UFC 110: Joe Stevenson Favored Over Sotiropoulos in Lightweight Clash

Sports News - February 15th, 2010 - Written By Bryan

Adding to an exciting fight card for UFC 110 in Australia, is a lightweight clash between Joe Stevenson and George Sotiropoulos. The match up puts Sotiropoulos in the octagon for the first time ever in front of his home continent, but he will be facing one of the most rigorous fighters in the UFC.

Sotiropoulos has not lost a fight in period of over three years. His last four fights in the UFC have come by knockout or submission, with neither bout making it to the third round.

His most recent victory was over Jason Dent in UFC 106 in November of last year. He submitted Dent in the beginning of the second round with an arm lock.

The 32 year-old fighter is very well rounded with training and stamina being a strength he has over his opponents. He is renowned for his work ethic. Stevenson is an artist in submitting his opponents. When asked of any one move he prefers over the other however, he simply replied "whatever ends the fight," in an interview with UFC.com.

Sotiropoulos knows however that Stevenson possesses the ability to end his fight win-streak, and has prepared hard.

"Joe Stevenson is a well rounded and durable fighter, with strengths in wrestling and jiu-jitsu," Sotiropoulos remarked to UFC.com.

On the other side of the ring, Stevenson is on a two-fight win-streak in the UFC, with his last victory coming against Spencer Fisher in UFC 104. In that match up, Stevenson submitted Fisher in the middle of the second round.

Stevenson sports a similar fighting style as Sotiropoulos, with both being experts in submissions. Each fighter will feel comfortable on the ground in the fight. Stevenson is preparing for a war on the floor.

"He’s very dangerous on the ground, so I’ve got to take him very serious, and he’s got the reach on the feet and has been focusing on his stand-up, so as a match up, he’s very difficult for me," Stevenson remarked of Sotiropoulos.

Stevenson was a top contender in the division prior to a streak in which he lost three of four fights. He has rebounded nicely however with his two most recent victories.

Online sportsbooks believe that Stevenson is back to winning form, as he has been established as a -300 favorite to defeat Sotiropoulos at UFC 110 according to the UFC Betting Lines at Bodog. Sotiropoulos has been installed with odds at +240.

UCF 110 from Australia can be seen on Saturday, February 20th on pay-per-view. Contact your local cable company for details.