Preview: UFC 288 Prelims

Welterweights

Kalinn Williams (13-3, 4-2 UFC) vs. Rolando Bedoya (13-1, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Williams (-305), Bedoya (+255)

Williams has stalled a bit after a hot start to his UFC career, but he is still a talent to watch on the right side of 30. Williams was an afterthought heading into a late-notice UFC debut, but he immediately made a name for himself by nuking Alex Morono in just 27 seconds. He then proved that result was no fluke in his follow-up assignment—a 30-second starching of Abdul Razak Alhassan. However, once Williams got on everyone’s radar, opponents learned not to wade into his knockout power and things went a bit sideways from there. Williams has split his last four fights, and even his wins have seen him spend long stretches being overly cautious against opponents willing to stay safe rather than mix things up. Fortunately for Williams, he appears set to get his type of fight against a UFC newcomer in Bedoya. The latest product of an increasingly solid Peruvian scene, “The Machine” clearly earned this shot. He has separated himself from his regional opposition as a much better fighter willing to fight behind a pressure game and some decent wrestling and grappling. He also appears to have some physical potential thanks to his youth, size and the fact that he has been willing and able to take a punch—at least to this point. Williams looks to have the knockout power to take out anyone who decides to test it, and Bedoya appears much too willing to take that risk. The pick is Williams via first-round knockout.

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