UFC 165 takes place September 21 in London, Ontario Canada and will feature a light heavyweight and an interim bantamweight title fight. Here’s a brief look at the card:
Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson [light heavyweight title fight]
Renan Barão vs. Eddie Wineland [interim bantamweight title fight]
Brendan Schaub vs. Matt Mitrione
Pat Healy vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Costa Philippou vs. Francis Carmont
Mike Ricci vs. Myles Jury
Ivan Menjivar vs. Norifumi Yamamoto
Chris Clements vs. Stephen Thompson
Mitch Gagnon vs. Dustin Kimura
John Makdessi vs. Renee Forte
Jesse Ronson vs. Michel Prazeres
Nandor Guelmino vs. Daniel Omielanczuk
Roland Delorme vs. Alex Caceres
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